O How the Grace of God Amazes Me
Reformation Trust Publishing is releasing a new book this month by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson entitled By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me. The inspiration for this title came from a little-known hymn, "O How the Grace of God Amazes Me," by African pastor Emmanuel T. Sibomana.
Although little is known about Sibomana, we do know he was born in 1915 and became a Christian in his late teens or early twenties. In 1946, he published the hymn that would be later translated as "O How the Grace of God Amazes Me."
One of the things that makes this hymn unusually unique is that it touches on aspects of grace other hymns do not address and provides content worthy of further exploration. Each of the seven chapters of By Grace Alone is based upon a stanza of the hymn. "The hymn captures the rich contours and multisided character of the grace of God. Reflecting on the themes of its verses led me eventually to work through the biblical material that lies behind them," says Dr. Ferguson. "This book is the result."
But why another book on amazing grace? "For one reason: not all Christians find it so amazing. With the help of Pastor Sibomana's hymn, these pages reflect on God's grace from seven angles. Tasting the power of the grace of God can refresh the inner sanctuaries of our being, and banish the spiritual lethargy and indifference that take God's goodness and love for granted," explains Dr. Ferguson. "After all, if we are not amazed by God's grace, can we really be living in it? By its very nature, God's grace astonishes those who taste it and amazes those who receive it."
We invite you to enjoy a free MP3 download of the Saint Andrew's Chamber Choir singing this hymn as arranged by Dr. Terry Yount. The sheet music and lyrics are also available:
MP3 Download (Right click on the link to save to your computer.)