John Newton's "Amazing Grace"

The life of John Newton typifies what it means to be converted.

John Newton was born in 1725. His mother died when he was six years old, and at 11 he began life as a seaman. His early years were one continuous round of rebellion and sin. For a while he worked on the West African coast collecting slaves for sale to visiting traders. Eventually Newton became a captain of his own slave ship. The capturing, selling and transporting of black slaves to the plantations in the West Indies and America was a cruel and vicious way of life.

On March 10, 1748, he was returning to England from Africa on a particularly stormy voyage. Everyone thought the ship would be lost, and Newton began reading the classic Christian devotional by Thomas a Kempis, "Imitation of Christ." The message of the book and the frightening experience at sea were used by the Holy Spirit to bring Newton to accept Christ as his Savior.

For the next several years he continued working as a slave ship captain. He tried to justify his work by seeking to improve conditions as much as possible. He even held worship services for the hardened crew each Sunday. Eventually, however, he felt convicted of the inhuman aspects of this work and led a strong crusade against slavery.

Newton became a minister and preached powerfully about Jesus. He also wrote one of the most-loved hymns of all time, "Amazing Grace." At the age of 82 just before he died he proclaimed, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!"

On his tombstone he had this statement engraved:

John Newton, once an infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy."

God's grace today is still amazing, He can still take a life that is full of sin and give them peace, joy, love and most of all forgiveness. We read in Eph 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

The only true peace that we can find will not come from this world, but only through Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us in Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. In our world of turmoil, trials and trouble's, Live in Jesus is the only true peace.