Book Review: Transforming Grace

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Book Review: Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges

Jerry Bridges was a well-known Christian writer and speaker. His numerous books have sold over 3.5 million copies. He served on the staff of The Navigators for more than sixty years before his death in 2016.

Transforming Grace was originally published in 1991 and then revised in 2008. It has been re-released in October 2017.  There have been over 300,000 copies sold. This version also comes with a comprehensive discussion guide that breaks the book up into eight lessons.

Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love

Honestly, I feel like I’m not even completely sure where to start because this book is so rich in content. Transforming Grace pushed me to realize how often I fall into the trap of believing my ‘works’ lead to God’s grace. It is not something I intentionally do but perpetuates based upon past pain and faulty truths.

The book is well written and offers multiple breakdowns of scripture to address all questions and issues related to understanding God’s grace. This is a book that you will want to revisit multiple times!

Lesson 1: The performance Treadmill – Chapters 1 and 2

Central Idea – God’s grace alone saves us, helps us grow, meets our daily needs, and guarantees our future in heaven. These blessings are never given to us based on our performance. 

Jerry steps the reader through the process of which many Christians understand God’s grace through salvation and glorification (death to Heaven) but how most Christians believe their works are required for God’s grace while we are on Earth.

If anyone grew up in a household where love was conditional, this thought of grace without works can be a difficult process to wrap their head around.

Lesson 2: Grace – It really is Amazing – Chapters 3 and 4

Central Idea – In His infinite grace, God does not treat us as we deserve, but rather offers us forgiveness through faith in Christ. Christ removes our guilt and puts in its place His righteousness. The blessings we receive come to us through faith in Jesus Christ, not because of anything we have done.

Jerry builds upon the first lesson by further helping the reader to understand the relationship between God’s grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is only because of that sacrifice and our faith in Jesus Christ that we receive grace.

Lesson 3: Does God Have a Right? – Chapter 5

Central Idea – God does not owe us anything. All we have comes graciously from His hand, therefore we should be content and grateful for the lot in life He has given us. In Christ we are blessed with all spiritual riches, and in Christ all of God’s promises are fulfilled. 

In chapter 5, the book focuses on the parable of the landowner and the workers in the field. Jerry steps through the parable to help us understand that we are all the eleventh-hour workers. This was such an important shift in perspective for me personally as I have always struggled with this parable. The selfish part of me always felt the unfairness of the situation without fully grasping the truths of the story.

Lesson 4: Compelled by Love – Chapter 6

Central Idea – When we understand God’s magnificent and boundless grace, we become motivated by gratitude and love to respond with a life devoted to Him.

The book focuses on the false logic of living a purposefully sinful life to gain greater grace. He helps the readers to understand that the more we acknowledge and realize God’s grace and the amazing gift that it truly is, the more we want to live a life that is God honoring.

Lesson 5: The Proof of Love – Chapters 7 and 8

Central Idea – As followers of Jesus Christ we are set free to obey the moral laws of God out of love for Him. His ultimate purpose for us is that, through the enabling influence of the Holy Spirit, we will become more like Jesus. 

Jerry tackles the difficult balance between law and grace. He helps the reader understand that following the law without grace leads to legalism and separates the person from God. At the same time, grace without any law turns into immoral behavior. Jerry compares the old way of law and the new way of Spirit and how they overlap in some areas but the key component is understanding and accepting God’s grace.

Lesson 6: Called to be Free – Chapter 9

Central Idea – As followers of Christ we are free. Free from the drive to earn God’s favor by our actions. Free from the oppression of trying to live up to man-made religious rules and regulations. And free to let the Holy Spirit create in our lives something beautiful and pleasing to God. 

I found this lesson to be particularly beneficial in terms of the church. As Christians we get hung up on details that were never meant to be. The rules and regulations may at one time have been of benefit for the particular person or people but then the purpose gets lost and only the rule remains. We then can become judgmental of other Christians if they are not following that particular rule. Jerry addresses the ability to be free to listen to the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Lesson 7: The Sufficiency of Grace – Chapters 10 and 11

Central Idea – God’s grace enables us to persevere and grow despite any and all obstacles. God gives each of us the grace we need to fulfill the ministry and service He has given to us to bring glory to His Name. 

The book focuses on helping the reader understand our own insufficiency so that we focus on and accept God’s grace. And when we do that, we are able to realize that His grace is sufficient for our life. This understanding requires relinquishing control and pride and acquiring humility.

Lesson 8: Appropriating God’s Grace – Chapters 12 and 13

Central Idea – God’s grace is applied to our live and made real in our experience through prayer, the Bible, submission to His sovereignty, and the ministry of other believers. 

The last lesson presents more practical application to appropriate God’s grace. Jerry steps through the ways to bring Grace into your life as well as discusses the characteristics to strive for to better utilize God’s grace for your own life and the growth of God’s kingdom.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. 

For more of my book reviews check out posts on Trust Protocol, Anatomy of an Affair,  A Life Long Love, The Five Love Languages, Curious Faith, Captivating, and Made to Crave.

I hope you enjoyed the review and have found another book to add to your reading wish list!

God bless!

Melissa