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Title slide Amazing Grace.For the last couple week’s we’ve been talking about God’s amazing grace.We’re calling it: How Sweet the SoundA sermon series about God’s Amazing Grace.This week I want to talk about the song.You may have already noticed there is a song sheet in your worship folder.Please take that out now.I’d really like for everyone to have one, even children.If you need one or another, would you raise your hand?And this will be a little interactive, so you’re gonna need a pen.If you have a child in your row (car), please help them get ready.You’ll see on the top left there is the song writer John Newton 1779.And on the right side top, there is a line for your name.Would you please write your name on that top line on the right.Your full proper name.For me this would be Timothy Edward Stradling. Edward was my grandfather’s name.Write your full name there.Write in neatly if you can.And then, just so we’re clear,Some of us grew up in an era where we don’t use hymnbooks, so you’re looking at this and maybe you’re unsure how this works.There are 3 verses on this sheet.So in front of the first verse – Amazing grace..., put a 1.And then in front of the words Twas grace..., put a 2.And then in front of When we’ve been there..., put a 3.And then all the top lines are verse 1, all the middle lines are verse 2, and all the bottom lines are verse 3.(Blank)And then keep your pen ready.I’m gonna have you underline a few words and fill in a few more.The song Amazing Grace is one of the most beloved songs in human history. It is 235 years old.It is still sung 10’s of millions times a year in every language on every continent.Did you know that ... ?Arlo Guthrie sang the song it at Woodstock in 1969.Elvis sang it in Vegas.Willie Nelson sang it at the Grand Ole Opry.And Johnny Cash sang it in prisons all over the United States.This song crosses chasm’s of every kind and yet it contains only five notes. It’s harmonic structure is both sparse and complex. It is equally compelling when played by a full symphony orchestra or by a single bagpipe or violin (as we just heard). When the lyrics of this song are analyzed, most comment on the juxtaposition of its poetic language and its simple wording. Look at v. 3. Read along with me. When we’ve been there (underline the next phrase) ten thousand years.When we’ve been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days (underline those words) We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.That is one of the most poetic ways to describe eternity that has ever been penned. Then there is the simple wording. Look at verse 1. Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that save a …WRETCH like me. Underline that word - wretch. Do you know what a wretch is? For you young kids it just means very, very naughty.If you were to Google a thesaurus for wretch, you might see: rascal, beggar, brute, ingrate, bum, liar, lowlife, pariahrenegade, reprobate, rapscallion, scalawag, scoundrel, and scumThe author of this song is John Newton. Not Isaac Newton, the gravity guy.Not Cam Newton, the football guy. John Newton. Newton was born to a Christian mother who taught him the Bible early.But after she died of tuberculosis when Newton was 7, he was raised in his father's image.At age 11, Newton went on his first voyage with the merchant navy.Later he became involved in the slave trade until he was eventually made the captain of a slave ship that brought slaves from Africa to the New World.On a homeward journey of a ship called the Greyhound, in 1747, the ship was overcome by an enormous storm and he feared for his life. He was reading Thomas a Kempis's The Imitation of Christ, and was struck by a line about the "uncertain continuance of life." He prayed right then and surrendered his life to Christ during that storm.The epitaph on his gravestone in England reads:John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.As a result of his conversion the entire trajectory of his life changed. Later when he wrote this song, he thought about who he used to be. He could have used 100’s of words to describe the old John Newtonbut the one he chose was the word wretch.Any of you ever think of yourself as a wretch? Probably not. We see wretches on the evening news.Wretches are killers and child molesters, rapists, bombers and terrorists. The word fits those types of people really well.It just doesn’t fit people like us at all. The history of John Newton tells of a day that he came to fully understand the blazing brilliance of the holiness of God.An occasion that he contemplated deeply that the God of the universe he was exploring was perfect, spotless, totally righteous and absolutely good in every way. And the more Newton thought about himself by comparison,the only word that seemed to fit was wretch.He was not beating himself up.He was just comparing himself to the holiness of God, and it knocked him off his self-righteous perch, and he saw himself for who he really was.Have you ever had yourself set