Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love [Kindle Edition]

Jerry Bridges (Author), Gary Collins (Author)

Book Description

The freedom in falling short of God's standard relies on His gift of grace. Unfortunately, too many of us forget the free offer. We spend our lives basing our relationship with God on our performance rather than on Him. We see our identity as never being worthy of His love.Isn't it time to stop trying to measure up and begin accepting the transforming power of God's grace?The product of more than 10 years of Bible study, Navigator author Jerry Bridges' Transforming Grace is a fountainhead of inspiration and renewal that will show you just how inexhaustible and generous God's grace really is.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Funny how the exceeding riches of God’s grace seem to run out the moment we’re saved. From then on, we tend to base our relationship with Him on our performance rather than on His grace. Of course, God continues to deal with us on the basis of His grace, whether or not we understand it. It’s just that when we don’t, we forgo the abundant freedoms that come from not having to measure up.

The product of more than ten years of Bible study, Transforming Grace is a fountainhead of inspiration and renewal that will show you just how inexhaustible and generous God’s grace really is. You’ll never be able to ask for too much, need too much, hope for too much, or even sin too much. Like a never-ending stream of ocean waves crashing on the shore, His grace “superabounds” toward you without measure.

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Bridges is the best-selling author of such books as The Pursuit of Holiness, Trusting God, and The Practice of Godliness. Jerry is on staff with The Navigators’ collegiate ministry. A popular speaker known around the world, Jerry lives with his wife, Jane, in Colorado Springs.

Product Details

• File Size: 1618 KB
• Print Length: 272 pages
• Publisher: NavPress; New Edition edition (April 22, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0026RI7N2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,167 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Soteriology

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks, I needed that!! December 6, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Have you ever struggled with wanting to serve and please God, but giving up, because you just couldn't do it? I have.

I wanted to live a life that was pleasing to God, but every time I tried, I messed up big-time. I finally just gave up, resigned myself to the fact that I just couldn't do it, so why try?

I stopped going to church, because "I didn't want to be a hypocrite". I started spending time with my friends every weekend at the local pub. I lived with men I wasn't married to, all the while lying to my family about it.

Then, it became an every night deal. All the while I knew I shouldn't be there and I shouldn't be living this way. But God never let me go. His Holy Spirit was always there "nagging" at me to leave that lifestyle and live like a child of God should. Gradually He brought people into my life who showed and taught me what my salvation was really all about. I grew ever so slowly, but I did grow.

After several years of very slow, but constant growth in biblical understanding, I was introduced to several books by Jerry Bridges. They were all very good, and I learned very much through them. But, when I read TRANSFORMING GRACE, my life truly changed!

You need to read this book! You WON'T regret it!!!!!

I thank God for sending Mr. Bridges to explain it all to me so clearly and so biblically! And, Mr. Bridges, I thank YOU for answering His call and allowing him to use you in a mighty way in my life and in the lives of countless others!

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The context and content of the concept of Grace October 5, 2004

By Bill Newcomer

Format:Paperback

One can read a book about a topic, but it may seem all to academic unless there is something related to the content of that book that you yourself have had to wrestle through. I do not endorse Jerry Bridges' "Transforming Grace" because it tickles my academic theological fancy. I endorse this book because I've "Been there... Done that... Got the t-shirt..."

Jerry Bridges articulates conclusions and thoughts I have come to regarding the Biblical concept of grace in the life of the believer; conclusions and thoughts I came to after wrestling with the issues of law and grace in the context of a former church characterized by a sophisticated subtle legalism founded in a scholastic pseudo-Puritanism; thoughts and conclusions forged in the fire of painful experience, the study of Scripture, and prayer. Bridges has not only articulated many of the same thoughts and conclusions I had come to regarding a Biblical concept of grace, he has expanded on them.

I also saw in "Transforming Grace" some of the principles and concepts set forth by Francis Schaffer in his seminal work "True Spirituality". The advantage of Bridges work is that it articulates those things from "True Spirituality" on a more popular and understandable level.

The Apostle Paul very clearly states in Titus 2:11-12 that it is Biblical grace that teaches us how to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly and righteously and godly in the present age. It is a focus on grace that teaches these things, not a focus on the law or duty or scrupulosity. It is not that there is no place for law and duty, but that place is subordinate to grace, not equal to, above, or apart from it. This truth is a foundational principle to what Bridges is saying in "Transforming Grace"....

The grace that is spoken of in this book is not some vague concept of "grace" that has no content or context. It is the grace of God as exhibited in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in the context of the Gospel that grace has content and meaning. Bridges clearly articulates the great cost of grace from God's perspective in the work and suffering of Jesus Christ. It's through the payment of that great cost by Christ Himself that grace becomes free, unearned, and un-conditional not just for lost and bankrupt sinners, but also for forgiven sinners living their Christian lives in response to the grace and love God has shown them. "Transforming Grace" clearly sets out that Biblical grace is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense."

Nor is Bridges pulling his view of grace out of a hat. This book looks at Scripture and expounds relevant passages.

"Transforming Grace" exposes the latent legalism that still afflicts the Evangelical church at large. But neither is antinomianism spared. Both legalism and antinomianism share the same basic fundamental flaw. Both are the result of an insufficient view of what the Gospel is, and what the grace of God in the Gospel does. It is a focus on the grace of God in the Gospel that will keep us in the way that leads to life, will keep our life in Biblical balance, and is the basis of all true Biblical spirituality.

