I AM A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

Almost everyone knows the great hymn AMAZING GRACE, but  perhaps not everyone knows it was written by the Rev. John Newton (1725-1802) a British Anglican Minister, formerly a blaspheming sailor and slave trader who had a wonderful conversion to Christ.
I saw a statement on FB last week written by him and was so blest by it I decided to reposted it.

I AM A GREAT SINNER AND CHRIST IS A GREAT SAVIOUR

Very quickly I received a comment “We are no longer sinners, our sin consciousness has been done away with.”. I simply responded and said I wish “I could say I was sinless”.
The lady had read an article I think by a “cheap grace” preacher and she had embraced his unbalanced teaching. I agree we must not have such  a sin consciousness that so overwhelms us, that we think we are “a worm” and worthless.  BUT the Psalmist reminds us that if “I regard (have) iniquity in my  heart the Lord will not hear Psalm 68:18 NKJV  and the Apostle John tells us “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us 1 John 1:8 NKJV     BUT

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His Name, His Nature and His promises) to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9 NKJV & AMP.

I than God again today that 66 years ago i was born again and the  burden of sin rolled away, and I received the Gift of Eternal Life, but sad to say I have failed the Lord so many times, and daily come to  Cross (The Brazen Altar) and confess my sin to the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, and His precious blood washes my heart totally clean. The Word of God clearly indicates that through the work of the Cross and the Resurrection I can live above sin.

NOT THAT I CANNOT SIN BUT NEED NOT SIN.

This is the goal of my heart to live above sin, I have not come to that place yet, so spend considerable time every day preparing my heart so that my time of prayer is effective and fruitful.
I know the depravity of my heart (Jeremiah 17:9)  and humbly echo John Newton”s words. I AM A GREAT SINNER AND CHRIST IS A GREAT SAVIOUR     HALLELUJAH.
We often ask ourselves “where would be today BUT for the grace of God”  It was the Grace of God that brought us into the Kingdom of God, it is the Grace of God that keeps us in the Kingdom of God, and it is His Grace that will take us into that eternal Kingdom.
There is nothing new in this blog today, just a reminder, that with Him I can do nothing, but with Him, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me Philippians 4:13 NKJV