against a standard in your life in a way that caused you to realize that in some area you weren’t as great as you thought you were? Like when I was a kid, my dad taught me chess.Chess is a fairly complicated game.And you know I could hold my own, but he was always able to beat me.But I remember in elementary school on inside recess days, I could pretty much beat the other kids. I thot I was pretty good.And then when kids were little, I taught them chess.And none of them were really into it. So, when we’d play, and when they’d make a move that exposed a piece,I would sometimes warn them.And, regardless of what they might try to claim now, I always beat them. BUT, have you ever seen the movie In Search of Bobby Fischer?In the movie a dad is playing chess with his 8 year old son.And the dad is struggling, while the boy is bored.And he’s showing it. He wants to be done.And the mom is watching and she catches on that the 8 year old lets the dad win so he can be done.When she asks the 8 year old, he admits “he always lets dad win.”“Because Dad likes to win.”And she tells the dad, who is like,“No, he’s not letting me win.”So, he goes to his son and insists he plays him the best he can.And the 8 year old proceeds to play the dad while at the same time he’s playing with his dinosaurs figures. Every time the dad makes a move, the boy runs back in and makes his move without looking at what the dad did.Until on the last move he calls from the other room, “Did you move the queen to biship 3?“Yeah.“Move my knight to kings 5, check mate!”And so they start getting the boy chess lessons, a teacher, and they get him involved in a chess club and chess tournaments.And it turns out this 8 year old is a chess genius, a child prodigy.For some reason, his brain sees things in chess that 50 year old men who have played and studied the game all their lives can’t see. Did you ever think you were good at something and then somebody shows you just how low you are on the good scale? I think I’m good at chess.But some of you here could school me.But then there are people on a whole other level in chess clubs, who could school you.And then there are those involved in tournaments.And there are chess masters.And there are world champions.And then there are Bobby Fishers. Compared to kids and others like me, I think I’m pretty good.But I don’t really rank at all in the lowest level of any real players.Using John Newton’s words, I’m not a world class chess player,I’m more like in the wretch class of a player.I’m not a prodigy or a genius or able to turn pro.In reality, I’m quite near the bottom of the talent pool. It’s amazing how deceived we human beings can be about ourselves.The word wretch is the result of Newton really seeing how awful he was when he compared himself to the absolute highest standardof a holy and righteous God.By comparison to the perfection of a holy and righteous and loving God, the only word that he could imagine for himself was the word…wretch.God only always ever tells the truth. But Newton thought, I’ve told lies. God loves with a perfect love. But Newton thought I love imperfectly. Sometimes I even hate.God is patient. But I’m often short tempered.God is always forgiving. But I seek revenge and hold grudges.God is always impartial. But I’m prejudice.Look what I did to people just because of their race?God is totally pure, but by comparison, I’m a wretch.I want ask you three questions this morning. The first one isHave you ever compared yourself against the absolute perfection of a holy God? Have you really ever actually done that? Have you ever done that thoughtfully? With an open mind? With an open Bible? Have you ever compared yourself to the absolute perfection of a holy God?For pride filled people this can be agonizing.For self-righteous people, this can be terrorizing.But, once you do it, it can be liberating.It’s like what happens when you lie to someone and you just can’t live with yourself. It bothers you.Until you fess up and you tell the person, “I lied. I’m so sorry, but I lied. I had to tell you cause it’s eating me alive.”And then a strange sense of relief sweeps over you.You’re certainly not proud of yourself.But honesty beats deception any day of the week.And you can now exhale in the knowledge that you came clean.It’s the same feeling when you come clean with God for the first time.When you leave the fantasy of self-righteousness,And you call yourself what you are . by comparison to his perfection“I’m a wretch.”You’ll actually feel a sense of relief sweep over you.Better yet, you’ll open up to the most beautiful concept in the world.It’s the word the song calls amazing.It’s the concept of grace. Which leads me to the second question that I want to ask you today. Have you ever beheld grace in all its beauty? John Newton tells us in his song that at first he was blind to this grace. See the line at the very end of the first verse near the bottom?It says: Was blind but now I see. Underline: Was blind I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see. How many of