Grace That Saves, Works That Show: Johnny Chang’s Teachings

Grace Vs Works

The theological debate over grace versus works has been a cornerstone of Christian thought for centuries, sparking discussions that delve into the heart of salvation, faith, and human responsibility. At its core, the question revolves around how humanity is reconciled to God: Is it through divine grace alone, bestowed freely by God’s mercy, or do human efforts—works—play a necessary role in earning or maintaining salvation? This article explores this tension, drawing heavily on the teachings of Johnny Chang, a minister whose sermons, podcasts, and online content have gained attention for their bold, scripture-centered approach. Through his platform, Core of the Heart, Chang emphasizes a gospel that challenges listeners to examine their faith deeply, often addressing the interplay of grace and works with clarity and conviction. By weaving Chang’s insights with biblical texts from both the Old and New Testaments, including a focus on key verses for future study, this article aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the topic.

The Foundation: Understanding Grace and Works

Grace, in Christian theology, is God’s unmerited favor—His love and mercy extended to humanity despite our sinfulness. It is a gift, not earned through deeds but given freely through Christ’s sacrifice. Works, on the other hand, refer to human actions—obedience to God’s commands, moral living, charity, and service. The tension arises when considering whether works contribute to salvation or are merely a response to grace.

Johnny Chang frequently addresses this topic in his Unlearned Wisdom podcast and YouTube livestreams, emphasizing that salvation is rooted in grace but that works flow naturally from a transformed heart. In one episode, he recounts his own journey from gang life to ministry, illustrating how God’s grace broke through his rebellion, not because of anything he did but because of God’s relentless love. He warns against two extremes: a works-based religion that burdens believers with legalism and a distorted view of grace that dismisses the call to holy living. “Grace isn’t a license to sin,” Chang often says. “It’s the power to live for God.”

This perspective aligns with the broader Christian narrative, which grapples with balancing God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. To unpack this, let’s examine the biblical framework, starting with the New Testament, where the grace-works discussion is most explicit, and then tracing its roots in the Old Testament.

New Testament: The Gospel of Grace

The New Testament, particularly the writings of Paul, is a rich source for understanding grace. Paul’s epistles repeatedly affirm that salvation is by grace through faith, not works. In Ephesians 2:8-9, a cornerstone verse, Paul writes:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (NKJV)

Johnny Chang frequently cites this passage in his sermons, using it to anchor his teaching that salvation is God’s initiative. In a YouTube livestream from December 2024, he expounded on Ephesians 2, explaining, “If you think you can earn God’s love by checking boxes—going to church, giving money, being ‘good’—you’re missing the point. Grace means God already loves you, even when you were at your worst.” He ties this to his own story, recalling how he was steeped in violence and pride before encountering Christ. “I didn’t clean myself up first,” he says. “God met me in the mess.”

Yet, Chang is quick to highlight the next verse, Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

This verse bridges grace and works, suggesting that while salvation is not earned by works, believers are called to live out their faith through actions. Chang emphasizes that these works are not self-initiated but prepared by God, flowing from a heart transformed by grace. In a podcast episode titled “Faith That Moves,” he challenges listeners: “If your faith doesn’t change how you live, is it real faith? Grace saves you, but it also shapes you.”

Another key New Testament passage is James 2:17-18:

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Chang often uses James to counter what he calls “cheap grace”—the idea that one can claim faith without any life change. In a sermon posted on coreoftheheart.com, he argues, “James isn’t saying works save you; he’s saying real faith produces real fruit. If you say you love God but hate your neighbor, something’s off.” He connects this to 1 John 3:18, urging believers to love “in deed and in truth,” not just words.

The interplay of grace and works is also evident in Romans 6:1-2, where Paul addresses the misuse of grace:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Chang tackles this head-on in his Bible studies, warning against treating grace as a free pass to sin. “Grace doesn’t mean God winks at your rebellion,” he says in a Twitch livestream. “It means He paid for your sin so you could be free from it, not so you could keep diving back in.” He often points to the transformative power of grace, using his own deliverance from gang life as evidence that true grace leads to a new way of living.

Old Testament: Grace Before the Cross

While the New Testament articulates grace explicitly through Christ, the Old Testament lays the groundwork, revealing God’s mercy and the human response through obedience. The Old Testament does not use the word “grace” as frequently, but the concept permeates stories of God’s covenant with Israel.

One pivotal passage is Genesis 15:6, speaking of Abraham:

“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

This verse, quoted by Paul in Romans 4:3, underscores that faith, not works, was the basis of Abraham’s righteousness. Johnny Chang references this in a podcast episode titled “The Heart of Faith,” noting, “Abraham didn’t earn God’s promise by being perfect. He trusted God, and that’s what counted. Grace was at work even back then.” Chang uses Abraham’s story to show that God’s favor precedes human effort, setting the stage for the New Testament’s fuller revelation.

Another Old Testament example is Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the Shema:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

While this command emphasizes obedience, Chang points out that it’s rooted in God’s prior act of deliverance. In a sermon, he explains, “God didn’t tell Israel to love Him so they could earn His favor. He rescued them from Egypt first—that’s grace. The Law was their response, not their ticket to salvation.” He draws a parallel to Christians today, suggesting that obedience flows from gratitude for God’s grace, not from a need to earn it.

Isaiah 55:1-2 also captures the essence of grace:

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Chang uses this passage in a YouTube video to illustrate God’s free offer of salvation. “God’s saying, ‘You don’t need to bring anything—just come,’” he explains. “That’s grace: God gives what you could never afford.” He connects this to the New Testament’s invitation to receive Christ, emphasizing continuity between the Testaments.

