Follow Me
by Jim Garrett
I find inspiration in many venues - sermons, Bible studies at church and at home, private discussions with others and especially from Gospel songs.
Amazing Grace is known as America's Hymn by many and if I had to choose it would be my favorite. I find researching the author and what inspired him or her to write that particular hymn an inspiration. In Amazing Grace we have John Newton who was a sinner and eventually saw the light. In It Is Well With My Soul we find Horatio Spafford writing a wonderful song of praise to our Father after losing his 4 daughters at sea.
Follow Me by Ira Stanphill is fast becoming my favorite. What a message Ira sends to us through the words of his hymn. Using the verse found in Mark 10:21 ....take up the cross, and follow me, Stanphill wrote:
I find inspiration in many venues - sermons, Bible studies at church and at home, private discussions with others and especially from Gospel songs.
Amazing Grace is known as America's Hymn by many and if I had to choose it would be my favorite. I find researching the author and what inspired him or her to write that particular hymn an inspiration. In Amazing Grace we have John Newton who was a sinner and eventually saw the light. In It Is Well With My Soul we find Horatio Spafford writing a wonderful song of praise to our Father after losing his 4 daughters at sea.
Follow Me by Ira Stanphill is fast becoming my favorite. What a message Ira sends to us through the words of his hymn. Using the verse found in Mark 10:21 ....take up the cross, and follow me, Stanphill wrote:
I traveled down a lonely road and no one seemed to care,
The burden on my weary back had bowed me to despair,
I oft complained to Jesus how folks were treating me,
And then I heard Him so tenderly,
"My feet were also weary upon the Calv'ry road,
The cross became so heavy I fell beneath the load,
Be faithful weary pilgrim, the morning I can see,
Just lift your cross and follow close to me."
"I work so hard for Jesus" I often boast and say,
"I've sacrificed a lot of things to walk the narrow way,
I gave up fame and fortune; I'm worth a lot to thee,"
And then I heard Him gently say to me,
"I left the throne of glory and counted it but loss,
My hands were nailed in anger upon a cruel cross,
But now we'll make the journey with your hand safe in mine,
So lift your cross and follow close to me."
Oh Jesus if I die upon a foreign field someday
'Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay,
"No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die,"
These are the words he gently spoke to me,
"If just a cup of water I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand,
But if by death to living they can thy glory see,
I'll take my cross and follow close to thee."
The burden on my weary back had bowed me to despair,
I oft complained to Jesus how folks were treating me,
And then I heard Him so tenderly,
"My feet were also weary upon the Calv'ry road,
The cross became so heavy I fell beneath the load,
Be faithful weary pilgrim, the morning I can see,
Just lift your cross and follow close to me."
"I work so hard for Jesus" I often boast and say,
"I've sacrificed a lot of things to walk the narrow way,
I gave up fame and fortune; I'm worth a lot to thee,"
And then I heard Him gently say to me,
"I left the throne of glory and counted it but loss,
My hands were nailed in anger upon a cruel cross,
But now we'll make the journey with your hand safe in mine,
So lift your cross and follow close to me."
Oh Jesus if I die upon a foreign field someday
'Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay,
"No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die,"
These are the words he gently spoke to me,
"If just a cup of water I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand,
But if by death to living they can thy glory see,
I'll take my cross and follow close to thee."
Then we are challenged in the last verse using John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. If we start to think we are more than we are then we are reminded that we could never do what was done for us. We could reach a point where we began to think we have done more than was already done for us. Our work and sacrifices may help others but Jesus paid the ultimate price once and for all time for all sins. His burden was the greatest and He suffered much for each one of us. Yet He did this obediently to fulfill the scriptures.
This is what Jesus did for us - laid down His precious life for us, the unworthy sinners. Taking our burden on His shoulders and carrying them to Calvary. Then rose on the third day to defeat death (Gen. 3:15) and give us hope of eternity in Heaven.
Each Lord's Day we share the communion and remember His sacrifice. We close our eyes and see those 3 crosses with Jesus in the middle using His last breath to ask for forgiveness for those who had caused Him great harm and death.
Take the time to slowly read the words to the many hymns we sing. It is easy to take for granted the words. Each hymn has a message for us.
This is what Jesus did for us - laid down His precious life for us, the unworthy sinners. Taking our burden on His shoulders and carrying them to Calvary. Then rose on the third day to defeat death (Gen. 3:15) and give us hope of eternity in Heaven.
Each Lord's Day we share the communion and remember His sacrifice. We close our eyes and see those 3 crosses with Jesus in the middle using His last breath to ask for forgiveness for those who had caused Him great harm and death.
Take the time to slowly read the words to the many hymns we sing. It is easy to take for granted the words. Each hymn has a message for us.
"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Psalms 100:1,2
A look at Fanny Crosby
by Jim Garrett
"O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't.''
by Jim Garrett
"O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't.''
One of the great powers that influence the world is the writer of favorite songs and hymns. Such a person approaches nearer to the hearts of the people than any one else. The countless songs of Fanny Crosby have brought comfort to Christian hearts and stirred up inspiration that will last a lifetime.
Frances Jane Crosby, the daughter of John and Mercy Crosby, was born in Southeast, Putnam County, New York, March 24, 1820. She became blind at the age of six weeks from maltreatment of her eyes during a period of sickness.
When she was eight years old she moved with her parents to Ridgefield, Connecticut, the family remaining there four years. At the age of fifteen she entered the New York Institution for the Blind, where she received a good education. She became a teacher in the Institution in 1847, and continued her work until March 1, 1858. She taught English grammar, rhetoric, Roman and American history. This was the great developing period in her life.
While teaching at the Institution she met Presidents Van Buren and Tyler, Hon. Henry Clay, Governor Wm. H. Seward, General Winfield Scott, and other distinguished characters of American history. Concerning Mr. Clay, she gave the following: "When Mr. Clay came to the Institution during his last visit to New York, I was selected to welcome him with a poem. Six months before he had lost a son at the battle of Monterey, and I had sent him some verses. In my address I carefully avoided any allusion to them, in order not to wound him. When I had finished he drew my arm in his, and, addressing the audience, said through his tears: 'This is not the first poem for which I am indebted to this lady. Six months ago she sent me some lines on the death of my dear son.' Both of us were overcome for a few moments. Soon, by a splendid effort, Mr. Clay recovered himself, but I could not control my tears."
Miss Fanny Crosby had the honor of being the first woman whose voice was heard publicly in the [United States] Senate Chamber at Washington. She read a poem there on one occasion.
In addition to the thousands of hymns that she had written (about eight thousand poems in all), many of which had not been set to music, she had published four volumes of verses. The first was issued in 1844; a second volume followed in 1849, and the third in 1858. The fourth, "Bells at Evening and Other Verses," with a biographical sketch by Rev. Robert Lowry, and a fine half-tone portrait, in 1897, the sales of which reached a fourth edition.
Fanny was married March 5, 1858, to Alex. Van Alstyne, who was also a scholar in the same institution in which she was educated.
She began to write Sunday-school hymns for Wm. B. Bradbury in 1864. Her first hymn,
"We are going, we are going To a home beyond the skies,"
was written at the Ponton Hotel on Franklin Street, New York City, on February 5th of that year This hymn was sung at Mr. Bradbury's funeral in January, 1868.
Since 1864 she supported herself by writing hymns. She had resided in New York City nearly all her life, where, she says, she was "a member of the Old John Street M. E. Church in good standing." She spent regular hours on certain days at the office of The Biglow & Main Co., the firm for which she did most of her writing, and for whom she had composed over four thousand hymns.
Her best hymns had come on the spur of the moment... She learned to play on the guitar and piano while at the Institution, and had a clear soprano voice. She also received technical training in music, and for this reason she could compose airs for some of her hymns. "Safe in the arms of Jesus," probably one of her best known hymns, is her own favorite.
Fanny loved her work. She was always ready either to sympathize or join in a mirthful conversation, as the case may be The secret of this contentment dates from her first composition at the age of eight years. "It has been the motto of my life," she says. It is:
"O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't.''
This continued to be her philosophy. She says that had it not been for her affliction she might not had so good an education, nor so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a memory. She knew a great many portions of the Bible by heart, and had committed to memory the first four books of the Old Testament, and also the four Gospels before she was ten years of age.
The majority of Fanny's published hymns have appeared under the name of Fanny J. Crosby or Mrs. Van Alstyne, but quite a large number have appeared under the nom de plumes of Grace J. Frances, Mrs. C. M. Wilson, Lizzie Edwards, Ella Dale, Henrietta E. Blair, Rose Atherton, Maud Marion, Leah Carlton, nearly two hundred different names.
