Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges

Last week, I began reading Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love by Jerry Bridges. Here are some powerful quotes from the preface and Chapter 1:

As Bridges says, many Christians believe: "We are saved by grace, but we are living by the "sweat" of our own performance."

We recognize that even our best efforts cannot get us to heaven, but we do think they earn God's blessings in our daily lives.

Not only are we legalistic by nature, our Christian culture reinforces this attitude in us.

God answered (a specific prayer of Bridges) on the basis of His grace alone, not because of my merits or demerits.

One of the best kept secrets among Christians today is this: Jesus paid it all. I mean all. He not only purchased your forgiveness of sins and your ticket to heaven, He purchased every blessing and every answer to prayer you will ever receive. Every one of them--no exceptions.

That is, the entire Christian life from start to completion is lived on the basis of God's grace to us through Christ.

so God's salvation for Christ's sake carries with it all the provisions we need, not only for eternity but for this life as well.