Lord I need Your Amazing Grace
HHM Pastor Jim Parisi Feb. 23, 2003
Reading Verse One of the Hymn "Amazing Grace"
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
People often request that this song be sung at their memorial service. This song means something to Christians and is precious to their hearts.
The words comfort the souls that morn for their lost friends.
Their hearts are soothed by its words and lyrics.
There is something very powerful in the words of this song.
To many Christians it describes the essence of what being a Christian is all about.
Christianity is all about “grace”.
It’s all about God’s “Amazing Grace”.
The grace of a mighty and powerful God,
who benevolently express His grace on a fallen and undeserving people.
A God, so gracious to send His Son His only Son to pay the price for the sins of humanity.
But what is “Grace” and what does grace really mean. To a sinful man
Yes man the human being… birth from sin, a miserable being without God
How could you say miserable?
Romans 7 24-25 NLT 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
For who can do it without the grace of this Loving God
We would be all doomed, to an eternal fate of torment and pain.
Def. – Grace is God’s freely given, undeserved favor toward the sinful and failing man.
Gods Grace is the truest expression of – Forgiving, redeeming and restoring love toward the unworthy.
Grace is God taking the initiative to meet our need… whatever that, it may be.
Grace is “Love… stooping down”. From high above
Stooping down from the heavens to touch a fallen humanity and hearing its painful cry.
Hearing humanities need to be loved and forgiven by a merciful God.
To have the care and love of a worthy Father.
I. The Christian life begins with God’s grace.
Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
No matter how hard you tried you could not save yourself.
The key to salvation is Gods grace and the avenue is your faith in Him.
Which leads you to a blood stained cross…
Where you will find this Loving God… who was crucified on a tree.
Who paid the price in full for you and me.
Yes on that cross was Jesus Christ, Who paid the price for all of us.
II. The Christian life is lived by God’s grace.
1 Cor 1:4-5 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
It is all because of Him and His love for you.
He loved us so much he gave us his only Son as an offering for our sins
And because of Jesus Christ… by hanging on a tree,
On a hill.
And because of His unselfish nature.
We benefit, develop and grow into a deeper relationship with the Father.
III. The Christian life is climaxed by God’s grace.
2 Thess 2:16-17 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
All for our benefit.
All for our Support and Assistance.
All for our advantage.
All for us, so we can be acceptable before the father.
What kind of love what kind of amazing grace does God have in His heart?
A grace so abundant that my mind can’t conceive its capacity.
I can’t tell you I’m an expert on it.
I can’t tell you I’m an authority on it.
I can’t tell you I’m even confidence I have a clue to how loving He is.
But I can tell you this…. That I am a thankful recipient of His Love.
Yes I am a true recipient of His Amazing Grace.
Close
A little known fact is that when this song was penned nearly 200 years ago by John Newton it was not titled “Amazing Grace”.
It’s original title was “Faiths Review and Expectation”.
It also had six verses and not four as originally written.
I would like to close today by reading these six verses – and listen to the words, especially the last two verses.
Verse 1
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.
Verse 2
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!
Verse 3
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
‘Tis grace that brought me safe this far. And grace will lead me home.
Verse 4
The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.
Verse 5
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.
Verse 6
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine,
But God who called me here below, Will be forever mine.
My God will be forever mine. Yes my Lord and God will forever be mine. Amen