Among her most widely-known hymns may be named the following: "There's a cry from 'Macedonia," "I feel like singing all the time," "Never be afraid to speak for Jesus," "Lord, at Thy mercy seat," "Jesus the water of life will give," "'Give,' said the little stream," "We are marching on with shield and banner bright," "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour," "Jesus, keep me near the cross," "Rescue the Perishing," "Sing with a tuneful spirit," "Praise Him, praise Him," "To the work, to the work," "The Bright Forever," "Blessed Assurance," "Close to Thee," "Blessed Homeland," "Saved by Grace," "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord," "Hast thou trimmed thy lamp, my brother?" "Never say goodbye."
Mr. Van Alstyne (her husband) was said to be a good musician. He died in 1902. Fanny was extremely young for her age, and she laughingly averred that she "will live to be 103." When her time comes to pass into the glory-world, her eyes will be opened, and she "shall see Him face to face, and tell the story — Saved by grace."
Frances Jane Crosby, the daughter of John and Mercy Crosby, was born in Southeast, Putnam County, New York, March 24, 1820. She became blind at the age of six weeks from maltreatment of her eyes during a period of sickness.
When she was eight years old she moved with her parents to Ridgefield, Connecticut, the family remaining there four years. At the age of fifteen she entered the New York Institution for the Blind, where she received a good education. She became a teacher in the Institution in 1847, and continued her work until March 1, 1858. She taught English grammar, rhetoric, Roman and American history. This was the great developing period in her life.
While teaching at the Institution she met Presidents Van Buren and Tyler, Hon. Henry Clay, Governor Wm. H. Seward, General Winfield Scott, and other distinguished characters of American history. Concerning Mr. Clay, she gave the following: "When Mr. Clay came to the Institution during his last visit to New York, I was selected to welcome him with a poem. Six months before he had lost a son at the battle of Monterey, and I had sent him some verses. In my address I carefully avoided any allusion to them, in order not to wound him. When I had finished he drew my arm in his, and, addressing the audience, said through his tears: 'This is not the first poem for which I am indebted to this lady. Six months ago she sent me some lines on the death of my dear son.' Both of us were overcome for a few moments. Soon, by a splendid effort, Mr. Clay recovered himself, but I could not control my tears."
Miss Fanny Crosby had the honor of being the first woman whose voice was heard publicly in the [United States] Senate Chamber at Washington. She read a poem there on one occasion.
In addition to the thousands of hymns that she had written (about eight thousand poems in all), many of which had not been set to music, she had published four volumes of verses. The first was issued in 1844; a second volume followed in 1849, and the third in 1858. The fourth, "Bells at Evening and Other Verses," with a biographical sketch by Rev. Robert Lowry, and a fine half-tone portrait, in 1897, the sales of which reached a fourth edition.
Fanny was married March 5, 1858, to Alex. Van Alstyne, who was also a scholar in the same institution in which she was educated.
She began to write Sunday-school hymns for Wm. B. Bradbury in 1864. Her first hymn,
"We are going, we are going To a home beyond the skies,"
was written at the Ponton Hotel on Franklin Street, New York City, on February 5th of that year This hymn was sung at Mr. Bradbury's funeral in January, 1868.
Since 1864 she supported herself by writing hymns. She had resided in New York City nearly all her life, where, she says, she was "a member of the Old John Street M. E. Church in good standing." She spent regular hours on certain days at the office of The Biglow & Main Co., the firm for which she did most of her writing, and for whom she had composed over four thousand hymns.
Her best hymns had come on the spur of the moment... She learned to play on the guitar and piano while at the Institution, and had a clear soprano voice. She also received technical training in music, and for this reason she could compose airs for some of her hymns. "Safe in the arms of Jesus," probably one of her best known hymns, is her own favorite.
Fanny loved her work. She was always ready either to sympathize or join in a mirthful conversation, as the case may be The secret of this contentment dates from her first composition at the age of eight years. "It has been the motto of my life," she says. It is:
"O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't.''
This continued to be her philosophy. She says that had it not been for her affliction she might not had so good an education, nor so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a memory. She knew a great many portions of the Bible by heart, and had committed to memory the first four books of the Old Testament, and also the four Gospels before she was ten years of age.
The majority of Fanny's published hymns have appeared under the name of Fanny J. Crosby or Mrs. Van Alstyne, but quite a large number have appeared under the nom de plumes of Grace J. Frances, Mrs. C. M. Wilson, Lizzie Edwards, Ella Dale, Henrietta E. Blair, Rose Atherton, Maud Marion, Leah Carlton, nearly two hundred different names.
