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Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Luke 15:11-24 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of te estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ‘ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Amazing Grace: A Song of Redemption
Today we are going to look at the story of the Prodigal Son, which I just read from Luke and the hymn, “Amazing Grace”. They are both examples of how God’s amazing grace can work in a person’s life.
“Amazing Grace” is more than just one of the most well-known hymns in the world—it is a personal testimony, a sermon in song, and a declaration of the Gospel. Written by John Newton, a former slave trader turned Christian pastor, the hymn captures the heart of salvation: that we are saved not by anything we do, but completely by God’s grace.
First, the story of the Prodigal Son which is a parable Jesus told to reveal the heart of God — a heart full of mercy and undeserved love.
In this story we learn that the younger son has asked to have his inheritance now, before his father’s death. This was equivalent to saying he wanted his father’s death. It was rebellion and sin. The son takes his inheritance and wastes it on wild living. Soon the money runs out and he is destitute.
Why did Jesus tell this story? What did he want us to understand from it? The Parable of the Prodigal Son is to teach us about grace, God’s mercy and forgiveness. The son in the parable at this point deserved nothing from his father. He thought to himself, “18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’”
The son is right, he had sinned. He wasn’t worthy. All of that was true. But what happened? How did the father react to his return? We are told the father was filled with compassion. In the story the father represents God, our father. God is filled with this same compassion for us. God knows we have all sinned. God knows we are not worthy.
The Prodigal Son’s father kissed him, gave him the best robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. These gifts demonstrate forgiveness, acceptance and restoration. From all the gifts we can see the essence of the father’s character, the unconditional love of the father. The father threw a feast to celebrate his return. We can summarize this is one word. Grace. The father showed grace to the son.
Let’s define grace. Grace is the unmerited favor and love of God towards humanity. It signifies a gift that is not earned but freely given. Unmerited means it isn’t something we earn, it isn’t something we deserve. In fact, we don’t deserve it and we cannot earn it. Grace shows us to the providence and mercy of God.
Now let us take a few moments to walk through the story and theology behind “Amazing Grace,” and discover why this hymn continues to resonate in the hearts of believers centuries after it was written.
Now let’s look at “Amazing Grace” and how it relates to the Prodigal Son.
Before “Amazing Grace” let me tell you the story of its author, John Newton. He was born in 1725. His mother was a devout woman who nurtured him in the Reformed faith. She read the Bible to him and prayed he would become a minister but she died when he was only 7. From 11 to 17 he accompanied his father, a Navy ship’s captain, on his sea voyages. Eventually his father retired from the sea. He made plans for John to go to Jamaica but Newton rebelled against his father’s plans for him and ran away to Kent where he met and fell in love with his future wife.
At 19 he was forced to enlist in the Royal Navy. He rebelled against the discipline, deserted, was captured, flogged, chained and finally discharged. Newton would later describe himself at that time as arrogant, rebellious, and living a recklessly sinful life: “I sinned with a high hand,” he wrote, “and I made it my study to tempt and seduce others.” Sailors were not noted for the refinement of their manners, but Newton had a reputation for profanity, coarseness, and debauchery, which even shocked many sailors.
Newton ended up taking a job with a slave trader on an island off the western coast of Africa. He was treated so brutally there that later he would remember the time as the lowest point in his spiritual experience. He had no shelter, his clothes deteriorated to rags, and to curb his hunger, he resorted to begging for food. He was held in slavery there for 15 months.
After more than a year of living in abusive conditions, in 1747 Newton managed to escape the island. He took work aboard the Greyhound, a ship based out of Liverpool. Newton began to read the Bible again, as well as Thomas a Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ, one of the few books on board the ship.
One year later, off the coast of Ireland, Newton was homeward bound aboard the ship The Greyhound. It encountered a fierce storm that lasted for 11 days. The ship thrashed about in the north Atlantic storm, its canvas sails were ripped, and the ship was close to sinking. That night, March 21, as Newton pumped and bailed, he became convinced that he would soon meet the Lord. Recalling Bible verses about God’s grace towards sinners that he had learned from his mother, Newton whispered his first feeble prayer in years. For the remainder of his life, Newton would remember this day as the anniversary of his conversion—as it says in “Amazing Grace” “the hour he first believed.”
John Newton began his journey as a Christian at this point in his life although there was some backsliding during his journey. He continued as captain of slave ships seeing nothing wrong with the slave trade at this time despite his growing faith.
On February 12, 1750, Newton returned to England and married Mary Catlett. He remained devoted to her for the rest of his years.
Once married, Newton served as captain of two different slave ships during the next five years. Eventually, Newton came to hate slavery, profoundly regretting his involvement in it and fighting fiercely against the institution. Later in life, he passionately supported William Wilberforce in his campaign to end slavery in England and authored Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade (1787), a tract promoting abolition. In which he described the horrors he had seen.
In 1754 John Newton retired from the sea. He studied Christianity and was influenced by the famous preachers George Whitfield and John Wesley.
He felt called to the ministry and was ordained in 1764.
He was a influence on William Wilberforce met him 1785, helped Wilberforce found Anti-Slavery Society 1787,
It was his habit, like Isaac Watts, to write a hymn to go with the evening service. He wrote over 280 hymns including our opening hymn, “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”. The most famous of his hymns was originally titled “Faith’s Review and Expectation” but we now know as “Amazing Grace”.
