Transformed Christian
Notes
Transcript
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 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.
Has anyone ever thoughts about what it means to be transformed? As a kid growing up in the 1980’s I can tell you what first enters my mind… remember the “Transformers”? The toys that would transform from cars, trucks, planes, whatever into a robot? Now, I know many of us guys may have made engine noises playing as kids, but we never transformed into one of them! And we won’t. But scripture points out that, as Christians, we should be transformed. Looking in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, we find synonyms such as converted, redesigned, redefined, altered, regenerated, or reborn. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be “born again”, he had to be reborn. Now, we know that this is speaking in the SPIRITUAL sense, not they physical sense. But Nicodemus was just as confused as many of us today when we face scriptures that tell us we should be transformed, converted, redefined, regenerated, reborn. WHAT does it mean for us as New Testament believers?
I think this simply means we are to turn from the old sinful ways to the new, spiritual ways as demonstrated by Jesus! In other words, we are to grow closer and closer in likeness to Christ. The ultimate goal would be if someone were to describe us they would describe Christ. If we looked at our lives, it would be the image of Christ. In all that we do, we would mimic Christ. We are to transform ourselves into the image and likeness of Christ. The root word used for transformed is where we get the word “metamorphosis”. If we look at the description of metamorphosis, it can have different meanings. 1) change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means. 2) typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (such as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching and 3) a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances. Looking at these closely, I think we can see similarities in all of these. As Christians, We should have an alteration of our character, there should be a developmental change in us, and we should be changed in our substance - what truly makes us who and what we are - by the process of sanctification. As we look at this transformation that occurs throughout our Christian life and walk, we will see that it just doesn’t “happen”, but that we work towards the goal of being like Christ.
Be Transformed
Be Transformed
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 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.
One of the first transformations that occurs in the life of a believer is to turn from the former ways and turn all of our devotion, our energy, and thoughts to God. In looking through the book of Romans, we find a theme. Paul starts out by telling the church that the world, as a whole, needs to get right with God. He then transitions into the plan - the way to get right with God is revealed through Jesus by justification; believing in Jesus and having God count our faith as righteousness. Paul tells us that this transformation leads to sanctification - being set apart to God and set free from our sins and a promise of eternal life. He furthermore points that the BELIEVER (the church) is to evangelize and carry the gospel of Jesus to the whole world.
Amen!
THESE are the mercies of God! We do not receive what we deserve, but instead receive the promise of eternal life in heaven through our faith! We are transformed from sinful mankind into an heir to the through of God through Christ! But, this requires transformation - turning from our old lifestyle, and turning towards a life in and through Jesus! But it doesn’t end there… To stop there would be like enrolling in college, buying the books, but never going to class or earning a degree. It doesn’t make sense, now does it?
We are called to action, an appeal, to live a life that is acceptable to God - spiritual worship. Now note this, it is spiritual worship IN a human body. God is not only concerned in our spiritual state, but also our physical state! Just as Jesus gave His body as a sacrifice for us, should we not then dedicate and devote our body to the work of God?
We are called to be transformed by the renewal of our mind - our way of thinking must change. Christianity is NOT like going into the department store and picking out another pair of shoes, and then putting them in the closet, only to get them out when it is convenient, or we need them. No, Christianity is a change of who we are, how we act, and what we think about! We are to not only be transformed in our mind, but also in our position with this world - we are no longer to conform to the world! The world has been corrupted by sin! If we are to then be transformed, then we must turn away from the things of the world. WE CANNOT PLACE OUR FAITH ON ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD! Paul states this is done by testing so that we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. We are to morph our mind and body into what God originally intended it to be! There has to be a radical change within our inner being! Should this radical change then not lead to a renewing of our mind? Renewing - made new, readjusted, changed, regenerated, TRANSFORMED! We are to be changed from our sinful, worldly ways, turning away from the corruptness of the world and turning TO a life that mimics the image of Christ. You see, when one is TRULY saved, when they receive Jesus Christ into our lives, we then receive the mind of Christ as well! He changes our mind and focuses us upon God. But it doesn’t stop there either, we are to daily live a transformed life - renewing our mind and growing closer to our Savior. Paul says that we must discern what is the will of God - we must find and follow God’s will. You see, the only way to find and follow the will of God is to keep our mind focused on God. So, how do we do that?
Let me give one example, if we go to school to learn more about our chosen profession, and if we use that education to make a life that is pleasing to the world, should we also not dedicate ourselves to the study of Scripture and educating ourselves of the ways we can be pleasing to God? You see, if we read text books to make ourselves more knowledgeable, should we also not read the TEXT to make ourselves more knowledgeable as a part of our transformations? You see we are called to study to show ourselves approved to God.