If you are looking for a well-balanced presentation of what Biblical grace is, I highly recommend "Transforming Grace". Read more ›

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I Understand! March 24, 2003

By David Knight

Format:Paperback

I never understood God's grace and what it meant until I read "Transforming grace". I have spent years trying to earn what God had already given to me freely- eternal salvation. I no longer see God as a task master ready to step on me for the smallest infraction. I now see him as the God who loved me even when I was at emnity with him. Thats grace! I see God as a holy,gracious,generous,loving, and good God.

If you've been feeling like the life of the believer is more of a burden than a blessing, then you need to read this book. I promise that you won't feel like that after reading this book. You will be walking once and for all in the light of God's wonderful grace.

I really recommend this book. It's an easy read, and Jerry Bridges keeps it real and biblical.

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Torturous Journey June 12, 2011

By swalk

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Anytime anyone talks about God's Grace they will always receive a high five from me. But in spite of that I can only give this book 3 stars, and I was inclined to rate it even lower. The first part of the book is a wonderful presentation of God's grace. Grace that not only does not come because of our merit but comes in spite of our demerit. In fact, it throws out the whole merit/demerit system altogether. As I said, this was very good.

If the book stopped there, it would have been worthy of 5 stars. However, because the author is afraid of being called 'antinomian' and feels the needs to somehow cover for God's holiness in His graciousness toward sinners, the second part of the book is exceedingly torturous and painful as it takes back everything he freely gave us in the first part. No sooner has the author free the believer with grace then, as fast as lightening, he binds him up again in bondage to the Law.

The solution to the author's problem (although the author does not appear to understand for all his good intentions) is that the issue is not whether or not there are things in the Law that we can benefit from today. Of course there are. All the Bible is for us. The issue is whether or not God is now dealing with us on the basis of a System of Law/Works or a System of Grace/Faith.

Since God raised up the Apostle Paul to preach his Gospel of Grace to the nations about 2000 years ago, God is no longer dealing with the world on the basis of a system of Law/Works through Israel and her Rise (something spoken about since the world began--Prophecy) but on the basis of a system of Grace/Faith apart from Israel and her Law and in spite of her Fall (something NOT spoken of since the world began--the Mystery).... A Law/Works system is a system of command with required blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience. This is the system that Israel lived under for 1500 years, and they proved once and for all that mankind cannot approach God on the basis of a Law/Works sytem. All they could attain even with all their divine advantages were nothing but the curses, which culminated in their removal from the land, the destruction of their nation and the sacking of their city, Jerusalem, with her Temple. At that time Gentiles participated in God's program by coming to Israel and her Law system.

A Grace/Faith system, however, is a system that blesses based on the Person and Work, merit, effort and performance of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is based on who He is and what He has done, not who we are or what we have done. And these blessings are given freely to all who believe. This program has been in effect since God's raised up the Apostle Paul in the 1st century to proclaim.

The author messes up everything in God's plan when he brings the believer back under the Law, even if only the "Moral" part of the Law. Doesn't he know that the "Moral" Law does NOT say "Thou shalt not covet nor lie nor commit adultery?" NO! It says "Thou shalt not covet nor lie nor commit adultery, and if you do covet, lie or commit adultery you shall surely be put to death! That is the Law. Please, let's not emasculate the Law in part or in whole. To do away with the so called "religious" and "civil" parts of the Law as irrelevant and then to emasulate the remaining "moral" part does a great disservice to God and His Word.

The author seems to suggest that the Law comes in only enough to make up for the shortcomings of grace. He is very confused here. Take, for instance, Paul's reference to the fact that the whole Law is summed up in "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The author leads us to believe that this is now the goal for believers today and shows their relationship to the Law. But this is absolutely not the case! Paul's point, in fact, is the very opposite. Paul's point is that you do not have to go back to the Law system because the Grace system accomplishes all that the Law demanded and much, much more, actually empowering us to do it (something the Law could never do). You see, the Law system had an easy command--just love others as you love yourself--easy, smeasy. But the Grace system beseeches us to something far, far higher--love others more than yourself (I Cor. 13, etc.)--and then empowers us to do it through the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Rom. 8 Paul's statement that the righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us does not mean we are still under some aspect of the Law. Again, Paul's point is the very opposite. Rather he is driving home the fact that under Grace we do not need to go back to the Law because what God accomplishes through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit on behalf of the believer more than fulfills anything that the Law demanded--and that infinitely and eternally.

In closing, the author should have answered any accusation of antinomianism the same way Paul answered it in Romans 6, not by placing the believers under an emasculated Law but by pushing them ahead into a fortified Grace. They were to recognize all that God had freely, gratuitously, made them to be in Christ. God had identified them with Christ completely. They died with Him and were buried with Him and now live with Him on resurrection ground. How could they possibly go back to sin?? Read more ›

More About the Author

Jerry Bridges is a longtime staff member of the Navigators and currently serves with their collegiate ministry. In addition to his international speaking ministry, he has authored ten books and three devotionals; among them The Pursuit of Holiness, which has sold well over a million copies, and the award-winning The Discipline of Grace and I Will Follow You, O God.