Jerry Bridges begins his book Transforming Grace by claiming that perhaps God’s grace is one of the least understood doctrines in Christianity. Going into reading this book, I believed his assertion to be wrong, that my knowledge of God’s grace was sufficient. However, to my delight (and chagrin), what I found in Transforming Grace was deeper knowledge of God’s abounding love and grace in my life.
Bridges spends the first five chapters expounding on God’s grace and what the Bible has to say about it. He seeks to thoroughly expand the reader's understanding of how good our God actually is. Bridges lets God’s Word lead in his exposition, pointing the reader again and again to the gift of God’s grace as demonstrated throughout the Bible and our daily lives. He passionately encourages and exhorts his readers to truly seek to live by God’s grace and grace alone, and he helps describe what that might look like.
Starting in chapter six, Bridges addresses the common battle between good works and grace. He expresses in clear and concise terms that a true response to God’s grace in our lives should indeed be good works, but he warns against the dangers of falling into legalism. He also encourages the reader to seek God’s grace through His Word and prayer.
Bridges closes his book with a beautiful chapter titled "Garments of Grace," where he exhorts the reader using Colossians 3:12-14. Bridges encourages the reader in the closing of the book, “So I invite you and urge you to lay aside any remnant of self-goodness you may think you still have. Admit your total spiritual bankruptcy, and drink deeply from the infinite grace of God. And then in deep awareness of what you have received, extend that same spirit of grace to others.”
For me, this book was not only an expert exposition of the wonderful and complex doctrine of God’s grace but a much-needed reminder of the how and the why of my good works and spiritual disciplines. God’s grace is what inspires and powers all my work, not to mention every breath I take. His love for me is what should motivate me to love others. His love literally compels me to act according to His revealed will, and there is no act of my own strength or will that could possibly earn His grace, which is freely given in Jesus Christ, through no merit of my own.
Justin has been member of Faith Bible Church since 2021. He and his wife, Bri, have four children.
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