Newton wrote ‘Amazing Grace’ to share his faith journey. The lyrics tell of redemption, forgiveness, and the life-changing power of faith in Jesus.
During his ministry in London influenced William Wilberforce and they worked to outlaw the slave trade in the British Empire. In 1788 Newton wrote, “Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade”, a graphic account describing the horrors he had seen. Their work helped pass the British Slave Trade Act in 1807, which ended slave trading in the British Empire.
Now let us turn to the actual hymn. John Newton wrote the hymn, “Amazing Grace” for his sermon on January 1st of 1773. We are going to go through it verse by verse.
It opens with a confession—Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. John Newton acknowledges his unworthiness. He calls himself a wretch. The word “wretch” isn’t self-hatred, it’s honesty. It reflects Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” At this point in his life John Newton has become aware of his sin.
We are not saved because we’re good enough; we’re saved because grace is good enough. Grace points to the providence and mercy of God
In Paul’s letter to Titus he says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:5)
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see
In the parable of the Prodigal Son we saw the father’s joy when his lost son returned. Two earlier parables in Luke 15; the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin also describe joy. The shepherd who finds the lost sheep and the woman who found the lost coin both say, “Rejoice with me!” Jesus tells us that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. And a few verses later he says, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The phrase “was blind but now I see” echoes the man in John 9 whose sight was restored by Jesus:25. That man said, “I was blind but now I see.” The grace of God gives us spiritual sight and a new identity. Newton was “lost” not only morally but spiritually. When he met Christ, his direction changed.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Second verse: Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved
In this verse Newton was describing his journey from guilt to peace through God’s love. Proverbs 9:10 tells us “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Grace does two things—it teaches us to fear God with a healthy, reverent fear, and then it relieves our fears through the assurance of God’s love. The same grace that awakens us to our sin also assures us of God’s forgiveness. Grace doesn’t only comfort—it also convicts. God’s grace opens our eyes to the seriousness of sin and the beauty of repentance. The same grace that shows us our need for God also tells us we are loved and accepted. Romans 2:4 says, “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.”
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed
The moment of first belief is precious because it marks a transformation from despair to hope. John Newton had his first moment of belief during a storm at sea. For the rest of his life he remembered and celebrated that moment.
Third verse: Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come
Life brings hardship, temptation, and pain. Newton faced shipwrecks, storms, and great inner turmoil. But God carried him through.
‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The Christian life is not without hardship. But we are not carried by our own strength—it is God’s grace that brings us through trials and dangers. This verse is a testimony to God’s faithfulness in the past and a declaration of trust in His faithfulness for the future.
Look back on your life. What has God brought you through? Take heart—His grace is not finished. If He has led you this far, He will not leave you now.
Fourth verse: The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures
Grace gives us a future and a hope. God’s promises are trustworthy. His grace doesn’t end at salvation—it continues throughout our lives, through all our trials and joys, and on into eternity.
The prophet Jeremiah said, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (29:11) Lean on God’s promises. His grace is your anchor in uncertainty.
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures
Our hope isn’t based on circumstances but on promises—God’s promises. The Lord doesn’t merely give good things; He Himself is our portion, our inheritance, our reward. He is enough for every season of life. Psalm 28:7 says The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. And Psalm 119:57 says, “You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words.”
Fifth verse: Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease: I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
We have eternal hope beyond death. Grace carries us beyond this life into eternity. Death is not the end, but a doorway. “Within the veil” is a reference to entering into God’s presence found in Hebrews 6:19 which says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.” The veil refers to the final curtain in the temple before the Holy of Holies. There, we’ll know joy and peace beyond anything this world can offer.
Let’s ask ourselves, “Are we living in light of eternity?” When we face loss, illness, or fear of death, remember that God’s grace extends beyond the grave.
Sixth verse: The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine; but God, who called me here below, will be forever mine.
One day our world will end. Even scientists know that one day our sun will no longer shine. This verse assures us that God will be with us forever. Nothing on earth or in heaven can stop the eternal love of God.
The final verse is now in most hymnals but was not in the original hymn. It was added in the early 1800s and the author is unknown.
Extra: 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’d first begun.
In Revelation 7:9-10 John describes heaven this way, “9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
This added verse lifts our eyes to eternity. Heaven is not earned, it is a gift of grace. Heaven is not an end to worship—it is a beginning that never ends. Time, as we know it, fades away, and all that remains is worship, joy, and God’s eternal presence. This is the final triumph of grace: everlasting communion with God.
Revelation 21:4 says – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” We often use this verse at funerals.
Let’s begin to live now as citizens of eternity. What we do today in worship echoes forever. Grace isn’t just amazing—it’s eternal.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us about God’s grace. John Newton once said, “I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior.”
And that is the heart of Amazing Grace—not our greatness, but God’s.
Let this hymn not just be a song we sing, but a story we live. A story of redemption, mercy, and transformation by the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us pray. Lord, we thank You for Your amazing grace. We thank You that You save the lost, restore the broken, and lead us home. Help us to live in that grace daily and extend it to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.