Amazing Grace by John Newton, 1779.

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
T’was blind but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

Observe: Recorded more than 6,600 times, Amazing Grace may be the most recorded song ever, according to Jerry Bailey, an executive at Broadcast Music, Inc., of Nashville. Perhaps the reason is John Newton’s lyrics speak to the experience of those to whom the Spirit of God has revealed the grand scope of our salvation.

Two passages come to mind. First, Paul writes, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Second, and again from Paul, he wrote that the gospel reveals a God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (2 Timothy 1:9).

But earlier in Ephesians 2, Paul revealed this stunning truth.But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4–7).

Notice the past tense verbs, “raised,” and “seated.” It’s here that we find our hope. Knowing that even today, you are seated, a word that shouts “completed,” with Christ in heaven, everything else, both blessings and troubles pale in the light of this truth. Perhaps it was this truth that moved Bunyan to write this final verse that looks forward.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.

Let this wonderful promise brighten your day ahead.

Blessings, Pastor Don