Be Transformed
07/09/06 AM
Reading: Romans 12:1-2
Introduction
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul makes the following plea regarding transforming our lives:
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
As we consider this text, several questions come to mind...
• What does it mean to be transformed?
• What should motivate us to undergo transformation?
• What is the goal of transformation?
• What does one do in order to experience transformation?
[Starting with the first question (“What does it mean to be transformed?”), let’s consider…]
I. The Definition of Transformation
A. The Word...
1. The Greek word is metamorphoo (met-am-or-fo’-o)
a. Lit., “to change into another form “ (Vine’s)
b. From which comes the word “metamorphosis “
c. Used to describe a change of form (e.g., when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly)
2. In the NT, this word is used to describe:
a. What happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-2
B. The Concept...
1. The idea being commanded by Paul is this:
a. Christians are “to undergo a complete change, which under the power of God will find expression in character and conduct.” (Vine’s)
b. I.e., we who are “caterpillars” are to become “butterflies.”
2. Note that Paul uses the passive voice
a. Indicating that “transformation “ is something we allow to be done to us
b. Not something we do by our own power alone
c. Rather, we submit to God’s power and by His grace...
1) We are “changed into another form”
2) We become a “new creation”
[But this leads us to our second question (“What is the motivation for transformation?”)...]
II. The Motivation for Transformation
A. The Mercies of God...
1. In our text, Paul appealed to transformation based on God’s mercies - Romans 12:1
2. What mercies of God had Paul discussed earlier in his epistle?
a. The nature of our sin and our need, therefore, of God’s mercy
b. His grace in sending Jesus to overcome sin, paying its penalty for us and bringing us into a right relationship with God through faith
c. The wonder of the reality of God’s eternal purposes being worked out in the proclamation of the gospel in all the world.
d. Saved from the wrath of God - Romans 5:9 -- Should not God’s mercy move us to repent and seek transformation?
B. The Love of Christ...
1. Elsewhere, Paul revealed the motivating power of the love of Christ:
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
2. Such love compelled Paul to live for Jesus:
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
3. Does not the love of Christ move us to live FOR Him and LIKE Him?
C. The Only Alternative...
1. The alternative to being transformed is being conformed to this world - Romans 12:1
a. The word conformed (suschematizo, soos-khay-mat-id’-zo) as used here means “to conform to another’s pattern” (Vincent)
b. Present passive imperative with , stop being fashioned or do not have the habit of being fashioned.
2. If not transformed, we will be conformed to...
a. The world
1) Act like the world; be like those in the world.
2) “After the fashion or pattern” of the world.
[With the mercies of God and the love of Christ to motivate us to seek transformation the question is: What are we to become?]
III. The Goal of Transformation
A. To Live Like Christ...
1. To present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God
a. Is this not what Jesus did on earth? - Hebrews 10:5
b. So we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices - Romans 12:1
2. To prove that God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect
a. Was this not Jesus sought to do on earth? - cf. John 6:38
b. So we are to demonstrate that God’s will is right - Romans 12:2
B. To Become Like Christ...
1. As Paul wrote earlier in the Roman letter:
Romans 8:28-29a “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…”
2. As expressed by Paul
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
3. The purpose of being a disciple (to become like his teacher)
Luke 6:40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”
[Such is the goal of being transformed; indeed, it is the goal of being a Christian! Yet why do many never experience the transformation God offers? Why do they remain “caterpillars”? The process is not as difficult as one might think...]
IV. The Process of Transformation
A. In The Beginning...
1. Transformation requires a “change agent.”
a. We cannot change ourselves by our own strength or meritorious works
b. As Paul vividly illustrated his dilemma prior to his conversion Romans 7:18-20, 24-25a
2. It begins when we are baptized into Christ!
a. For there we experience the working of God:
Colossians 2:9-14
1) Spiritually circumcised as our sins are removed
2) Buried then raised with Christ
3) Made alive with Christ, forgiven of all trespasses
b. For there we experience the renewal of the Spirit
Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
1) Saved by the mercy of God
2) Involving a washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
c. For there we rise to walk in newness of life: Romans 6:3-8
1) When joined with faith and repentance, baptism becomes the starting point in which true transformation can take place!
B. Renewing the Mind...
1. The process of transformation continues as we renew the mind
a. As indicated in our text Romans 12:2; also”
Ephesians 4:22-24 “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
b. Unless there is a renewing of the mind, any change in our lives will be superficial
2. Renewing the mind is made possible by where we set our minds
a. Setting our minds on things above - Colossians 3:1-2
b. Setting our minds on the things of the Spirit - Romans 8:5
c. I.e., feeding our minds with the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, etc.
Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
3. With our minds “renewed” we can experience true transformation!
a. By putting off the old man and putting on the new man - cf. Colossians 3:1-11
b. By living according to the Spirit - Romans 8:5, 13
4. The process of transformation is simple to accomplish.
a. Set your minds on things above in order to renew your mind:
1) Meditate and contemplate on God and study His Word
2) Keep your mind in communication with God via prayer
3) Involve your mind in spiritual worship through frequent assembling with others
4) Strengthen your mind through the remembrance of the Lord’s Supper
b. With renewed minds, it becomes possible to put off the old, and put on the new!
1) To put off the old man with its sins
2) To put on the new man patterned after the example of Christ
5. Modern studies in self-improvement confirm this truth
a. We become what we think
b. We can change attitudes and behavior by filling our mind with positive mental images
c. In our efforts, we are not alone; God is at work with us!
Philippians 1:6; 2:13 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus… for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
C. What Hinders Many Christians...?
1. If it is so easy, why do many Christians remain “caterpillars”?
a. Were they not regenerated at their baptism? (Yes)
b. Don’t they have the promise of God’s help? (Yes)
2. The problem is likely a failure to renew the mind
a. Can a mind be renewed on a starvation diet? (e.g., irregular Bible study)
b. Can a mind be renewed on a junk-food diet? (e.g., trashy movies and novels) (15 years of TV, 18 months in Church.)
3. Why many Christians do not experience transformation...
a. They become what they think, and much of what they think upon is not becoming!
b. Our attitudes and behavior is but a reflection of what goes into our minds!
Conclusion
1. We have been called to be “transformed” into the image of Christ...
a. We have all the motivation we need (God’s mercies and Christ’s love)
b. We have the opportunity to start anew by the washing of baptism.
c. We must allow our minds to be renewed by setting them on things above -- Are we submitting to “brain surgery” by the Great Physician...?
2. God wants to give us a complete “make over”...
a. He has provided the means (Jesus’ blood) to remove the deformity of sin
b. He provides the tools (Bible study, prayer, fellowship) to fashion a new person.
In light of God’s wonderful grace, this is our “reasonable” service. Shall we not prove to the world that God’s will is “good, acceptable, and perfect”...?
Invitation
