How has the grace of Jesus Christ transformed you?

Dearly loved friends, don't always believe everything you hear because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around, and the way to find out if their message is from the Holy Spirit is to ask: Does it really agree that Jesus Christ, God's Son, actually became a man with a human body? If so, then the message is from God. If not, the message is not from God but from one who is against Christ, like the "Antichrist" you have heard about who is going to come, and his attitude of enmity against Christ is already abroad in the world. Dear young friends, you belong to God and have already won your fight with those who are against Christ because there is someone in your hearts who is stronger than any evil teacher in this wicked world. These men belong to this world, so, quite naturally, they are concerned about worldly affairs, and the world pays attention to them. But we are children of God; that is why only those who have walked and talked with God will listen to us. Others won't. That is another way to know whether a message is really from God, for if it is, the world won't listen to it. - 1 John 4:1-6 (Living Bible)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, theologian, martyr, spy, was asked in 1943 how it was possible for the Church to sit back and let Hitler seize absolute power. His firm answer: "It was the teaching of cheap grace." 

"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We live in a time and culture that not only teaches cheap grace but praises it. 

Contrary to popular belief, the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not unifying. It requires a transformational disconnection from our sinful nature to being fully submitted to the work of the Holy Spirit. Conversely, cheap grace, Bonhoeffer says, is to hear the gospel preached as follows: "Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness." However, without the transformational work of the Holy Spirit, there is no salvation of your soul.

"costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus; it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed! - John Newton 

How has the grace of Jesus Christ transformed you?

Be Encouraged to allow the grace of Jesus Christ to move you closer to Christ-likeness each day. 

-Jeffrey Thornton