“ Amazing grace, how sweet the sound….” wrote John Newton. He knew personally what the word grace really meant. He understood that God is the God of all grace, and that everything in life is an expression of such “unmerited favor.”

For instance, the creation of the universe was an act of God’s grace. He was under no obligation or need to do so. He gained glory through his creation, but it has resulted in life for myriads of animals and humans.

God chose Abraham by grace. Abraham was a pagan worshipper of idols when God called him. It was by grace that God made a covenant with Abraham, for Abraham did not do anything deserving of this relationship with God. Through that covenant God continues to gain glory, and through that covenant many souls are saved.

Some say jokingly, “how odd of God to choose the Jews,” but it is odd. God told them they were not a good people, not a numerous people, not a strong people. God loved them, and God chose them. It was a matter of pure, sovereign grace. Though they continually rebelled against the God who chose them, he continued to honor his covenant with them. Do not think that the Old Testament has no grace to it! Choice is by grace, covenant is by grace, the law, which was good and blessed their lives, was by grace. And their salvation is in Christ and by grace, just like ours.

When we come to us Gentiles, grace continues, and it is no less amazing. Who were we? Pagans, rebels against God, worshippers of idols, living far from God in heart, mind, and deed. Yet God graciously extended his covenant and its promises to include those Gentiles as well as Jews whom he sovereignly chose to call. Thus Peter announced on the day of Pentecost that the promise would extend to as many as the Lord our God will call to himself (Acts 2:39).

It is all of grace, for none of God’s blessings is deserved by man, and none is initiated by man. We are hopeless and helpless. And it is amazing because of who and what we were. How inexplicable, how marvelous, how mysterious, how….utterly amazing it is that God should love and save sinners!