you can relate to that line? Being blind to grace?I certainly can.In my childhood my family wasn’t church goers.I did a little Sunday school because of the bus that came to pick us up.I went to a few catholic masses with my friend. But mostly I thot about if I was supposed to sit, kneel, or stand.And in my late teens, I really understood and accepted Christ.But after 6 or 9 months I did the prodigal son thing.I went off in wild living as much as I could.I did anything and everything.I was in a rock band and had that life.I was immoral in relationships.I did every drug in every way they can be done. Except for heroine, thank God, it wasn’t as available then.And then I got a DUI and I lost a great job because I needed to drive.And my life crashed and burned.And at one point, I fell on my face and I cried out to GodAnd I started going to church.And my life was radically changed.My eyes were opened to his grace.All I had done, could be forgiven.All the time I had wasted, could be restored.The course that my life had been on before, even though I left the path, when I came back, He put me further down the path than I was beforeHe used what I had wasted for good.He gave me so much faith and freedom, that I didn’t deserve.I didn’t deserve how much he changed me and blessed me.And that is grace!! You see here’s a few definitions that make it clear.Justice is getting exactly what you deserve.Mercy is getting less than you deserve.Grace is receiving a wonderful gift that you don’t deserve.And the main wonderful gift that none of us deserved is this:That God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believed in him would not perish but could have eternal life.He gave his son.He gave his only son. How wonderful is that?He gave his only son to die on a cross for us in our place.That’s a gift we don’t deserve.That’s grace.Here’s a simple illustration of grace. You prepare your taxes, sign the form, place the check in the envelope and take it to the mailbox and quietly to yourself you say “No one is ever gonna know.” Six months later during the audit, it all comes out. The trial goes quickly.The verdict is guilty.The sentence is 3 years. And the judge says serve every day of the sentence and your debt to society will be paid in full. That’s justice. Justice is getting precisely what you deserve. Hold that thought, same scenario round 2. Tax fraud, same audit.Same verdict, same sentence, 3 years. But for some reason the judge decides to adjust the sentence. He says, Serve the 1st year in prison and then you can serve the last 2 on house arrest with your family. That’s mercy.Mercy is getting less than you deserve.Scenario 3. Tax fraud, same crime, same audit, same verdict, same sentence, 3 years. But this time the judge walks across the street with you to the county jail. And before you walk into the jail cell, he turns to you and says, “You know, I think the world of you. I think the world of you.Now, because I took a vow to uphold the law, I can’t just cancel your sentence. But what I can do is this...”And you watch as he pushes you aside, walks past you into the cell, gently pushes you outside the cell,and closes the steel bar door on himself, and from inside the cell, he says “I can serve this sentence on your behalf and I can set you free.” And in that moment, you . behold . grace. Which is what? Grace is receiving a wonderful gift you don’t deserve. So you blink, to make sure you’re not dreaming and you gasp, as if you just saw the Grand Canyon for the 1st time.And then you say to everyone within earshot, “This is too good to be true! What’s the catch?”But the judge quietly takes a seat on the cot in the metal cell, and says again,“I think the world of you, I think the world of you. So go out & do something terrific with the next 3 years. Make me proud.And then you’re free.And as you stumble out of that building into the bright light of day, you put your hands to your head and say, “This is amazing. This is amazing! This is amazing!Have you ever beheld grace in all its beauty?Not just for 3 years in a prison cell,But Jesus Christ on a blood stained cross on a hillside outside of Jerusalem 2000 years ago, because he thinks the world of you! Maybe you’re starting to see it right now,And you’re saying to yourself, “Too good to be true, what’s the catch. Where’s the fine print? And I would say to you: That’s why they call it . amazing.It is too good to be true.Do you see it?Do you get it today?Alright, one more question from one more part of the song.V. 3 top section, When we’ve been there, ten thousand years. Underline the word there. It’s interesting that Newton didn’t even have to use the word heaven because we all know that there is referring to heaven.”A modern Christian pastor & author, Bill Hybels, described heaven saying:In the scriptures heaven is portrayed as an environment of breathless beauty,deep joyful community, endless discoveryand the eternal replenishment that derives from the creator of it all.So here’s my 3rd and final question today:Are you totally sure about there? Are you totally sure about you winding up there? Now, some think it is the height of presumption to be sure about going to heavenThat you can’t really know.And I would agree ... if it were to depend upon our own efforts and our own ability to get ourselves there.I wouldn’t have an ounce of assurance about heaven if I had to fly straight enough, live righteously enough, behave good enough to earn it or deserve.Because remember who I am, by my own admission, I’m a wretch.I’ve got too much ground to make up.And I could never meet the perfection standard of a holy God.But what’s one way we can define grace again?It’s receiving a wonderful gift that we don’t deserve.The apostle Paul states it this way. