By Tom Shanklin

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

In 1748, John Newton, the captain of a merchant ship and a slave trader, encountered a horrific storm at sea. Newton was a rank and cruel sinner, living a totally immoral and irreligious life, but some seeds of the Gospel had been planted in his heart as a child by his mother. As he was about to perish, he cried out to God for mercy and his ship was miraculously saved. Thus began a transformation in Newton’s life. Later, he became an Anglican priest and penned the beloved song Amazing Grace.

It’s easy to see how John Newton might call himself a wretch, but actually we all need the Father’s mercy and love to transform us with His Amazing Grace. In fact, Jesus said to a man named Nicodemus, who was a religious leader in his community, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3, KJV. 

We all need God’s salvation in the midst of the storms of life. You see, all of us—rich or poor, religious or non-religious, unrighteous or self-righteous—all of us need a Savior. The reason for this is that we are all born into a family that is prone to sin. As a part of the human race, we all have a sin nature (an inward propensity to sin). Therefore, our hearts must be changed. We need to be forgiven. We need to be restored to God. We all must be born again!

John Newton’s experience on the high seas precipitated that change in His life. From that point he recognized God’s right to sovereignty over his life and began to trust in Jesus Christ for his salvation. He repented of his worldly, sinful ways and eventually renounced the slave trade in which he had been a cruel partner.

Jesus Christ came to save sinners—sinners like John Newton and Nicodemus, and sinners like you and me. Your background may be careless and sinful, like Newton, or seemingly upright and respectable, but regardless, you must be born again.

That is why God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross.  His death on the cross was a substitution for the judgement that we all deserve. He died a cruel death, so that you and I could go free and be restored to God.

Jesus died on that cross, He was buried, but then He rose again. In this way, God showed us that we too can have new life through His Son, Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we can live also. You can receive that new life today. Here’s how:

Admit you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23, KJV.

Believe that Jesus died for you and rose from the dead. You must believe in God’s provision for your sin through the Gospel. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, KJV.

Confess Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. A mental acceptance of what Jesus did is not enough. You must, like John Newton and millions of others, turn from a life of sin and choose to live a life of obedience to God. “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9, 10, KJV.

Pray this prayer from your heart:

Dear Father, I am a sinner. I need a Savior. I believe Jesus died for me and rose from the dead. I turn away from sin and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior today. Thank you for forgiving me, changing me and making me your child, in Jesus name. Amen.

Congratulations on your decision to follow Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to find a strong local church where the Bible is taught. Click here to read a message I have written entitled “Becoming a Strong Christian.”

Please write and let us know about your decision to follow Jesus. .

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