William R. Newell was born in 1868 in Savannah, Ohio. He was the son of a pastor. He grieved his family. His father prayed continually for his son. One day the father wrote a letter to Dr. Torrey, president of Moody Bible Institute. He wanted his son, Bill, to attend the Institute, but the president felt he could not accept him.
The father continued to write to Dr. Torrey, and because of his persistence the president finally agreed to enroll the boy. There were stipulations though. The rebellious teen had to see Dr. Torrey every day and make effort to abide by the rules and requirements of the Institute.
As time went by, Bill remained as good as his word. He tried
desperately to be a good student. He obeyed the rules and stopped by Torrey's
office each day if only to say hello. Days became weeks and weeks rolled into
months, and small improvements were seen here and there.
Bill became a model student. On his way to class one day, he heard words in his mind and stepped into an unoccupied classroom and began to write describing his testimony. Newell said “As I read what I had written, I realized that it was a word picture of what had happened in my life.”
He then paid a visit to the Music Director at Moody, Daniel Towner and showed him the words.
Towner started writing the music. “Bill,” said Dr. Towner, “I was so taken with the poem you gave me that I went immediately to my studio and composed a tune. I feel that it could be the best song that either of us will ever write in our lifetime.” The two men sang it together with gratitude to God.
Newell later graduated, and, in time, returned to become a member of the faculty of Moody Bible Institute. He became a well-known Bible teacher through the Midwest and the author of a popular series of Bible commentaries. He once said that if he had not gone through his troubled years, he might never have fully understood the importance of Calvary’s grace.
He never lost the wonder of what God can do with a prodigal.
Daniel Towner was recognized as a teacher, conductor, soloist, composer, and author. He received his early musical training from his father, J. G. Towner.
In the field of evangelical gospel music, it is said that Towner had few equals. He met D. L. Moody at an evangelistic campaign. Towner trained the choir for those meetings. From that time forward Towner was associated with Moody. He was the first music director at Moody Bible Institute, for the express purpose of training young people in gospel music leadership.
He is credited with over 2000 published songs, confining himself to gospel music and male chorus arrangements. . . The following are some of the more popular gospel hymns for which he composed the music: "Trust and Obey," "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," "Saved by The Blood," and "My Anchor Holds."
Dr. Towner was born in Rome, Pennsylvania, in 1850, and died
in Chicago in his seventieth year.
On Theologian-theology.com: Paul notes that the Colossians were "once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds…" There was a relational rift between God and the Colossians, characterized by a hostility they bore toward Him. This hostility might be the Colossians rejection of God’s authority in favor of the powers of darkness. This estrangement and hostility was expressed by their evil deeds. Their deeds demonstrated that they rejected God’s authority insofar as their deeds failed to conform to God’s will. However, Christ has now reconciled them back to God through His death on the cross.”
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The apostle knew that he would justly have perished, if the Lord had been extreme to mark what was amiss; and also if His grace and mercy had not been abundant to him when dead in sin, working faith and love to Christ in his heart. This is a faithful saying; these are true and faithful words, which may be depended on, That the Son of God came into the world, willingly and purposely to save sinners.
Christianity.com: God's eternal love or good-will toward His creatures, is the fountain whence all His mercies flow to us; and that love of God is great love, and that mercy is rich mercy . . . The grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God . . . Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul.”
Studylight.org: God has loved you from eternity; there has never been a time when God didn't love you. There will never be a time when God doesn't love you.
