The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (KJV)
The gospel rightly leads us into a personal relationship with Jesus, for his glory, our salvation, and the good of others. If our Christianity is not deeply personal, then it is nominal, which is unreal and no good to anyone.
Ortlund, R. (2022) Who Helps You Enjoy God? Christian Hedonists in Honest Community, Desiring God, Retrieved from https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/who-helps-you-enjoy-god
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)
The key method Paul underscores as the means to the transformed life is by the “renewal of the mind.” This means nothing more and nothing less than education. Serious education. In-depth education. Disciplined education in the things of God. It calls for a mastery of the Word of God. We need to be people whose lives have changed because our minds have changed.
Sproul, R. retrieve from https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/renewed-mind-transformed-life
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43 (ESV)
How is it that under precisely the same circumstances one (criminal) is converted and (the other) remains dead in sins… the (same way) same sermon is heard by one (church-goer) with complete indifference… (yet) sends another (church-goer) home to pray and seek Christ.
Ryle, J. (1857) Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Monergism Books, pg. 1079-80
Semper Reformanda 