INTRODUCTION: A man we all have heard of, his mother died when he was seven years old, however, she taught him to read at the age of three and by the time he was four he could read most books with comprehension.

After her death, he went to sea with his Father. He at the start was a good boy, again however, when the good apple is put in the barrel of bad apples the good apple loses. In the company of morally depraved individuals he started down a path of moral depravity.

He became a slave trader among other shipping trades. He once was so sick the captive slaves pitied him and shared their meager portions with him. That did not change him.

Once on an island off the North Coast of Africa, he became so sick, he thought he would die. He was weak, delirious, he finally made it out of bed and made his way to a secluded spot, where he found Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

This person John Newton was the author of “Amazing Grace” found four things in his Bible that he had to realize:

I. WE ARE SINNERS
A. I Am A Sinner Before God

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1. Sins of omission
a. Failing to do what is required of us by God.
2. Sins of co-mission
a. Purposely sinning

B. We have all come short

(Isaiah 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1. We have all turned away

(Psalms 14:1-4) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

2. Come back as the Prodigal Son did.

He realized
II. I CANNOT SAVE MYSELF
A. What Do I Deserve?

(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; ...

1. The Lake of Fire

(Revelation 20:14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

2. Christians die only once
B. We Have An Appointed Time To Die.

(Hebrews 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

1. Christ died only once
a. Again for Saved, Born again individuals we also only die once.

He realized
III. JESUS PAID IT ALL
A. He Accepted My Punishment
1. With His blood

B. God Demonstrated His Love For Me

(Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1. Christ on the Cross
2. Christ in the Tomb
3. Jesus Christ Arisen

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He realized
IV. I MUST ACCEPT JESUS’ DEATH AS PAYMENT FOR MY SINS

A. Confess Your Sins
1. Restore your fellowship

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

2. You and I can exceed our own expectations
3. You cannot exceed God’s expectations

B. Christ On The Cross Was Our Ransom
1. Our unmerited favor
a. “Amazing Grace”
2. The ransom was paid
a. Paid in full

CONCLUSION: Two years after John’s conversion he was at home and married his childhood sweetheart. During the next fourteen years he studied for the ministry. At the age of 39 he accepted a pastorate. In 1779 he published a hymnal with 281 of his own songs, of which was the song “Amazing Grace.”

1. If you do not know Jesus as your savior
a. If you feel your sins are to great to be forgiven.
b. Remember John Newton, the worst of the worst.
2. If you do know Jesus
a. And bitterness or sin has a foothold of your life.
b. Remember John Newton, never a more bitter soul, got saved.
i. Jesus will forgive and restore your fellowship
ii. Ask Him now
iii. Come to the altar you have salvation, restore your fellowship today
c. Jesus blood erases your sins
d. Jesus’ blood gives new life.