Hymn Name: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Writer: John Newton (Original), Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio (New Bridge)
Composer: Traditional American Melody (“New Britain”), Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio (New Bridge)
Date Written: 1772 (Original), 2006 (New Bridge)
Major Theme: Freedom from sin; The overwhelming power of God’s grace to break every chain.
The Story Behind the Song
While the original “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton in the 18th century as a testimony of his own transformation from a slave trader to a minister, the “My Chains Are Gone” version was created for the 2006 film Amazing Grace. Chris Tomlin was asked to write a new bridge that would capture the essence of Newton’s life and the abolitionist movement. Tomlin discovered that Newton’s original lyrics actually had several verses that were rarely sung, which helped inspire the theme of liberation.
The addition of the bridge “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free” transformed the classic hymn into a modern anthem of spiritual and physical freedom. It connects the historical struggle for abolition with the personal spiritual struggle of every believer. Today, this version is one of the most widely sung arrangements of the hymn, bridging the gap between centuries of tradition and modern worship expression.
Why We Love This Hymn
We love this version of the hymn because it takes a familiar truth and makes it feel immediate and personal. The declaration that our “chains are gone” provides a powerful visual for what happens at the moment of salvation. It moves the singer from reflecting on grace as a concept to celebrating grace as a tangible force of liberation. It reminds us that God doesn’t just forgive our past; He actively breaks the power of the things that once held us captive.
The song also highlights the “Unending love, amazing grace” of God, emphasizing that His mercy is a “flood” that overwhelms our failures. By combining the timeless verses of Newton with a triumphant modern chorus, it reminds us that the Gospel never loses its power. For anyone feeling bound by regret, addiction, or fear, this hymn stands as a bold reminder that in Christ, the prison doors are wide open and the Savior has already paid the price for our freedom.
Lyrics & Scripture Foundations
“My chains are gone, I’ve been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me.”
Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:6 – “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 — “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
“And like a flood His mercy reigns, Unending love, amazing grace.”
Scripture: Romans 5:20 — “…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
“The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine;”
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:10 — “…the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Complete Lyrics
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus:
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Music with Lyrics by writer and composer Chris Tomlin
Related Post: Hymn Spotlight: Amazing Grace