Among her most widely-known hymns may be named the following: "There's a cry from 'Macedonia," "I feel like singing all the time," "Never be afraid to speak for Jesus," "Lord, at Thy mercy seat," "Jesus the water of life will give," "'Give,' said the little stream," "We are marching on with shield and banner bright," "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour," "Jesus, keep me near the cross," "Rescue the Perishing," "Sing with a tuneful spirit," "Praise Him, praise Him," "To the work, to the work," "The Bright Forever," "Blessed Assurance," "Close to Thee," "Blessed Homeland," "Saved by Grace," "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord," "Hast thou trimmed thy lamp, my brother?" "Never say goodbye."
Mr. Van Alstyne (her husband) was said to be a good musician. He died in 1902. Fanny was extremely young for her age, and she laughingly averred that she "will live to be 103." When her time comes to pass into the glory-world, her eyes will be opened, and she "shall see Him face to face, and tell the story — Saved by grace."
Now Thank We All Our God
It is not an unusual story that many of our great Hymns in the Church were written by those living at very difficult times and tragedies. A Lutheran Pastor, Martin Rinkart (1586-1662), was one of them that wrote such a Hymn, "Nun Danket Alle Gott" / "Now Thank We All Our God". Often referred to as a German Hymn of Thanksgiving. (By the way it is #88 in "Worship in Song", a Nazarene hymnal.)
The 30 Years War (1618-1648) was a very horrible time in Germany. The walled town of Eilenburg became a center of refugees. And since so many were crowded together it became a center for the Black Plague illness, "The Great Pestilence of 1637".
There were 4 Lutheran Pastors in Eilenburg, Germany at the time. One left for a healthier area. Two of them died of the illness and their funerals were conducted by the one remaining Pastor, Martin Rinkart, who was alive and then all alone to "shepherd" the people of Eilenburg.
Pastor Rinkart conducted 40 to 50 funerals a day! The people were dying so fast that they were buried in long trenches, not individual graves. Overall he conducted 4,480 funerals. One of which was for his wife who died in May, 1637. Despite living through all of this he felt led to write a Hymn for his children so that would remain steadfast in the Faith.
"Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our Mother's arms, Hath blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God, Through all our lives be near us,
With ever joyful hearts, And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all our ills, In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God, The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with them in highest Heaven;
The One eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore! Amen. "
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Ray Dimbath
Lakeland, Florida
Numbers 6:24-26
The 30 Years War (1618-1648) was a very horrible time in Germany. The walled town of Eilenburg became a center of refugees. And since so many were crowded together it became a center for the Black Plague illness, "The Great Pestilence of 1637".
There were 4 Lutheran Pastors in Eilenburg, Germany at the time. One left for a healthier area. Two of them died of the illness and their funerals were conducted by the one remaining Pastor, Martin Rinkart, who was alive and then all alone to "shepherd" the people of Eilenburg.
Pastor Rinkart conducted 40 to 50 funerals a day! The people were dying so fast that they were buried in long trenches, not individual graves. Overall he conducted 4,480 funerals. One of which was for his wife who died in May, 1637. Despite living through all of this he felt led to write a Hymn for his children so that would remain steadfast in the Faith.
"Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our Mother's arms, Hath blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God, Through all our lives be near us,
With ever joyful hearts, And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all our ills, In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God, The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with them in highest Heaven;
The One eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore! Amen. "
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Ray Dimbath
Lakeland, Florida
Numbers 6:24-26
It Is Well With My Soul Written by Horatio G. Spafford born 10/20/1828 in North Troy, NY
Submitted by Jim Garrett
George Stebbins, a noted gospel musician, described Horatio as
“a man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scriptures.”
We don’t know anything from 1828 until 1871 except that Horatio became a successful lawyer in Chicago, deep in his dedication to God through his friendships with D. L. Moody and Henry Morehouse, an English Bible teacher, who had preached 7 sermons on John 3:16 that summer.
During this summer of 1871 a virus swept the city. The Spaffords were not spared. The family doctor said that their son would not survive the night. Standing at the boy’s bedside with his parents was Philip Bliss, a close family friend and Christian hymn writer and poet. They prayed for the lad, but the damage done by the virus was beyond repair and he died during the night.
Less than 4 months later the great Chicago fire destroyed 10 square blocks along the shore of Lake Michigan. Spafford owned a considerable amount of property there.
The fire had also claimed most of the schools. Spafford and his wife decided to take their 4 daughters abroad to enroll them in an English Academy. At the last minute, a member of the Chicago Zoning Commission knocked at their door and told Horatio he would need to attend a meeting scheduled to take place in a few days. He would have to bring titles, deeds, and blueprints to his properties or forfeit them.
