Grace: The Power to Change

This book has been life changing for me. I've been a Christian for 35 years, and Dr Richards' book has brought beautiful clarity to who I am in Christ, and how I can walk in the fullness and righteousness of Christ. I will read this over and over again - best spiritual book I have ever read.

You have the Power to change! This will show you how to use that Power and depend on God's grace not self or the world.

This book charts into new territory for the church of this generation, as it tackles the issue of righteousness. Coming from a religious background, I struggled with anything that seemed "lukewarm" to me, but as I kept reading this book gave my old religious mentality a run for it's money. The message of grace is not one of a lukewarm gospel, but rather the gospel that Paul preached. If you want my attention on spiritual matters, you have to back yourself with scripture, and this book does a fine job. I consider myself a holiness believer, but I believe much of what is taught in the church as holiness is nothing more than religious performance and self-righteousness. The grace message is geared toward holiness, but it's path is much different than you might think. It does us no good to "behave" out of fear of God punishing us; that is not at all what God wants to do in our lives. He wants to uproot sin from our hearts, so even without fear of God punishing us, we will desire the things He desires... thus producing the FRUIT of holiness from a pure heart that has been transformed by His love and GRACE! Today, I am convinced that God's heart is not geared toward behavioral modification and outward conformity (found in most holiness churches today), but rather heart transformation, which produces the fruit of the Spirit called holiness. Holiness should be a FRUIT not a means to our relationship with God.Jesus told those who believed on Him that if they continue in His Word, they will know the truth and the truth will set them free (from the power of sin). This tells us that the key to uprooting the power of sin in our lives is a knowledge piece, NOT how well our flesh can walk away from and continue to resist sin. I think it was Paul who told us that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. Repentance is NOT merely walking away from sin and not doing it again, true repentance requires heart transformation, and that can only be obtained through the message of grace and a revelation of God's heart and love toward you.This book, along with Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince are two books that will shake up your religious strongholds and challenge the way you see righteousness and perceive your relationship with God. Both of these books point to the CROSS, not our performance, thus glorifying Jesus and leading us to true and genuine heart transformation.

Filled with insight and wisdom. The author breaks down the often misunderstood subject into clear direction and removes the seeming mystery of what grace really is.A loving Savior who purchased for us a no strings attached gift to walk in and enable a life that wins if the simple willingness to walk on that path is present.Some excerpts: "Faith does not believe God is going to; faith believes God already has. Faith knows that the work of the Cross is complete; therefore, it is all available to us now". "A man in the flesh is a man who is attempting to be made righteous by his own ability". "Sin does not have dominion over us; to sin is always a choice. Sin is always willful (for the believer). We give in to the sins we enjoy. No one gives in to the sins he hates". "Grace works through righteousness. Departing from truth frustrates the grace of God (see, Galatians 2:21)".The importance of "faith righteousness" is rightly heavily emphasized. It is a gift; not a thing to be attained and vital to a transforming life. This is the big stumbling stone to those who insist on earning it.The author unveils Proverbs 4:23: "Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life". Believing in the heart is the key to real change. There is only one righteousness that matters. Any other righteousness is ultimately futile and vain.Rarely do I find a book that after finishing reading it, and taking notes, I then read it again. Most encouraging and uplifting. Recommended.

Great book on the topic of God's ability...Grace. Made me realize that I have recently been living through my own strength not through the power of God in me.

This book brings a unique view to God’s ways such that as we look more toward his true nature, we automatically become more like Him. We have to dissect our attitudes and discover what caused them. Then ask ourselves if God has the same attitudes. If the answer is “no” then we should persevere to move our minds in the right direction. The more we concentrate on becoming like Him of our own volition the easier those changes will be achieved through and because of His grace. Your heart knows the nature of the true God. Follow your heart to Him.

Well I’ve read a lot of books and sometimes you feel like you’re wading through tons of information and not really getting a whole lot out of it well this book is the opposite there’s tons of good information great use of scriptures and it just brings so much good revelation on the grace of God and you actually can apply it to your life in a way that’s very liberating and will set you free of some mindsets that are right and simply puts the gospel in perspective just as it should be. It is such an amazing book I guarantee you if you’re looking for something on grace it will change your life!!!