SEMESTER 6
382 – Amazing Grace
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY VI (HYMNOLOGY) LESSON # 82
THE DOCTRINES AND EFFECTS OF CHURCH MUSIC – AMAZING GRACE
Read: Eph. 2:1-9
INTRODUCTION:
1. Many of today’s songs started as poems, or even short stories, of recorded praise.
III: Hearts were filled with burden, relief, praise, or new truths and the thoughts were written down.
2. They were finally perpetuated because they said something. The rest come and go.
3. Such is Amazing Grace. As we know it, greatly shortened, sometimes modified.
4. Explain, by John Newton and what he was before being converted to Christ.
5. Oh, would God forgive such a wicked wretch and give him heaven for hell?
6. He saved John Newton. Let us see, in Amazing Grace, the content of his testimony.
I. THE AMAZING NATURE OF GRACE IN THAT IT WOULD SAVE HIM(EPH. 2:8
)
1. Religion often speaks of grace, but in its own description, denies it.
III: By “Means of grace” baptism, communion, confession, (grace for good).
2. This old sinner knew it was not grace for a good man, but pure grace to a wretch.
3. Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Which are you?
4. He said not that it guided or enlightened, but it saved him. (Rom. 11:5-6)
III: By two recent statements “We are not a Sovereign Grace Baptist Church.” Wrong!
II. THE AMAZING WORK FEAR AND GODLY SORROW GRIPPED HIM
1. It is grace, yea, even by the law, that assaults the wickedness of man’s soul. (Acts 11: 17-18 and II Tim. 2:25)
2. Modern error depicts the essence of grace in the relief of man’s known misery.
III: He delivered me from drugs, drink, failed marriage, troubled business, etc.
3. Truth says it attacks our sin, even when in wretched peace, and gives (metanaeo) repentance.
4. Has this horrible truth of sin gripped your soul by grace, then relieved you?
5. If you have never been a sinner in your own sight, you have never been saved.
III. HE STATES THAT PRESERVATION AND PERSEVERANCE ARE BY GRACE(II TIM. 4:18)
1. What encouragement that the grace of conversion is sufficient for preservation.
2. Victory in Jesus is not by our maintenance of the relationship, but by grace.
III: Through many dangers, toils and snares… Twas grace… and grace shall lead…
3. All the good works that glorify God are of grace. (I Cor. 15:10)
III: If I saw grace triumphing yesterday, I can far better face tomorrow.
4. This experience, as it accumulates, is the very essence of growth in grace.
IV. GRACE NOT WORKS SHALL BE THE SONG OF ETERNITY
1. The error with which some envision heaven shows the error of how they see grace.
III: The self-praise of “I wouldn’t take nothing’ for my journey now.”
2. Heaven and eternity are beyond our imagination. (I Cor. 2:9)
3. No more night, pain, physical deterioration.
III: By Kenneth deteriorating. (Hear on tape.)
III: How in the last 35 years I have seen so many deteriorate and grow old, and yet grow in grace. (Hear on tape.)
4. But in heaven duration ceases and time shall not diminish eternity at all.
5. The theme that shall occupy and constantly thrill our souls shall be Amazing Grace.
6. May grace fill your heart with fear, and may it then totally relieve that fear