He took his wife and girls to New York and booked them passage on the French ship “Ville du Havre”.
Shortly after departure, the ship was in a fog and though they heard a fog bell, it was to late. There was a violent collision with the English sailing ship “Lochearn”. All but 47 died in the collision including Horatio’s 4 daughters. His wife was found unconscious floating on a piece of wreckage. Interviews with a daughter born after the tragedy revealed that the mother had touched one of the girl’s nightgowns but could not hold to her.
I have found 3 versions of where Mrs. Spafford sent the famous 2-word telegram to Mr. Spafford. One version says from the rescue ship, one from Paris and the one most accepted is from Cardiff, Wales, where the rescued were taken.
The 2 words were: “SAVED ALONE”.
As Horatio Spafford journeyed to join Mrs. Spafford, the captain of the ship he was traveling on summoned him to the deck as they passed over the spot where his daughters had drowned. It was at that moment he penned the words to “It Is Well With My Soul” on a sheet of stationary from the Breevort House in Chicago. Later, the words were cabled to Philip Bliss who wrote the music to them.
Rock Of Ages
Submitted by Jim Garrett
Moses had broken the first set of stone tablets
and later returned to the mount and talked with God as one man to another.
He was told by God in Exodus 33:22
And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock ,
and will cover you with my hand while I pass by:
This hymn always reminded my Mother of her father's funeral would make her cry.
Where did this hymn come from? Who wrote it?
I find learning about the story behind the story provides inspiration.
To learn of the circumstances of the writer is sometimes reveals a parallel in our lives and offers relief.
Just as John Newton showed us we can be among the worst and
still discover God loves us and offers salvation.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.
Lightning briefly illuminated the primitive, rock- hewn landscape of Burrington Combe in Somerset. It was followed by a deep growl of thunder, and then rain lashed mercilessly down, pouring bubbling streamlets down the craggy sides of primeval cliffs which rise up some 250 ft. to the Mendip Heights on one side, and into Cheddar Gorge on the other.
The curate of Blagdon, a nearby village, had been travelling along the road near the cliffs when the storm struck and dashed into a cave for shelter. He had been fortunate to find this hiding-place so quickly, and while waiting for the storm to pass he began to muse on the idea of the “rock of faith” being a shelter from the “storms of life”. The words for a hymn began to form in his mind but, according to the legend that still persists, he had no paper in his pocket to write down the words. Looking down he saw a playing card, considered a sinful thing by the young cleric. Nevertheless, he picked it up and began to write:
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
The curate was Augustus Montague Toplady, and such is the popular story behind the origin of one of the world’s best-loved hymns which was first published in the Gospel Magazine in 1775, some 12 years after Toplady wrote it.
He was educated at Westminster School, London, and Trinity College, Dublin, and it was while in Ireland he was converted by a sermon from James Morris, a follower of John Wesley. This took place one August evening in about 1755 in a barn in Codymain. But soon afterwards, Toplady rejected Wesley's "methodism" in favour of the more extreme views of Calvinism and a bitter enmity developed between the two men.
His bitter arguments with Wesley date from 1769, following the latter’s contemptuous remarks about Toplady’s translation of a Latin treatise on Calvinism. It brought to a head their different opinions about whether or not people are predestined for salvation. An abridgement of the translation was published by Wesley for the use of the Methodist societies and there followed a number of angry exchanges between the two men which became more personally abusive, especially in the case of Toplady. But such unpleasantness was far from typical of the man. He could write charming essays, and was charitable. His main fault seemed to be youthful conceit and we must remember that he was only 29 years old at the start of this controversy.
AMAZING GRACE !!
Submitted by Jim Garrett
Known as America's favorite hymn. I love Amazing Grace and its message. I find this hymn to be so touching that I just assumed the author to be a life-long follower of Christ. But, was I ever WRONG!! He was anything but that.
Written by John Newton who was born July 24, 1725 and raised by his mother until she passed away when he was 6. She had taught him hymns and read the scriptures. The next time we learn of John, he was age 11 and his father took him to sea to work as a sailor. By the young age of 19 he was “pressganged” into the British Royal Navy. John was not your model sailor.
In fact, he was so incorrigible that he was publicly flogged for desertion. He was then exchanged for a crew member of a slave-trading vessel.
