Amazing Grace in an Amazing Life

The author of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, had a truly amazing life.  His biography reads like the script of an action-adventure movie.  Born in London in 1725, John was the son of a sea captain.  Living in the age of sail, he made five voyages with his father, beginning at the age of 11.  Young John was forced into the Royal Navy in 1744 by a “press-gang,” which was a traditional, if inhumane, way of filling out the crews of navy ships.  Life was brutal in the Royal Navy at that time.  Newton soon deserted, was caught, and was flogged.  Later, when he had the opportunity, he joined the crew of a merchant ship.  So it was that John Newton found himself in the slave trade.  He made three voyages as captain of his own slave ship.  John was married in 1750 and his seafaring days ended in 1754.  He lived in Liverpool for the next ten years, and during this time was converted.  Newton was concerned to undo the evil of his past, and he became a minister of the gospel in 1764, at the age of 39.  There is uncertainty as to the exact time of his conversion.  Newton believed that regeneration is instantaneous, but assurance that it has occurred grows gradually over time.  This is a very important lesson which needs to be taken to heart today.  Certainty as to the exact date is not what matters, but progressive evidence of the reality of new life in Christ does.  Personal assurance of salvation is not to be grounded on a specific event in the past, but on present evidence of a changed heart and life.  Not understanding this is the reason there are many people today who profess Christianity and yet live in a way that utterly contradicts what they profess to believe.  The idea of conversion as the decision of a moment is emphasized too much in our day.  The equally necessary truth that the believer must continually pursue the path of holiness has been neglected too long.  There is no greater tragedy than being deceived that you are going to be in heaven, when you are not!  John Piper recently stated that his greatest concern in the church is with those who are deceived in this way.