Transformation - pt. 5

Romans 12:1–8 “1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

How Does the Spirt Transform Us?

What we give our attention to slowly shapes the stories we tell ourselves and who we are becoming.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

We give our attention (behold) to Him, the Spirit transforms.

His work does not remove our human agency, our participation in his work.

Our participation is real but the point of this message is that your participation does not change you - He does.

For Paul the work of the Spirit is not some mystical process. Rather, the Spirit works in the context of our ever-deeper engagement with Christ through Scripture, prayer, worship, obedience, community (small groups), suffering, service, and the ordinary rhythms of life (4 kids)

Thus these are places we need to behold Him, Look through him. The Spirit within us gives us a whole new mental model, a new story by which we can view the world. It’s these moment with him that I make myself available to him.

What We Are Transformed Into?

As a caterpillar is transformed into a definite being - butterfly, we too. We know what a butterfly looks like, we understand what it can do, how it behaves, etc. It is not ambiguous.

Obviously, we are transformed into the image of Christ. That is our destination or destiny. Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

What does that look like?

It looks like the Imago Dei - Image of God: The image of God is the special status that all human beings have as those made to reflect our Creator’s character and commissioned to carry out his purposes in the world.

Status:

In Roman times: The corona muralis, or “mural crown.” It was a Roman military decoration awarded to the first soldier to scale the wall of a besieged enemy city and successfully enter it. The crown was fashioned to look like a city wall, with battlements or turrets. A closely related award was the corona vallaris (“rampart crown”), given to the first soldier to cross the defensive works and enter an enemy camp.

In Rome, the soldier who was first over the wall received a new kind of public honor. His courage distinguished him from others. The crown effectively said, “This man has done something worthy of recognition.” His elevated status was connected to an achievement.

This award gave social authority.

In places like India - the caste system: In that kind of social world, status could be something you were largely born into rather than earned

In our own culture: status is often communicated less through a formal caste or honor system and more through a mix of achievement, wealth, visibility, and social recognition.

Rome says, in effect:

“Your status may rise because of what you accomplish.”

A caste-based social order can communicate:

“Your status is determined by the family and social group into which you were born.”

America may say:

“Your status is determined by your achievements, social visibility, or what you own.”

Genesis says:

“Your most fundamental status comes from God: you are made in his image.”

Why Does This Matter?

We may treat people based on their perceived status. (at the subconscious level).

Several psychology studies have proven this:

People gave 2.55× more money to the person who looked higher-status

The same face looks more competent when you put nicer clothes on it

A 2016 study - Status can affect actual opportunities—not just impressions (candidates with the same resumes but different upbringing. Those from lower class backgrounds received far less opportunities)

James 2:1–4 “1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

We see signals of status, we can subconsciously assign value to the person, and then alter our behavior toward them.

James 2:8–9 “8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

However, if we look beyond the “flesh” and see people’s status as imagers of God, it will alter our behavior toward them.

In other words,

Rome says, “You are honored because of your valor.” Caste says, “You are ranked because of where you were born.”

Western culture says, “You have importance because of your achievements.” Genesis says, “You (male and female) possess dignity, value, honor and status because of whose image you bear.”

No other creature in creation bears the image of God.

As the animals and birds and sea creatures were all made after their own kind. We were made from the “God-kind”

Sin did not fully destroy the image but did mar it - Genesis 9:6 “6 “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”

God is humanity’s nearest kin. Human beings are members of his clan and are, therefore, kin to one another… To murder one’s kinsman is to slay a member of God’s family.

Now:

The image of God serves to give us the general status of every human being (who is made in the image of God) but the Incarnation of God - Jesus Christ and His Gospel gives us the new standard of becoming like Christ (who is the image of God). The content of the true image, the content of what we have and are being transformed into- is Christ.

We have been given His status

And we are to reflect His character in carrying out his purposes in the world.

This isn’t Josh building my own character, it’s the character of Christ expressing Himself through me by His Spirit, as Paul said in Galatians 4 - Christ formed within you.