Johnny Chang’s Perspective: A Heart-Centered Approach

Johnny Chang’s teachings on grace and works are distinctive for their focus on the heart. His platform, Core of the Heart, reflects his belief that true transformation begins inwardly, driven by God’s grace, and manifests outwardly in works. In his podcast, he often contrasts “religion” (works-based efforts to reach God) with “relationship” (a grace-driven connection to Christ). “Religion makes you a slave to rules,” he says in a 2024 episode. “Grace makes you a son or daughter who wants to please the Father.”

Chang’s background informs his approach. Having lived a life marked by violence and pride, he speaks with authenticity about grace’s power to redeem. In a sermon titled “From Gangster to Gospel,” he shares how he once thought he had to “prove” himself to God through good deeds after his conversion. “I was reading the Bible, praying, trying to be perfect,” he recalls. “But God showed me He loved me before I did any of that. My works didn’t save me—His grace did.”

This realization shapes his teaching that works are the fruit, not the root, of salvation. He frequently cites Matthew 7:16-20, where Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruits.” In a livestream, Chang explains, “Good works don’t make you a Christian, but a Christian should have good works. If your life looks no different than the world’s, check your heart.”

Chang also addresses the danger of legalism, drawing from Galatians 3:3:

“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”

He warns against falling back into a works-based mindset after receiving grace. “Some of you started with faith, but now you’re stressing about rules,” he says in a Bible study. “Grace isn’t just how you get saved—it’s how you live every day.”

Future Study: Key Bible Verses

To deepen understanding of grace versus works, the following verses are recommended for future study, drawn from both Testaments. Each illuminates a facet of the topic and connects to Johnny Chang’s teachings.

Old Testament

Psalm 51:16-17 “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” This passage highlights God’s preference for a repentant heart over ritualistic works. Chang often uses it to emphasize that God values sincerity over outward performance. “You can do all the right things with the wrong heart,” he says, “and it means nothing.”
Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Chang cites this verse to show that God’s call to action is rooted in a relationship with Him. “Justice, mercy, humility—these are works,” he explains, “but they come from walking with God, not from trying to impress Him.”

New Testament

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” This verse reinforces that salvation is God’s work, not ours. Chang uses it to remind listeners that even their best efforts fall short without grace. “Your righteousness is like filthy rags,” he says, echoing Isaiah 64:6. “Let God clean you up.”
Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This passage captures the synergy of human effort and divine enablement. Chang often explains, “You work out what God works in. He gives you the desire and the power—your job is to step out in faith.”

Reconciling Grace and Works

The apparent tension between grace and works dissolves when viewed through the lens of transformation. Grace is the foundation—God’s initiative to save and restore. Works are the evidence—the natural outflow of a life changed by that grace. Johnny Chang’s teachings consistently return to this harmony, urging believers to rest in grace while pursuing holiness.

In a sermon titled “The Gospel That Saves,” Chang summarizes: “Grace means God did for you what you couldn’t do for yourself. But if you’ve really received it, your life will show it. Not because you’re trying to earn points, but because you love the One who gave it all.” He points to John 15:5, where Jesus says, “Without Me you can do nothing,” to underscore that even good works depend on Christ’s enabling power.

This perspective echoes the broader Christian tradition, from Augustine’s emphasis on grace as the source of all good to the Reformation’s cry of sola gratia (grace alone). Yet, Chang’s voice adds a contemporary urgency, speaking to a generation wrestling with performance-driven culture and spiritual apathy.

Practical Implications

Understanding grace versus works has profound implications for daily life. Johnny Chang’s ministry offers practical guidance for applying these truths:

Rest in Grace: Chang encourages believers to stop striving for God’s approval. “You’re already accepted in Christ,” he says in a podcast. “Live from that truth, not for it.”
Pursue Holiness: While grace is free, it calls for a response. Chang challenges listeners to align their actions with their faith, citing 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Serve Others: Works are often expressed through love and service. Chang frequently references Galatians 5:13, urging believers to “through love serve one another” as an outflow of grace.
Guard Against Pride: Both legalism and license stem from pride—either in one’s works or in one’s freedom. Chang’s humility, born from his own failures, reminds listeners to stay dependent on God.

Critiques and Controversies

Johnny Chang’s teachings are not without critics. Some online discussions, particularly on platforms like Reddit, question his emphasis on grace, arguing it risks antinomianism (the belief that moral laws are irrelevant under grace). Others critique his association with Good News Mission, raising concerns about doctrinal clarity. However, Chang consistently points to scripture as his authority, encouraging listeners to test his words against the Bible. His focus on grace as transformative rather than permissive addresses many of these concerns, aligning with orthodox Christian thought.

Conclusion

The debate over grace versus works is not a mere theological exercise but a question that shapes how we live, love, and relate to God. Johnny Chang’s sermons, podcasts, and videos offer a compelling voice in this conversation, grounding his insights in scripture and personal experience. By emphasizing grace as the source and works as the fruit, he invites believers to embrace a faith that is both freeing and fruitful.

The recommended Bible verses—Psalm 51:16-17, Micah 6:8, Titus 3:5, and Philippians 2:12-13—provide a roadmap for further study, illuminating the interplay of God’s mercy and human responsibility across both Testaments. As Chang often says, “Grace isn’t just about getting to heaven; it’s about bringing heaven to earth through how you live.” In a world hungry for purpose and redemption, this message resonates deeply, calling us to rest in God’s love and reflect it through lives of faith-filled action.