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God?not by works, so that no one can boast. This does not come by you!We get it by grace. It is a gift from God.Not by your earning.Not by cleaning up your act.Not by your own goodness plus God’s.It is the gift of God, not of works.This passage, and others like it, are what moved John Newton to write this most enduring song. This passage, and others like it, are what move millions of Christians when they sing this song at church or a gathering or in their car.Because if you’ve experienced the knowledge of your wretchednessAnd know you can’t fix it.And if you know that grace is a wonderful gift you don’t deserveAnd you have received this gift through faith, faith in JC and what he has doneAnd he has made heaven available to you,Then, when you sing Amazing Grace, it stirs you. It fires your emotion.You shake your head, you fight off tears. Or a smile comes across and takes over your whole face.If that’s never happened to you, I’d ask you, have you ever really beheld the beauty of God’s grace.You might be a great person, but you still may be blind to grace.In just a moment we’re gonna stand and we’re all gonna sing it.But before we do, I’ve got just a couple more things for you to do with your papers.I want you to go to the word wretch on that 1st line of the 2nd section.Remember the first question of the day. Have you ever compared yourself against the absolute perfection of a Holy God? Not how you compare to most other people.Not if you are more good than bad.If you compare yourself to the absolute perfection of a holy God,And you would say what John Newton said of himself,And what I say of myself – that you’re a wretchPut your first name in that line.Write your first name after the phrase “wretch like me,”if you agree that’s your condition compare to a holy God.Don’t write someone else’s name in there.Don’t write your husband’s name in there.Don’t go my husband’s a wretch. My wife is a wretch.My boss is a wretch.This is not about them.This is your song sheet.This is your life.But if you say, I’m not a wretch, go ahead and leave it blank.Now go to the last line of the first verse.I once was blind, but now I see.Remember our second question:Have you ever beheld grace in all its beauty? And do you remember the judge stepping into the prison cell that you should have occupied.He serves your sentence.He sets you free.That’s grace.That’s getting a gift you don’t deserve.Remember Jesus Christ, taking your place on a cross,and saying I’m doing this because I think the world of you.I’m taking your place.For by grace you have been saved through faith.Guys do you see grace?Do you see it?Are you seized by it?Are the scales falling off your eyes?If so, I’d like to ask youWhat was the date that that happened for you?What was the day?Write it on the last line after was blind, but now I see. For me I’d write August of 1982.I was 17 years old when I saw grace for real for the first time.If you know the exact date, when you were blind but then you saw,write that in.Some of you don’t know the exact date, but you know the era.Like spring of 78.Or summer 2010. Or Christmas 2013.If you think back and you’d say,I don’t think I’ve ever beheld grace, as clearly as I see it today.I think I see it and grasp it more clearly than I ever have today.Then write, August 24, 2014.You were once blind to grace, but now you see it.Now you know you need it, cause wretches need grace.Now, last blank.On the 3rd verse, 1st line.Remember our third question,Are you totally sure about there?Remember we said, no one should be totally sure about heaven,if you’re thinking of it as something you have to earn.Cause you can’t earn it.We’ve learned that it’s a gift of grace that goes to those who humbly put their faith in Jesus Christ.So maybe on that line, you can write – a gift.Heaven is a gift.You have one other option.You can say it’s a merit badge that I intend to earn.Write it if you want.I think it’s a bad plan.The rest of you write a gift, that I receive.Have you done it?If you know grace ... as we sing, rejoice, live it, give it, share it.If you saw grace in a real way for the first time today, so we can give God glory, would you hold up your paper?So would you stand to your feet and let’s sing ... ................
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