John Newton wrote “Amazing Grace” and some of his story, along with William Wilberforce who was a leader in abolishing slavery, can be seen in the movie Amazing Grace.
In the movie John says:
Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly. I’m a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.
I have to remind myself of this everyday and not allow myself to think “I’m not so bad”, yet even in my sinful nature God loves me unconditionally!
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. Romans 7:21 NIV
but with God:
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NASB