"By The Grace Of GOD I Am What I Am!"

John Newton's tombstone

In his old age, when he could no longer see

to read, John Newton, the author of "Amazing 

Grace"heard someone recite this verse, 

"By the grace of God--I am what I am." 
1 Corinthians 15:10. 

He remained silent a short time, 

and then said: 

I am not what I ought to be. 

Ah! how imperfect and deficient.

I am not what I might be, considering 

my privileges and opportunities. 

I am not what I wish to be. GOD, 

who knows my heart--

knows I wish to be like HIM. 

I am not what I hope to be. 

Before long, I will drop this clay 

tabernacle, to be like HIM and 

see HIM as He is!

Yet, I am not what I once was--

a child of sin, and slave of the devil!

Though not all these--

not what I ought to be, 

not what I might be, not 

what I wish or hope to be, 

and not what I once was--

I think I can truly say with 

the apostle, 

"By the grace of GOD--I am what I am!"

At the age of 82, Newton said,

"My memory is nearly gone, but

I remember two things:

 that I am a great sinner--

and that CHRIST is a great SAVIOR!"

John Newton's tombstone reads: 

"John Newton, once an infidel and 

libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, 

was, by the rich mercy of our LORD 

and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, 

preserved, restored, pardoned, 

and appointed to preach the faith 

he had long labored to destroy!"

"By the grace of GOD I am what I am!" 
1 Corinthians 15:10

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GraceGems has published Richard Baxter's outstanding 3 page article,
"How to Spend Each Day with God".