“One There Is Above All Others,” a hymn by John Newton

John Newton, 1725-1807.

John Newton wrote many hymns, not just Amazing Grace

Many Christians are familiar with John Newton’s testimony, how he had once been a sailor and slave trader and had despised the God of the Bible. Through a series of crises in his life, his eyes were opened to see and believe. His testimony is partially recorded in his well-known song Amazing Grace.

But Newton wrote many other hymns during his lifetime, including one that I wanted to share on the blog today. I first learned it about 20 years ago when we were members at Trinity Reformed Baptist Church near Baltimore. It quickly became a special song to me.

Newton reminds us that sins committed against us are nothing compared to the sins we commit against God

This morning, I preached at our church’s outdoor service, which we hold once a year during the Labor Day weekend campout on the church property. I spoke about things I’ve been learning lately as I’ve dealt with some hard situations where I was treated unjustly.

As I had looked for ways to comprehend and process the feelings that I was having, a friend reminded me of Hebrews 12:3, which says, “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (ESV)

The sins of others can sting us deeply

Not many years ago, my friend had been swindled out of nearly $300,000 by another of his friends. He said that this verse helped him in that dark period of time. He realized that when we experience sins against us (horizontal sins), we can use the pain that we feel to point us to the sins that we ourselves have committed against God (vertical sins).

Feeling the sting of sin against us helps us to more fully comprehend what it is for us to sin against God. When we are sinned against, we must consider what Jesus endured from sinners like us; otherwise, we will grow weary and fainthearted.

One There Is, Above All Others: Newton’s hymn teaches about the patience of Christ

Speaking of these things reminded me of this hymn by John Newton entitled, One There Is, Above All Others. It speaks of the great kindness of Christ to forgive us and befriend us in spite of our sin against him and the grief we must bring to him.

This copy of the hymn has six verses, all of which have words that comfort or challenge me. I read verse 5 during the sermon, since it is a clear picture of how often I fail to see and appreciate the patience and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Newton’s emphasis is on the Friend that Jesus is to sinners. (To listen to an instrumental track of the song that you can listen to as you read the words, click here.)

One there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end:
They who once His kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love!

Which of all our friends to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled, in Him to God:
This was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.

Men, when raised to lofty stations,
Often know their friends no more;
Slight and scorn their poor relations
Though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
Those whom He redeemed with groans.

When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
Now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same:
Still He calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.

Could we bear from one another,
What He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother,
Loves us though we treat Him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
We, alas! forget too often,
What a Friend we have above:
But when home our souls are brought,
We will love Thee as we ought.