You’re Not Crazy To Believe That: Transformed Lives | Pastor Nate Keeler
We often think of transformation as something reserved for the extraordinary few: saints, apostles, missionaries in distant lands. But what if I told you that faith transformation through Jesus is meant to be the normal Christian life, not the exception?
This is exactly what history and Scripture teach us, and it’s what continues to play out in the lives of believers today.
A Legacy of Radical Change
Take the Apostle Paul. Once a zealous persecutor of Christians, Paul’s life was utterly transformed when he encountered Jesus. He became one of the most influential voices in the early Church, preaching the Gospel with humility and courage. And Paul’s story is just one among countless lives that have been changed across history.
Rodney Stark’s book The Rise of Christianity explores why the early Church was so distinct from the culture around it. He highlights three qualities that made Christians stand out in pagan Roman society—and these same qualities are hallmarks of a life transformed by Jesus.
1. Compassion in Action
During great plagues and epidemics in the Roman world, when many fled the cities, it was Christians who stayed behind. They cared for the sick, the elderly, and the dying, often at great personal risk.
Why would they do this? Because Jesus had transformed their hearts. They had a new love for others and an eternal perspective that freed them from the fear of death. In Christ, death is not the end. It’s a transition to new life.
2. Non-Retaliation and Forgiveness
Early Christians were a persecuted minority. Many lost jobs, homes, property—and some lost their lives. Yet, remarkably, they did not retaliate. They didn’t respond with outrage or violence.
Why? Because they had experienced God’s forgiveness. When you realize how much you’ve been forgiven in Christ, grace begins to overflow. Forgiveness becomes possible even in the face of injustice.
3. Class and Race Reconciliation
Perhaps most miraculously, the early Church became a place where class and race divisions dissolved. In Roman society, these barriers were rigid. But in the Church, slaves could become leaders, and Jews and Gentiles called each other “brother” and “sister.”
Why? Because in Jesus, the ground is level. The Gospel declares we are all equally sinners and equally offered salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. No status, no background, no label defines us anymore.
An Inclusive, Exclusive Message
The Gospel is stunningly inclusive: everyone is welcome. Yet it is also exclusive: salvation is found in one place—Jesus Christ.
This message transformed Paul, the early church, and countless believers across history. And here’s the truth: this is not just history. It’s meant to be the normal Christian life today.
Jesus Is Still Transforming Lives
Look around your church, your community. You’ll hear stories of lives changed by Jesus: addictions broken, relationships healed, hope restored, purpose rediscovered.
I remember reconnecting with some old high school friends a few years after coming to faith. One friend said, “When you first told us you were a Christian, we laughed. We thought it was a phase. But it’s real, isn’t it?”
I told him the truth: it wasn’t about me trying harder to be a good person. It was Jesus at work in me. And I’m still in process. My hope is to be more like Him two months from now, two years from now, twenty years from now.
A Question Worth Asking
If you’ve followed Jesus for a long time, you might wonder: Am I still changing? Has the transformation slowed?
Here’s a question that can reawaken your gratitude: Where would I be today if Jesus hadn’t come into my life?
Without Jesus, where would your relationships be? Your purpose? Your hope? When you reflect on this, you’ll see His grace more clearly. The fact that you are not where you could have been is a testimony to His ongoing work.
Transformation Beyond the Present
Faith transformation through Jesus doesn’t just change our future—it transforms our past and our present.
Think of it like this: Jesus’ work in your life reaches back to your past regrets, your shame, your wounds. He redefines them, brings healing, and gives them purpose. Suddenly, you begin to see how God was working even through your hardest moments.
The Gospel answers the deepest longing of the human heart. The most Googled question when people type “How can I learn to…” is this: How can I learn to love myself?
Why? Because we were created to be loved by our Creator. Only Jesus can truly fill that longing. His love is not earned. It’s given, freely, through His sacrifice. And when we receive it, we are changed from the inside out.
Ongoing Transformation
Jesus loves you too much to leave you as you are. Faith transformation is a lifelong process. It’s not about having it all together, but about surrendering daily and allowing Jesus to continue shaping you.
Wherever you are on your journey, know this: Jesus is still in the business of transforming lives. Yours included.
So ask yourself again: Where would I be without Jesus? Let that question renew your gratitude, ignite your hope, and inspire you to keep growing in Him. Because the normal Christian life is a transformed life—and it’s a life that continues to change, day by day, by the power of Jesus.