“Amazing grace” is one of the most well-known hymns in the English-speaking world, and even beyond!

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.

This hymn was written in the 18th century by John Newton. He was a former militant atheist and captain of a slave-trading ship. On May 10, 1748, he was in great distress in a storm at sea, and he cried to God for mercy. He was saved. First of all, he began to treat the slaves more humanely. Then, after a few years he gave up his work, became a minister and became involved in the efforts for the abolition of the slave trade.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

The Bible teaches us the following, “And the Word (the Son of God) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth…and of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

This centuries-old eyewitness account comes from a man called John (John 1:14, 16-17). He who is the Word is Jesus Christ. The meaning of His coming into this world 2,000 years ago is described by John as “amazing grace.”

All people who run into storms with their life’s ship and are in danger of perishing, all who are about to be shipwrecked, whom the wind is against, all these people can find salvation.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

’Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far

and Grace will lead me home.

To save a person from his burden, a pardon is necessary. Why? Every person has incurred guilt, some more than others. This is our burden. Nobody is innocent. We are all slaves to our faults. The Bible calls this sin and rebellion against God. This is shown, for instance, in the fact that man is capable of doing things that he actually deplores. No person can live without making mistakes, and come up to God’s high standards. But after death, everyone will have to give account before God for what they have done during their lifetime. Because God cannot tolerate sin in heaven, He has to condemn everyone and banish us to hell, the place of eternal torment. 

But God wants to pardon us. This is why His Son, Jesus Christ, became man. He came from eternal glory—that is, heaven—to this earth. He lived a life without sin. And then He died voluntarily on a cross, to take our guilt upon Himself. By doing this, He bore as our substitution the divine punishment which we human beings deserve. Through this, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus Christ and believes in Him is pardoned.

The Bible describes this as follows, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14).

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.




John wrote that we have all received of His fullness “grace for grace.” This means “abundant grace.” We may live each day out of this limitless grace. This is why God gave us Christmas. Instead of giving us what we deserve, He wants to give us what we do not deserve.

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.

John connected this grace directly with truth. He wrote, “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” 

We cannot separate grace and truth. It is true that God is gracious and pardons. When Jesus Christ was born 2,000 years ago, God’s grace and truth came to our earth in person. This is Christmas! Everything He said and did is absolutely true. Everything that is written about Him in the Bible is the truth. We can trust in what He says. Jesus said of Himself, “I am the truth” (John 14:6). And He also said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

Somebody described the coming of Jesus in our world with the following words, “The Best of heaven for the worst of earth!” Through this, the “worst” people can go to heaven. It is not the case that only the “good” people will go to heaven. Those who think they are good do not need grace. But no one is good enough for God. Only those who have recognized their guilt and received the grace of Jesus Christ will go to heaven. Grace means that all our mistakes and transgressions have been blotted out as though they had never been. Thus, everyone can be sinless in God’s eyes because the sinless Jesus Christ paid the price through His death on the cross. And do you know what? This Jesus rose again on the third day after His death. He conquered death and proved that He is the Son of God. And this is why everyone who believes in Him has the sure hope of coming to the glory of heaven. He will not be dead after he dies, but alive.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun.

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’ve first begun.

We wish you a blessed advent and Christmas, and that you experience this incredible grace in your life also.

(MR1210/468)