We behold (give our attention to Him) Christ

The Spirit transforms us

We become like Christ

And our transformed lives become a witness to Christ.

Transformation Leads to different human relationships.

As imagers of God, we were created for relationship (relatability) with God, and others.

Human relationality refers to a human person’s ability to experience a relationship with God and with others in virtue of being made in the image of a tri-personal God.

But before Paul expounds on what a transformed life looks like in relation to others, the begins with our relationship to ourselves!

Specifically, how we think about ourselves (mental models - the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves). In other words a transformed life or a renewed mind has a balanced and sober self-image and is a humble mind like Christs. Romans 12:3-8

Humility - Don’t think too high about yourself.

Now despite our cultural warnings that the real danger we face is the danger of low self-esteem, the historic danger in reality, is self-centeredness, ego, and inflating your view of your own importance abilities, etc. etc.

Sin turns us in on ourselves

Sin makes us shrink our lives to our little “me” world

Sin causes us to limit our focus, motivation, and concern to the size of our own wants, needs and feelings

Sin causes all of us to be overly self-aware and self-important.

Sin causes us to be offended by any offense against us and to be concerned most for what only concerns us

Sin causes us to dream selfish dreams and to plan self-oriented plans - the kingdom of “I”

Because of sin, we really do think too highly of ourselves and we have wonderful plans for our own lives!

But rather, Paul says to think soberly - in other words, be accurate and completely in touch with reality. Think straight about yourself: neither too high or too low.

Because there are no members of the body that are superior to others.

How do we develop a sober judgment?

He provides the clause: in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

This word for measure: metron most likely, it is strongly argued, means ‘a standard by which to measure ourselves,’ that is, for all Christians is the same. The saving faith in Christ crucified. And that only this gospel that reveals the judgment and mercy of God can enable us to measure ourselves accurately.

In other words, regardless of background, abilities, vocations, we are all equally saved in Christ and equally loved in Christ. This produces the foundation on which we build our identity and answer ‘who am I?”

I am who I am “In Christ” His status is imputed to me. Thus, this makes any and every accomplishment or achievement or failure that I would have used to measure myself as garbage.

Philippians 3:3–9 “3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

And this keeps me from thinking too high of myself because we remember, we are saved (and only who I am) entirely because of the kindness of another - the triune God. And therefore I am no better than anyone else. And whatever I have has been given me.

1 Corinthians 4:7 “7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

This keeps us from thinking too low. That we are also loved and valued in the eyes of the only One whose opinion ultimately matters.

Then he tells us, though equal in Christ, we have different gifts. As a body, we are dependent on one another for growth and flourishing. These gifts given to us are not given for self-service but to be used for the good of the body to which we belong.

Thus, in humility, not thinking too high or low of myself - who I am and what I have in Christ - I will freely give and serve for your betterment… Not my own, it has been entrusted to me. ( I know longer ask, “what is in it for me.”)

Let’s close this out

Invest in one another

Give people your presence, not just your resources — “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (v. 1). Investing in others often starts with showing up, being available, and giving your time and attention.

Let God transform the way you see people — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (v. 2). Healthy investment means resisting selfishness, comparison, pride, and cultural ideas of status so you can see people through God’s perspective.

Recognize that people need one another — “We, though many, form one body” (vv. 4–5). Investing in people means treating relationships as interdependent rather than transactional: I need you, and you need me.

Encourage intentionally — Verse 8 specifically mentions “the one who encourages.” Investing in someone may be as simple as seeing potential in them, speaking courage into them, reminding them of what God is doing in their life, or helping them keep going.

Give generously — Paul says, “if it is giving, then give generously” (v. 8). Investment can certainly mean money, but it can also mean sharing opportunities, connections, knowledge, possessions, and influence.

Lead diligently — If you have influence, use it intentionally. Leadership becomes investment when you develop people rather than simply use people to accomplish tasks.

Show mercy cheerfully — Sometimes investing in people means being present when they are struggling, failing, grieving, or simply unable to give anything back.