You have seen movies and shows on TV that depict the old time sailors as rough and tough men of the sea. When on land they are shown as drinking and brawling. Very rough men. Men so rough in character that it would take quite a lot to make them fearful. John Newton was so vile, so evil that once during a violent storm his own crew threatened to throw him overboard in hopes it would cause the storm to subside. The storm was so bad that John actually asked God to save him. He found a copy of Thomas Kemper’s “Imitation of Christ” and began reading. But, his life did not change immediately. It took another 6 or 7 years before John Newton realized slavery was wrong. He worked for many years later in life toward having slave trading abolished by his government.
And yet this same man, John Newton, a slave trader and worse, later wrote those words “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me”.
What is Grace? It is a word that conveys wonderful hope and comfort to the Christian. Paul loved to use the word Grace. In fact, every epistle he wrote has Grace at the beginning and the end.
A. Grace is defined as that which gives joy, pleasure or delight. The Greek word is CHARIS and was used to refer to speech in Luke 4:22 …at the gracious words….
In Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
and Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace…”
B. Good-will, loving kindness, favor
In this way it used to show the kindness of a master towards his inferiors or servants. And especially of God towards man. Thayer points out that CHARIS contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has NOT deserved.
The NT writers use CHARIS preeminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offenses, and bids them accept the eternal salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:5 “ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) It is this particular definition of grace that prompts us to think of it most often as “unmerited favor”.
C. A spiritual state or condition in which one enjoys God’s favor. When one accepts God’s grace, they are in a “state of grace” Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
I Peter 5:12 “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.”
D. An expression of gratitude for favor bestowed In I Timothy 1:12 “And I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord,…” This is what is meant when people ask someone to “Say Grace” before eating a meal
What is usually the last verse in most hymnals
When we have been there 10,000 years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
is by an unknown author.
It appeared as early as 1829 in a publication named the Baptist Songster, as the last stanza of the song “Jerusalem My Happy Home” was not written by Newton.
Submitted by Jim Garrett
Known as America's favorite hymn. I love Amazing Grace and its message. I find this hymn to be so touching that I just assumed the author to be a life-long follower of Christ. But, was I ever WRONG!! He was anything but that.
Written by John Newton who was born July 24, 1725 and raised by his mother until she passed away when he was 6. She had taught him hymns and read the scriptures. The next time we learn of John, he was age 11 and his father took him to sea to work as a sailor. By the young age of 19 he was “pressganged” into the British Royal Navy. John was not your model sailor.
In fact, he was so incorrigible that he was publicly flogged for desertion. He was then exchanged for a crew member of a slave-trading vessel.
You have seen movies and shows on TV that depict the old time sailors as rough and tough men of the sea. When on land they are shown as drinking and brawling. Very rough men. Men so rough in character that it would take quite a lot to make them fearful. John Newton was so vile, so evil that once during a violent storm his own crew threatened to throw him overboard in hopes it would cause the storm to subside. The storm was so bad that John actually asked God to save him. He found a copy of Thomas Kemper’s “Imitation of Christ” and began reading. But, his life did not change immediately. It took another 6 or 7 years before John Newton realized slavery was wrong. He worked for many years later in life toward having slave trading abolished by his government.
And yet this same man, John Newton, a slave trader and worse, later wrote those words “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me”.
What is Grace? It is a word that conveys wonderful hope and comfort to the Christian. Paul loved to use the word Grace. In fact, every epistle he wrote has Grace at the beginning and the end.
A. Grace is defined as that which gives joy, pleasure or delight. The Greek word is CHARIS and was used to refer to speech in Luke 4:22 …at the gracious words….
In Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
and Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace…”
B. Good-will, loving kindness, favor
In this way it used to show the kindness of a master towards his inferiors or servants. And especially of God towards man. Thayer points out that CHARIS contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has NOT deserved.
The NT writers use CHARIS preeminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offenses, and bids them accept the eternal salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:5 “ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) It is this particular definition of grace that prompts us to think of it most often as “unmerited favor”.
C. A spiritual state or condition in which one enjoys God’s favor. When one accepts God’s grace, they are in a “state of grace” Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
I Peter 5:12 “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.”
D. An expression of gratitude for favor bestowed In I Timothy 1:12 “And I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord,…” This is what is meant when people ask someone to “Say Grace” before eating a meal
What is usually the last verse in most hymnals
When we have been there 10,000 years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
is by an unknown author.
It appeared as early as 1829 in a publication named the Baptist Songster, as the last stanza of the song “Jerusalem My Happy Home” was not written by Newton.