Two things that I enjoyed eating growing up were Chicken Nuggets and Fig Newtons (don’t worry, I didn’t eat them together!). I’ve recently been enjoying different sorts of nuggets from a different Newton, as I read a book called Newton on the Christian Life that highlights some spiritual nuggets that John Newton offered.

Even if you have never heard of John Newton before, you are probably familiar with some of his words as he is the one who wrote the classic song, “Amazing Grace.” That song certainly contains important spiritual nuggets, but there are many more he offered in the context of his ministry as a pastor in England in the 18th century. Many of these great sayings appear in the letters that he wrote to various people, offering them advice and thoughts while he also reflected upon the amazing transforming work that God did in his life in turning a profane sailor and slavetrader into a loving pastor and abolitionist. 

Since I always found it tough to constrain myself to eat the recommended serving size of two fig newtons and ordered the six piece nugget meal, I thought I would highlight six spiritual nuggets from John Newton that stand alongside “Amazing Grace” and have recently ministered to my soul, and I suspect may help you as well.

“I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.”

I suspect that Newton said this on many occasions. The most common context I have seen for this quote is towards the end of his life, when he noted that his memory was fading but these are the two things that he remembers clearly. Newton was very aware of his sin, both in terms of his past before he experienced God’s grace but also of the struggle it is to walk faithfully with Christ in this world. Recognizing the depth of his sin, however, did not lead him to despair but rather to recognize how great God is – and how amazing His grace is. These two truths that Newton remembered led him to write “Amazing Grace,” which has blessed so many. Quotes like this one continue to inspire many. In fact, something similar that Newton said – “Our sins are many, but his mercies are more: our sins are great, but his righteousness is greater” – was the impetus for the 2022 song “His Mercy is More,” which Faith Church, and many other churches, sing.

“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be… yet I can truly say, I am not what I once was.”
These words echo what we see the Apostle Paul write in 1 Corinthians 15:10 (see this recent post for more discussion on that great verse), as Newton’s life had similarity to Paul’s in God calling them out of great sin into great ministry. Here, we see that Newton realizes what God has done in his life – as he is not what he once was – but also that he continues to strive forward in faith, as he says that he is not yet what he should be, wishes to be, and hopes to be. The Christian life is one in which we endeavor to grow more like Christ but also find ourselves falling short. But rather than being discouraged, we need to remember what we were and what God has done in us. We won’t reach our target on this side of heaven, but we should not forget the progress that God’s grace has and will make in our lives. 

“‘None but Jesus!’ is my motto. All wisdom, righteousness, holiness and happiness, which does not spring from and center in Him—I renounce.”

The two words most associated with Newton are “amazing grace” – and for good reason – but this statement makes me think that if he could only be remembered for saying one thing, it would be three words: “None but Jesus!” This motto is to remember both the beauty and power found in Jesus, but also the fact that many things will seek to pull us away from him. These are not always worldly things but can be “religious” things too, such as our works of righteousness. Because Christ alone saves us, we should echo Newton’s motto of “None but Jesus” in our lives. 

“Everything is necessary that God sends our way; nothing can be necessary that he withholds.”
Newton did not live a life immune from suffering, as he both personally suffered and also walked with others that suffered. Yet in his sufferings, he continued to look to Jesus and he directed others to as well. These words, reflecting upon Romans 8:28, stand as the basis for why he could stay faithful and the advice he would give to others in their suffering. We can rest and trust in God’s providence, that even in the midst of suffering we have a God who provides what is needed and will not hold back the things that we need. It does not mean that life will be easy or feel good, but that we have God who is at work in and through all times. 

“That monster Self has as many heads as Hydra, and as many lives as a cat.”
I find both the imagery and the truth of this quotation interesting. Our culture still refers to cats as having “nine lives,” but the figure of the Hydra is a bit more obscure. It refers to a mythical creature that had nine heads. While both figures might be associated with nine, I don’t think that Newton is necessarily referring to a particular number but rather that our selfish nature is multi-faceted. It shows itself in different ways in different people, and even in different ways within ourselves. And killing our selfish desires isn’t a “one and done” thing, as we might think we have put something to death only to see it arise up in our hearts again. For example, we may think we have become patient only to see a new way that impatience works itself out in our hearts. Newton studied his heart and the hearts of those he knew, trying to recognize the various “heads” of this “hydra” and encourage us to keep on putting it to death by God’s grace. 

“I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon.”

These are said to be Newton’s final words and shows how he viewed this world and the world to come. This world is the world of death, as we are surrounded by death. Our death, however, is not the end of us, but rather opens us up to true life; when we die, we go to the land of the living. In these words, we see Newton embodying the words of the Apostle Paul that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Or to paraphrase the words of Newton’s great song, God’s grace will lead us home where we’ll be singing God’s praise for ten thousand years and more!

For More Nuggets
If you are interested in discovering more of the amazing spiritual nuggets that come from John Newton, the author of the book I read (Tony Reinke) has a page of quotes from Newton that are “tweetable” – meaning they are short and sweet. In addition to Newton on the Christian Life, another great book about John Newton is called John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace. I’m thankful to God that he chose to save the blind wretch called John Newton by His amazing grace so that he could see and, in turn, help me and so many others remember God’s amazing grace in saving wretches like me.

Questions about the Bible or theology? Email them to Pastor Brian at Theology@WeAreFaith.org. You can also email to be added to the list that receives weekly emails with our blog posts.