Great Sinners, Greater Savior

Author: Dr. Bob Caldwell

The Lord has promis’d good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Do you recognize this great old hymn? No? It is only part of one of the world’s most famous hymns ever. Maybe your congregation doesn’t sing hymns very often, but should recognize this one. Let’s try another verse:

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

Still having trouble? What if I told you that this hymn originally had six verses, that others were added to it (by other people) over the years, and that today we sing the first three and one of the added verses?

This earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call’d me here below,

Will be forever mine.

I like these other original verses. I wish we sang them. Although the final verse that we sing is a fitting conclusion as well.

This hymn was written in England in 1772 and published in 1779. It was written as the author reflected on King David saying to the Lord, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” (1 Chr. 17:16), hence the original title. As was common in those days, it was attached to a lot of different tunes. The famous tune was written for it around 1835, probably in America, long after the author’s death.

Its author was a slave-ship captain who was converted to Christ. He became a famous minister, who, in addition to pastoring a couple of churches—travelled throughout England telling his story and preaching the gospel.

At St. Mary Woollchurch in London, one of his parishioners was a man named William Wilberforce. Young William was so taken by the gospel, and the testimony of his pastor, that within a few years of his election to Parliament, he began the campaign to outlaw slave trading throughout the British Empire. It took him from 1790 to 1807, but he finally won the fight to stop this horrible evil. The author of our famous hymn died that same year.

By now, you may have figured that the hymn to which I have been referring is Amazing Grace and its author was John Newton. The story of how William Wilberforce ended the slave trade in Great Britain and his relationship to John Newton is told very powerfully in the new film Amazing Grace. The movie contains little of the gospel of individual salvation, but much of the action that can be wrought by a man infused with that gospel message. I recommend it to all.

My favorite scene from the movie is taken from part of John Newton’s life. As the aged, blind minister nears the end of his life he says, “I know two things: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior.”

Amen, brother John, amen.