More often in the church we hear testimonies of men and women saved by grace. In various ways we all joyfully testified of what God has done for us. On the other hand to speak of what God is doing in our life at any stage is hard to tell. Therefore the single, most important discerning characteristics of a believer are a changed life. Because it speaks louder than words. It is the process by which God changes a worthless and despised individual into a vessel fit for His use. Also, a fearful and defeated believer into a rock that is not ashamed of what he has believed. A coward into a conqueror. It also shows how beliefs impacts character. Praise the Lord.
This word was first used for our Lord in all the gospel except the gospel of John, Matthew 17: 2, and Luke 9:28-36. It is the Greek word “µetaµ??f?s??” metamorphosis which means to change form or shape”. It is a continuous and lengthy and daily process that begins at conversion, but never reaches perfection in this life, but ends on the day we pass into glory. It is a work that God does and not man. We cannot transform ourselves by any means. And, this paragraph in the epistle to the Romans explains how God does it. Transformation by Him that transforms is what we shall be dealing with in this teaching notes.
In nature the butterfly is a very good example of the process of metamorphosis. It develops from the larvae in stages to become the butterfly. Amazing, isn’t. Just watching the tiny worm so tender and shapeless going through the transforming process is a wonder. This is the same thing the Lord wants to do with us if we allow Him. Also, it can be called the process of sanctification by which God renews the whole nature of the believer into the image of God. It is an act that takes place in the heart and mind. It is not legalistic as some believe and practice, substituting the works of the law for the fruit of the Spirit. It is a spiritual process that belongs to the Holy Spirit. We are all expected to co-operate with Him.
In addition, more can be drawn from this passage. It stems from the fact that it reveals the difference between Christianity and other religion. Also, the difference between the nominal, cultural Christian and the born again, regenerated believer in the Messiah. When we received Christ at the new birth, we also received His fullness and grace John 1:16. Also, as the scripture said Christ in me the Hope of glory. Now, the outworking of that fullness and glory outwardly is what is called transformation. The Apostle in the book of Galatian also spoke of Christ being formed in us, Galatians 4:19 which is a picture of that transformation.
There is also a depth in this verse that we cannot fathom revealing the love and mercy of God. It is like a door that turns both ways, looking back to the previous chapters and forward to the next chapters. In this chapter the Holy Spirit uses many imperatives or commands more than any other chapters of the book of Romans.
The epistles of the Apostle Paul are always structured in divisions to facilitate our spiritual growth. That is, it first declares the doctrine, followed by the application. It does two things, by saying and teaching us how to walk the saying. That is the theology first, followed by the moral application. The Bible says we should be both hearers and doers of the word of God without the omission of either.
There are several question that be asked from this passage, such as:
· How shall I live the Christian life?
· How does God turn a natural life to a spiritual life?
· How can I be transformed and sanctified?
· How can I transit from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness?
· And more questions on making the most of our Christian life and walk.
The answer to most of such questions is supplied in this very chapter. We know much of the person and works of Christ Jesus through the gospel account. But here the Spirit of God takes and show them to us and translate it to life in us. It has the divine and the human side. It has the negative and the positive commands. All pointing to what is impossible with man is possible with God. God says do your part and I will do mine.
The passage begins with verse one with an appeal to present ourselves to God by the mercies of God. It does not ask us to yield or surrender ourselves, but to present. It is saying, first consider the mercies of God as the grounds of presenting yourself to God. God’s mercy is revealed in chapter1-11 of the book of Romans. He saved us, sinners dead in trespasses through His mercy revealed in the death of our Lord for our sins. He revealed His righteousness and justice in the death of His son for us. So, He says look at my mercy and come. The presentation of ourselves to God means the denial of every right and full submission. Also, giving up all claims to myself and abdicating my throne and letting God sits on the throne of my heart.
Next, He tells us what to present to God. That is our bodies. This represents the totality of our being, the epicenter of our life. Again, He says as a living sacrifice. In the Old Testament type, sacrifices are presented by the priest from a slain or dead sacrifice for sin. Christ has presented Himself for sin and was slain to satisfy the righteous demands of the law. By that one sacrifice He ended all sacrifices demanded by the law Hebrews 10:13-14. So we have to present to God a living body as a living sacrifice that have life. Galatians 2:20 says we are crucified with Christ to the world, sin and the self or the old man. Romans 6: 11 also highlights the fact of being alive to God and that is what He needs. If any man will follow the faith he must be prepared to carry a cross and die to self.
