For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9. John Newton, who penned the hymn "Amazing Grace" was once an evil and brutal man. Prior to entering the Christian ministry, he was a ship captain and a slave trader. However, his life changed for the better after a near death experience. His ship was caught in a violent storm. That raging storm was so monstrous, at one point he thought his ship would sink. In desperation, he cried out, "Lord save me." Upon reflecting on his near death experience, Newton came to realize that God's grace and mercy came even to a wretch like him. Shortly after, he left the slave trade and entered the Christian ministry. Paul reminds us in the text that salvation is based upon God's grace in Christ and comes to us through faith. We humans don't have the power to change our lives and live a perfect life. The prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 64:6, "All of our righteous acts are like filthy rags." God, in His goodness, mercy, and love, reaches out and draws us to Him. God did all the hard work for us. Jesus paid the price for our salvation. Scripture tells us in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Unlike some religions which require the convert to undergo herculean tasks and complete great feats, Christians do not have to jump through hoops to receive God's grace and mercy. All of the hard work has been done for us. Whether we want to believe it or not, we had no part in our salvation. When we were still enemies of God, He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we can become the children of God. God has accepted us as His children through the merits of Christ's crucifixion and death. We become partakers of salvation through faith, which is the hand that receives salvation earned by Christ. When we consider all that God's love had done for us, we should respond by rejoicing. In the midst of our Lenten penitence, the thought of rejoicing may seem a bit out of place. However, as we make this journey to Jerusalem and look forward to Easter, we observe Lent with repentant joy because we know the outcome of the Passion of our Lord. Wherever you are today, whatever your state, God's mercy is available to you. Some people find it difficult to believe that it is so simple. Believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. It does not matter how great your sin is, God can and is willing to fix you. As long as you live, you can receive that grace which is God's love in Christ Jesus. Therefore, when you think that you are so perfect and that you are doing so much for God, think again. It is not you who is doing so much for God. It is God who is doing so much for you. Believe it. Salvation is a gift from the hand of God. It is free, for all people. Even an evil man like John Newton, a slave trader, received that gift of salvation and went on to share his story and his joy with the world, through the hymn he penned, "Amazing Grace". I know of many who can share a similar story. I too was once lost, but now I am found. God changed a wretch like me. Amen. Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at The Lutheran Church of Nassau, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas, or telephone 323-4107; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com; Website: www.Nassaulutheranchurch.org.

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