Thomas Merton said, "we are not converted once in our lives but many times, and this endless series of large and small conversions leads to our transformation into Christ." 

Becoming a Christian is the first and most significant transformation of all, but it does not end there. In fact, this is only the start. As we grow as Christians, we undergo further transformations as we are transformed to be more Christ-like.

This isn’t a self-improvement program where we try to be more loving, more patient, more forgiving and when we fail, we try harder. Nor is it necessarily praying more or reading the Bible more. Rather it is learning to depend more on Jesus and allow him to do the changing. The more we open up our lives to his love and grace, the more he is able to work transformation into our lives. As we receive his love into our lives, it flows out to others. As we receive his grace into our lives, we have more grace to offer.

If we try to reach the goal of transformation by human effort, we will find our experience to be that of Romans 7:18, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." But Paul goes on in verse 25, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” God rescues us from the frustration of trying to transform ourselves. Let’s thank God that he is the one who changes us, from the inside out.

Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant letter of the law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross.