Transforming Grace

Ian Miller | 04/14/2025

The grace of God. We do not deserve it. We cannot earn it. It is a gift. His presence, His coming unto us, dwelling with us—first through Jesus, the Word becoming flesh. Now the Spirit, dwelling within us. What is He doing? He is redeeming us from every lawless deed and purifying for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (vs. 14). 

He didn’t just come to save rescue us from the brink of eternal punishment. He came to rescue us from our sinful selves—into His very own image. The grace of God. His unmerited favor. Not just so that we can get into heaven, but so that we can be like Him. So that His character becomes our character. And how does that happen? Christ in us. The flesh being put to death. The Spirit making us alive. Accepting the invitation to daily walk with Jesus, to follow after Him, and become more and more like Him in every way. 

The Grace in Shoe Leather

There is a very practical (and scary!) side of grace. We invite Him into every area of life, He exposes our brokenness in new and startling ways, and He patiently sets to work. As the Skillful Soul Surgeon, He carefully cuts away the cancerous tumor. As the Gentle Potter, He firmly molds and reshapes the clay. His grace progressively transforms who we once were into the person we will be. His Divine vision of you and me—restored image-bearers. 

The more we are like Jesus in our desires and actions, the more we anticipate His return. It’s like the athlete who, the more he trains and prepares himself for the race, the more he anticipates the day of the race. Our eagerness intensifies as He makes headway in transforming our fleshliness into godliness. It’s because our desires are shifting. No longer does this world hold the same luster that it once held. 

Our spiritual eyes are opening more and more to our brokenness and Christ’s beauty. And our hearts cry out, “Even so come Lord Jesus!” We long for the day when we will be transformed—once and for all—into spiritual bodies, to live for endless ages with Jesus in the most elevated form of living. Finally free to be ourselves, no longer deadened by our fallen, fleshly bodies. 

Redemption and transformation is restoring all things to how they were meant to be. We persevere, we press onward. We live in the here and now, but have our eyes set on His return. Because He is the One we are living for. And waiting for. 

Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.