It says a sacrifice holy, which means set apart or separated unto God for His use. God says I want a clean vessel to use and present yourself and let me do with you what I will 2 Timothy 2:20-21, 2 Corinthians 7:1. Finally, the sacrifice must be acceptable to God, which means as pleasing to Him. When we present ourselves to God, we must bear in mind what He requires of us, living, holy, and acceptable.
He does not stop there, but continues by saying, this is your reasonable service. It simply means your logical worship. You cannot worship God satisfactorily without presenting yourself to Him. The lamb and goats slain the Old Testament were presented to God to be accepted on the altar. An example is the whole burnt offering, Leviticus 6: 6-13.
Worship is tied to the mercy of God, which motivates us to present ourselves. In fact the chapter is filled with the out-working of the mercy of God in our life. Worship is a sacrifice wholly attributed to God out of His mercy. The first sacrifice in the chain is ourselves. For example, in my offerings and alms giving or whatsoever I offer to God, it must be a living sacrifice 2 Corinthians 8:2-5, Philippians 4:18-19 to be acceptable. It must be like the two mites of the widow, having my whole being in it. We also have the sacrifice of our lips, such as praising singing, praying etc. Hebrew 13:15.
The critical verse is the second part of the passage. This is where the process is laid out. We cannot offer ourselves to God, if we are not transformed. Verse one is tied to verse two, like both sides of a coin. We cannot be transformed if we are conforming to the system of this world. That is the difference between God lives in us or God reigns in us. In other word being led and guided by the Spirit or being led by our own selves. Also, walking by the spirit or walking by the flesh. Being a slave to the world system or slave to Christ. We have a choice to make. It depends on what we chose.
First God gives us a command to refuse all conformity to the world. The reason being the world is under the dominion of satan 1 John 5:!9. The world also have been judged John 12:31, 16:11. The book of Ephesian in chapter 2:2-3 says that we were slaves to sin and satan. But now it says don’t be like that anymore come out. In Ephesians 4:17-23, the Bible makes it clear the reason we should not be conformed to the world. In fact the God of this world is satan who has blinded the minds of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 4:4.
Next He continues and gives us the solution to all our problems. That is the renewal of our mind. The mind controls the body and its motions. God is pointing out the source of our problem which is the MIND. Renew your mind. How? Ephesians speaks of the spirit of the mind in chapter 4; 23. That is the mind has a spirit that needs to be renewed. All boils down to the fact that we have a mindset that is contrary to the mind of God. It has to be changed. Our way of thinking has to be changed. We are what we think Proverb23:7.
By presenting yourself to God and letting Him apply two things which are the word and His Spirit. He works from the outside with the scripture and on the inside by the Holy Spirit to produce the nature and character of the new man. This is reflected in the fruit of the fruit. There is a need to read, study and meditate on the word of God. We also need good teachings from godly leaders setting forth the person and works of Christ in their right perspectives. With these materials the Holy Spirit does His works on our inside, the new man.
We all have a before, present and future. In other word what we were and what we are and what we shall be. God our Father through Christ has dealt with our past and brought under the blood, we are cleansed from all our sins. Now let Him complete the good work to reflect the present. God wants us to be renewed daily in righteousness and holiness. You might ask then how is done.
The Bible supplies the answer in the book of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. It says we can be changed into the same image of Christ, if we look unto Him. It is done by the Spirit of God. We behold the glory of God as revealed in the person, life and works of Christ Jesus our Lord. We focus on His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension, glorification and second coming. Besides, we claim our unity with Him in His body. We also learn to appropriate all the works and the victories of Christ.
It is done so that we can prove the will of God. Note, it did say so that we can know the will of God. There is the secret and opened or revealed will of God, Deuteronomy 29:29, the sovereign will of God, The perfect will of God according to the law. The situational will of God discerns through wisdom. This is what we are dealing with. It is the will of God, we can prove when we are at a crossroad or when occasion demands that we make a sound decision. Only by a renewed mind, we can prove the will of God in every situation.
