Transformation Part 1

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV  

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his

likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

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Transformed into the image of Christ

Something happens to us when we become followers of Jesus. We begin a process of transformation,

which over time, is conforming us into the image of Christ.

This process is called Sanctification: 

“An act of God by which believers become more and more conformed to the image of Christ.”

Sanctification is God’s desire for us:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV

It is God's will that you should be sanctified:  

John 17:17 NIV

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Romans 8:28-29 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Sanctification is part of God’s purpose for believers:

God has a purpose for our lives. When we become more like Jesus in character we can become more effective in reflecting who He is to others. The Holy Spirit helps in this by working in us to bring about the attributes of  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are also known as the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).  We also know that Jesus was obedient to the will of God, a servant leader, and deeply compassionate to even the worst of sinners.  So when these attributes begin to take hold in our lives, others will notice that there is something different about the genuineness that exudes from those who live by the Spirit. This Christ-likeness is the way we can help change the perception of the stereo-typical Christian who is sometimes viewed as hypocritical, self righteous and weird. We can change this worldly perception by living authentic, loving and selfless lives.

No Christ-like follower of Jesus can determine who we be influenced by their transformation, but they do know to keep on trying to live a life of integrity and great character, continuing to share the Gospel to no end.

Steps involved in the process of Sanctification:

Step 1 - the process begins:

As soon as we become followers of Jesus the process of sanctification begins. One of the first changes I made was that I stopped using bad language. Can you think of what began to change in you as you gave you life over to Christ?

One of the most important things we can do during God's process of sanctification is to trust Him with the transformation process. The indwelling Holy Spirit is in charge of conforming us into the image of Christ. We are filled with the Holy Spirit who is our counselor, comforter, guide, conscience and convicter of sin, source of revelation, and change agent.  

Scripture to guide us:

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  

Isaiah 11:2 New International Version 1984 

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,the Spirit of counsel and of power,the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—

John 16:13 New International Version 1984  
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Step 2 - We need to know to God’s principles pertaining to transformation:

We are instructed to put off our old ways of living, to grow and mature in our faith.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We can mature in our faith through the reading of God’s Word and Bible Study, and by the development of our character through our perseverance through life’s circumstances.

Step 3 - We need to apply what we have learned:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Step 4 - We need to persevere for the sake of our spiritual maturity:

James 1:3-4 NIV 
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Step 5 We need to understand what the future holds and live with an eternal perspective:

John 14:1-4 NIV

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going."

Step 6 - we need to trust in God's promises:

We will have to wait for Jesus’ return before we will receive what has been promised. The

imperishable body we will receive will be like that of Christ in that it is capable of sustaining us forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 NLT

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.  But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.  For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

Death is swallowed up in victory  

O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

So as we live in this world, growing in our faith, knowledge, wisdom and truth of God’s Word,

we will notice a change in our heart attitude because the Word, along with the Holy Spirit in us, has the

power to change who we are and transform us into the image of Christ. Once Jesus returns we will then inherit the promised imperishable body that completes the transformation. Think of it as a metamorphosis in the way the caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The butterfly spreads its beautiful wings and begins to fly free

from the constraints of it earth bound prison. In the same way we will no longer be bound to the sinful

nature as we have become totally transformed free from sin in order to be able to live forever in the presence

of God. Now you may say to yourself this sounds kind of supernatural, sort of in the realm of Ghosts, UFO’s and maybe even Sasquatch. But this is what God has promised and whether or not it sounds crazy, I bet it is not as crazy as you think. Think how impossible it might have been for you to have become a Christian in the first place. I know for me it is impossible that I am where I am today. I took the power of God to transform the old me into the new me. I would have never chosen this life on my own. When I reflect on all that has taken place over the years, I realize all the answer to prayer, all the interesting circumstances that have led me to where I am today, could only have been directed by a Sovereign God. If God has the power to change my stubborn, self centered, ego driven, OCD heart and mind and soul, then it is possible for Him to have the power to transform me physically and spiritually at Christ’s return.

***Stay tuned for part 2

Just Sayin..................Dave