Too many people want a gospel that saves them but doesn’t change them,
Have you ever heard someone say they want to be saved but don’t want to change? It’s an interesting perspective that is, unfortunately, quite common. It’s easy to understand why someone would like to be saved, but why would they not want to be changed? After all, isn’t that the point of salvation?
In this blog post, I will explore the idea of being saved versus being changed and look at the Bible’s perspective on grace and mercy. I’ll also look at why we need to change and how to apply God’s grace and mercy in our lives. So, let’s dive in and explore what it means to be saved and transformed by God’s grace and mercy.
What does it mean to be saved?
The Bible tells us that salvation is a free gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)It comes through faith in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). When we accept this free gift of salvation, we are saved from our sins, and we are given eternal life.
At this point, we have been saved but have not yet changed. That’s because there’s another step to being saved – to be changed by the power of God’s grace and mercy.
What does it mean to be changed?
Being changed is a process that takes place over time. It is a transformation when we accept God’s grace and mercy and allow his Spirit to work in us. We transform from the inside out and start to live a life pleasing to God.
Paul talks about this transformation in Romans 12:2, where he says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you can test and approve God’s will—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” When we accept God’s grace and mercy, we become transformed by the renewing of our minds and start to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Grace vs. Law
When it comes to being saved and changed, it’s essential to understand the difference between grace and law. We are held accountable to the law, and it requires us to live a certain way. Grace, on the other hand, is the free and unmerited favor of God. It is a gift that comes with no strings attached.
The law is necessary to maintain order and justice in the world. But it is not enough to save us or to change us. We need the grace of God to be saved and changed.
The True Grace of God
The Bible tells us that the true grace of God is found in Jesus Christ. He is the source of all grace and mercy. In 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Paul writes: “You became imitators of us and the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy the Holy Spirit gave. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
This passage reveals a beautiful truth about the grace of God – that it is found in Jesus and powerful enough to change us, even while suffering.
The Power of God’s Grace and Mercy
The power of God’s grace and mercy is found in the fact that it is sufficient to save and transform us. In Romans 8:35-39, Paul writes: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us in all these things. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This passage reveals the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not even death can separate us from his grace and mercy. This is the power of God’s grace and mercy – sufficient for salvation and transformation.
How to Apply God’s Grace and Mercy
So, how do we apply God’s grace and mercy in our lives? The Bible tells us that we must humble ourselves and surrender to God. We must accept his grace and mercy and allow it to transform us. We must turn from our sins and turn to God in faith.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This passage reveals that we become a new creation when we accept God’s grace and mercy and surrender to him. We become transformed by the power of his grace and mercy.
The Bible’s Perspective on God’s Grace and Mercy
The Bible is filled with passages about God’s grace and mercy. In 1 John 2:6, John writes: “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” This passage reveals that we must walk as Jesus did to truly experience the power of God’s grace and mercy. We must follow his example and live a life of obedience to him.
In Philippians 1:5-6, Paul writes: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” This passage reveals another truth about God’s grace and mercy – that it gives us the power to discern what is best and to live a life of purity and holiness.
Why do we need to Change?
We need to change because we are sinners, and we need the power of God’s grace and mercy to transform us. We need to be saved from our sins and changed into the image of Christ.
In 2 Peter 1:3-4, Peter writes: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these, he has given us his very great and precious promises so that you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” This passage reveals that God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. We must accept his grace and mercy and allow it to transform us.
God’s Plan to Transform Us Through his God’s Grace and Mercy
God has a plan to transform us through his grace and mercy. In Romans 8:29, Paul writes: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
This passage reveals that God has predestined us to conform to the image of his Son. We must accept his grace and mercy and allow it to transform us into the image of Christ. We must become more and more like Jesus each day.
How to Respond to God’s Grace and Mercy
Once we accept God’s grace and mercy and allow it to transform us, we must respond. We must be thankful for God’s grace and mercy and live a life that is pleasing to him. We must show gratitude by honoring him with our lives and sharing his grace and mercy with others.
In Philemon 1:7, Paul writes: “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” This passage reveals the truth that when we accept God’s grace and mercy, we can refresh the hearts of others. We can share God’s love and grace with those around us and show them the power of his grace and mercy.
How to Live a Life Transformed by God’s Grace and Mercy
Once we accept God’s grace and mercy and allow it to transform us, we must then live a life that is pleasing to God. We must obey his Word and be doers of the Word, not just hearers.
In Colossians 1:6, Paul writes: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” This passage reveals that we must live a life of love and knowledge to be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. We must live a life that honors God and reflects his grace and mercy.
How to Share the God’s Grace and Mercy with Others
Once we accept God’s grace and mercy and allow it to transform us, we must share it with others. We must be like Paul and share the gospel with those around us. We must tell them about the power of God’s grace and mercy and how it can save them and transform them.
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, Paul writes: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” This passage reveals the truth that we must not fight like the world, but we must fight with divine power. We must use the power of God’s grace and mercy to demolish the strongholds of this world and share the gospel with those around us.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, too many people want a gospel that saves them but doesn’t change them. But the gospel doesn’t work like that. We must accept God’s grace and mercy and allow it to transform us. We must humble ourselves before God and surrender to him. We must be thankful for his grace and mercy and share it with others. We must live a life that is pleasing to God and reflects his grace and mercy.
Too many people want a gospel that saves them but doesn’t change them, but the gospel doesn’t work like that. We must accept God’s grace and mercy and allow it to transform us. We must be obedient to God and live a life that is pleasing to him. We must share the gospel with those around us and show them the power of God’s grace and mercy.
God’s grace and mercy are sufficient to save and transform us. We must accept it and allow it to work in our lives. We must live a life that is pleasing to God and reflects his grace and mercy.
Bruce Mitchell is a speaker, writer, and Bible teacher who loves to share God’s Word in everyday life. He has studied at Biola University and Dallas Theological Seminary. His blog (Allelon.us) is all about the principles of Agapao Allelon (Loving One Another) and God’s Mercy, Grace, Love, and Forgiveness and how it applies to our daily lives as Christ-Followers. (1 Peter 4:8)
