Skip to content ↓

Answer to ‘Tis a Point

Tis a Point I Long to Know

A short time ago I shared a beautiful little poem by John Newton: ‘Tis a Point I Long to Know. In that poem Newton professes the universal experience of the Christian in our searching, our wondering, our perplexity, and, eventually, our confidence. After I posted it, I learned that a friend of Newton’s penned a poetic response titled “Answer to ‘Tis a Point.”” I hope you’ll read it (aloud!) and be encouraged by it.

What is this point you long to know,
methinks I hear you say, ’tis this –
I want to know I’m born of God,
an heir of everlasting bliss.

Is this the point you long to know?
The point is settled in my view –
for if you want to love your God,
it proves He first loved you.

I want to know Christ died for me,
I want to feel the seal within;
I want to know Christ’s precious blood,
was shed to wash away my sin.

I want to feel more love to Christ,
I want more liberty in prayer;
but when I looked within my heart,
it almost drives me to despair.

I want a mind more firmly fixed,
on Christ, my everlasting Head;
I want to feel my soul alive,
and not so barren and so dead.

I want more faith, a stronger faith,
I want to feel it’s power within;
I want to feel more love to God,
I want to feel less love to sin.

I want to live above the world,
and count it all but trash and toys;
I want more tokens of God’s grace,
some foretaste of eternal joys.

I want – I know not what I want,
I want that real, special good;
yet all my wants are summed up here,
I want to love! I want my God!

Is this the point you long to know?
The dead can neither feel nor see;
it is the slave that’s bound in chains,
that knows the worth of liberty.

So where a want like this is found,
I think I may be bold to say:
that God has fixed within thy heart,
what hell can never take away.

However small thy grace appears,
there’s plenty in thy Living Head;
these wants you feel, my Christian friend,
were never found amongst the dead.


  • Planted in the Word

    Planted in the Word

    There are a lot of Bible study guides out there. However, the need is not nearly saturated because there are also a lot of Bible readers, many of whom study the Word carefully and repeatedly throughout their Christian lives. For that reason, we cannot have too many guides to assist in reading, understanding, and applying…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (May 16)

    A La Carte: The role of dance in Christian worship / A community for broken homes / Our reason for missionary risk / The longings of the human heart / I’m not a handyman / Affluence, regret, identity crises / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (May 15)

    A La Carte: The clever move of Leo XIV / People expect church to be churchy / Don’t let TikTok disciple your kids / Playing God with children / Overcoming barriers to hospitality / Real men sing / and more.

  • Is This Really a Good Idea

    Is This Really a Good Idea?

    Would it be okay if we engage our imaginations a little bit today? Though it’s not the standard fare of this site, how about we try it and see how it goes?

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (May 14)

    A La Carte: Could scrolling become the new smoking? / Are children a blessing? / Expository preaching: The new golden calf / A tale of two prayers / How moms can care for women experiencing infertility / Book sale / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (May 13)

    A La Carte: She and I / The ruthless elimination of sloth / Do we need to see ourselves represented? / How do I leave my sin at the foot of the cross? / Is your family calendar built on faithfulness? / and more.