Transformed Approval
Transformed Approval
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Study - now I don’t know about you all, but this was one of my biggest weaknesses in school. I had one of those minds that just understood most of the simple things all the way into high school. But when I went to college, boy did that change! I had to learn to study! And, can I tell you, studying is much more than just reading the text book. It requires us to continually read, to then comprehend what we read, and then formulate a working knowledge of what we are studying! But, hey, let me tell you something...if you don’t CONTINUE after that working knowledge you can lose it! Back in college, I loved chemistry. Balancing equations and stoichiometry was fun! But, I really had not done anything like that in over 20 years when I got a phone call from our loving, dear daughter needing help. Can you believe, the thing I used to enjoy and could do second nature wasn’t natural anymore? I had to go dig out textbooks and read, and get familiar with it again so that I was confident in my ability to teach Emilee.
I say all that to say this - we can study the Bible, and for whatever reason set it aside and not open it. Guess what… after awhile it doesn’t feel natural anymore. We can’t remember text, we can’t even say the books of the Bible in order, let alone that there is 39 OT and 27 NT books that make up the 66 total. Or that they are broken down into 5-12-5-5-12 (pentateuch/law, history, poetry, major/minor prophets)and 4-1-21-1 (gospels, acts of the apostles/history, letters, and apocalyptic). Why is that important? Turn with me to the 15th chapter of Hezekiah. Now, Hezekiah was in the book of 2 Kings, but it’s not a book of the Bible… get my point?
We are to study the Word of God to be not only a good student, but a good teacher! Studying is intentional, we cannot hurry or rush studying. We have to be deliberate, diligent, and seek our study to be approved by God. Hey, if we are not studying in an effort to be approved by God, then why are we studying? So how do we become approved by God? By being a workman. Someone who labors to the point of exhaustion. I can remember one summer I was working construction, and had a house to get under roof. We worked all morning getting sheeting on, and then my boss wanted us to go to the hay field and put up hay before the weekend rain. That day I earned every cent of my pay. It was hot, it was humid, it was relentless, the bales were heavy, and when the day was over I was exhausted. We are to put this type of effort into our Christianity! We are to study until we can no longer turn a page, pick up a highlighter, write a word, and we are to do it until the job is complete. Well, when is it complete? When we reach our final destination of heaven. You see, we should be diligently studying and learning the Word until we are called home. Why? So that we can rightly divide the Word. Have you ever heard somebody say something, and think “that’s not right”, or “that’s not the right context”? You see, the Bible gives us the command to not mishandle the Word of God. We must be workmen who study God’s Word, workmen who study diligently: who correctly analyze and accurately divide—rightly handle and skillfully teach—the Word of Truth. This is the believer who will not be ashamed when he faces the Lord Jesus Christ in the great day of judgment. We must allow the Word of God to transform us!
Transformed Body
Transformed Body
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Paul reminds the church of Philippi that they are to press on toward the goals set forth by God to attain glory through Jesus Christ. Not only are we to press towards those goals, but others should want to imitate us. Living a transformed, Christian life, sets a pattern for others to follow. We have to not just talk the talk, but we are to walk the walk. For others to see the transformation in us, we must truly be changed and others should see the Godly lives we live! Paul was not claiming to be perfect, but what he WAS saying is that we are to put the old into the past and walk worthy of our calling. We are to continually be pressing towards the goal of the transformation of our earthly body into the glorious body. We will only achieve perfection when we see Jesus face to face.
Closing
Closing
But, let me ask you this question. Would we want others using us as an example of how they should live for Christ? Or, are we like the ones Paul describes as enemies of the cross? Living a “religious” lifestyle, but not a Godly lifestyle. You see, if we are to find our citizenship in heaven, then we have to transform our lives into the likeness of Christ. We are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. Our thoughts focus on Jesus. We are to be transformed from earthly to heavenly focused through study and dedication. Our study and knowledge focus on Jesus. And finally we are to be transformed in spirit - one day we will be free of this earthly body and will receive a glorified body. Our actions lead us to Jesus.
But preacher, that sounds like an awful lot. I don’t know if I have time to dedicate to the church. I don’t know if I have time to sit down and study God’s Word, I’m tired when I come in from work. Let me leave you with this:
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
My question to you today is this, have you been transformed? Have you placed your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior?
Maybe you have, but you have let your study time and your dedication to slip. Maybe you need a renewal to focus back on Jesus.
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus or if you need to rededicate yourself to Him, what better time that today? As we sing, the alter is open, repent and come to Jesus by faith, and be transformed.
