God’s One and Only Son IS His Amazing Grace
Text: John 3:14-21
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I imagine that most of you probably have a favorite Bible passage. One that’s guided you through difficult times. Maybe been a comfort in time of sorrow. Or joy in a bright time in your life. Maybe it’s one you learned in Sunday School or Confirmation class that’s stuck with you all these years. Mine is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” It’s my favorite because I would recall it at a time in my life where there was some fear and uncertainty, and it was comforting to know that no matter what, God was in control, directing my paths. Other ones a lot of people have written on their minds and in their hearts are 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you.” Or Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.”
The great thing about having Scripture memorized is that it comes right back to you when you need to hear it. Did you know that many people have favorite hymns as well. Maybe you do too. The one we just sang, Amazing Grace, has to be up there on the list of people’s favorite hymns. I don’t have any scientific evidence to prove that, although I imagine there have been polls taken. I do know that it’s consistently listed as the most frequently sung hymn in Christian churches. It’s regularly requested for funerals. There have been movies and documentaries made about it. And it’s included in 1,409 hymnals. Did you even know there were that many hymnals? The only hymns included in more than that are our favorite Christmas carols. Joy to the World and Silent Night.
Perhaps you know the history of Amazing Grace. It’s a deep and meaningful one. Last year was the 250th anniversary of the first singing of the hymn. It wasn’t celebrated in the way some other anniversaries are, but it does show us that the hymn has endured as a favorite. And for good reason. Written by John Newton, Amazing Grace has a powerful combination of tune and lyrics. And when you know the story behind the hymn it takes on even greater meaning. Newton was a sea captain on a slave trading ship. In many ways his story is similar to that of Martin Luther. Caught in a storm at sea with little hope of survival, he called out to God, who he barely knew, and promised that if his life was spared, he’d devote the rest of his life to God’s service. His life was spared, and he did just that. He became an Anglican minister crusading against the slave trade. He did a lot of good in that role, but perhaps he’s still best known for this hymn.
Amazing Grace debuted on January 1, 1773, in coordination with Newton’s sermon on 1 Chronicles 17. It ties in closely with the passage where David marvels that God has chosen him. “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?” We can all relate to that passage when we think about the abundant grace poured out on us by our loving God. Think about where you’ve been. In the depths of sin. With no path out that you could even begin to navigate. It was in that very moment that God reached out to you in Christ Jesus to pull you from the depths of despair and into His loving arms. That’s the journey this hymn chronicles.
The whole hymn is Newton’s reflection on the overwhelming, undeserved grace of God that saved him, despite his sinfulness. He’s a wretch and yet God saved him. Like the prodigal son, he was lost but now has been found. Like the man to whom Jesus restored sight, he was blind, but now he can see. And not only is that grace poured out in that single moment, but it’s continually showered throughout life. The remainder of the hymn speaks to God’s grace which continues to care for him throughout his life. Even to the point that when we’ve had 10,000 years to experience it, there’s still that much, and more, to come.
But there is one complaint many people have about this hymn. And that’s that the embodiment of that grace, Jesus Christ, isn’t actually mentioned in the hymn. You may have learned in Sunday School, or confirmation class, and you’ll certainly continue to hear it from this pulpit, that grace is God’s undeserved love. Or if you want to look at it as an acrostic. G R A C E. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. There is no grace without Jesus. Jesus is God’s gracious gift to His people. Which is why if we go back to our original conversation about favorite Bible passages, so many would choose John 3:16, which we heard in our reading for today. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” In fact, I have data to prove that this is the most popular Bible passage. And not just the number of signs at football games that list the reference for people to go and look up. Monthly searches for the verse on Google top 2.1 million, nearly 3 times the number of the next highest search. #John316 was featured in 250,000 Instagram posts and viewed over 60 million times on TikTok.
But just because it’s popular, and many people’s favorite verse, isn’t what makes it good. John 3:16 is not a good message because it was written by a 250-year-old sea captain with a great story. It’s good. In fact, it’s great because it was written by our eternal God who has the most incredible story ever told. And that story is about Jesus and His Father who loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. There’s no greater message than that. It doesn’t need a catchy tune behind it. It just needs to continue to be told.
GOD’S AMAZING GRACE IS HIS ONE AND ONLY SON,
OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
Regardless of the fact that Newton never specifically mentions the source of God’s Amazing Grace, we know he believed in Christ as his Savior. That fact is evident in his other writings. But it’s always good to say what we mean and mean what we say. Which is why we always emphasize the Means of God’s Amazing Grace. The washing away of sin in the waters of Holy Baptism. The Word of God that directs our paths. And the body and blood of our Savior given and shed for you in the Lord’s Supper. God’s grace is not disconnected from the means by which He lavishes it upon us. And the clearest understanding of that means is where we’re headed during this season of Lent. To the cross. The place where the Father gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life.
With all our focus on that one particular verse, we sometimes forget about the one that immediately follows it. John 3:17 tells us that, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” “Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift” of grace. A gift that we should sing about. In the words of Amazing Grace. But perhaps also by ensuring that we all know through whom that grace has come. Which is why we’re going to sing one more stanza of Amazing Grace. Making it clear that
GOD’S AMAZING GRACE IS HIS ONE AND ONLY SON,
OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
So, please find the insert in your bulletin and let’s stand and sing together of God’s Amazing Grace in Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.
That whoever believes in Him, should have eternal life
May that be the truth that you believe and may you share that story with the world. God’s blessings to you as you go about that task. Amen.
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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