Book Reviews

How The Gospel Transforms

by Brother Carlton 
09/15/24
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I'm reading this excellent book for the second time. It's called "This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years" by Jaquelle Crowe. I picked up a used copy on Amazon, and it's written by a teenager.

Understanding Grace

One of the profound insights from the book is the concept of grace. Jaquelle Crowe explains, "Grace is getting what we don't deserve. Unmerited favor." She quotes John McArthur, who expands on this by saying, "Grace is not merely unmerited favor. It is favor bestowed on sinners who deserve wrath. Grace is God's sovereign initiative to sinners." Eph. 1:5-6

The Paradox of Grace

"Grace is Jesus Christ." She elaborates by quoting, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." 2 Cor 8:9

This raises an interesting question: Can somebody make you rich through their poverty? Most people would probably say, "No, that's not possible." But Crowe argues that only those who recognize themselves as sinners can truly understand grace.

The Struggle with Perfectionism

Crowe shares her personal struggle with perfectionism, stating, "Perfectionists have a problem with grace that's because we believe we're above it. We deceive ourselves into thinking we deserve success." She points out that those aware of their failures and who know they are "messed up" are the fortunate ones who can recognize grace for what it is—entirely undeserved. She admits, "God has to repeatedly kill the perfectionist in me to open my eyes to the dazzling and liberating truth of grace."

The Destructive Path of Perfectionism

Crowe describes how she burdens herself with high-pressure expectations in various aspects of her life, such as school, cooking, work, and writing. When she fails, she punishes herself and convinces herself that if she can just do better and be better I will be worthy." She says this the destructive path of perfectionism isn't it? And this is totally opposite of the gospel.

You see God doesn't save perfect people; He saves imperfect people. He saves sinners who are aware of their sin and who actually mourn over their sin.

Mourning Over Sin

Remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount? He said: "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." This is not talking about those who mourn over the loss of their home or finances or losing money in the stock market or in your business or even the loss of a loved one. It's talking about those who mourn over their sins.

Sin should be the most grievous thing to a human being.

The Process of Salvation

It is only when we do self-examination and are convinced of our sin that God effectually calls us to Himself (He does this only in the elect-those chosen before the foundation of the world to be recipients of His saving grace) and He gives us saving faith, the faith of Christ. He grants us repentance so that we turn from our sins and we begin to see ourselves for what we really are and that sin is hateful to God. We begin to have higher thoughts of who God is.

This leads to confession, where we agree with God about our sins. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness."

By nature, we are unrighteous. We need the righteousness of Christ and this only comes by the faith of Jesus. God declares believers righteous through Jesus Christ.

Oh, what a marvelous thing salvation is.

Continual Self-Examination

Let us be encouraged to seek the Lord and to examine ourselves to see if we are pleasing Him in everything.

Are we hating the world and the things in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? If not, you or I may not yet be a true Christian. You or I may not be born again and yet there's still hope. We can still seek God and cry out to Him for mercy.

This book has been a blessing and a wonderful reminder of the beauty and depth of grace. I'm impressed that such a young woman did such an excellent job describing salvation and the transforming power of the gospel.