How To be Transformed (Romans 12:1-2) by Sis. Lilia Cabatbat
Paul gives guidelines for living, as a redeemed people in a fallen world. But how we live has to be based on what we believe. And it is only as we get into a right relationship with God, that we can begin to live in a way that pleases Him.
In our daily living we must crucify our desires and sinful habits that keep us from following Christ. We have to understand what we have believed so that we can behave accordingly. If the object of our belief is right our actions follow. Proverbs 23:7 says,
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
We must know by heart to whom and what we believe, and our identity in Christ so we can behave of what is expected of us as children of God.
Remember that what we do does not determine of who we are, but who we are determine what we do. Example, If you know that you are a child of a king definitely you will behave like a prince or a princess. We should not find significance or acceptance on what we do, but of who we are in Christ.
There are several questions we’ve to consider as we study the verse.
· What does it mean to be transformed?
· What is our goal of transformation?
· What motivates us to undergo transformation?
· What we can do to experience transformation?
I. THE WORD TRANSFORMATION
The Greek word is METAMORPHOO means “to change into another form.” This is where the word “metamorphosis” comes from. It is used to describe a change of form. For example, when a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly.
The concept of transformation is that we the redeemed people of God are “ to undergo a complete change, which, under the power of God, will find experience in character and conduct,” ( Vine’s dictionary ). So then, we who are caterpillars are to become beautiful butterflies. It indicates that transformation is something we allow to be done to us, and has nothing to do by our own strength and will power, but by the power of God and by His grace alone that we are changed into another form and become a new creation. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ) Praise the Lord for His grace.
II. OUR GOAL FOR TRANSFORMATION.
To become like Christ, as expressed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
2 Cor 3:18 (NKJV)
But 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 by the Spirit of the Lord.
By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds we can be more like HIM. In the gospel we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. By learning about Christ’s life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what He is really like, and as our knowledge of Him deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming like Christ is a progressive experience. The more closely we follow Him, the more we will be like Him.
To live like Christ in the decaying world, by daily denying ourselves and crucifying our flesh, that the character of Jesus be seen in us.
Let the love and forgiveness that we receive from HIM overflow from our hearts as we present our lives as a living testimony of HISWORD as we testify before the world that are still yet to be won for Christ.
III. OUR MOTIVATION FOR TRANSFORMATION (v. 1)
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
These are our motivation to change:
· The abundant mercies of God
· Our freedom from sin
· Our gift of eternal life
· Our access to the grace of God
· Having peace with God
· We have been saved from God’s wrath
· We are reconciled to God
In view of God’s mercies and love for us and for the mighty works that Jesus did on the cross for us, should compel us to be transformed, living our lives for His glory. As the scripture says in Galatians 2:20:
Gal 2:20 (NKJV)
I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.
IV. THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION (v. 2)
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
It begins when we receive Jesus in our hearts and baptized into Christ. From there, we experience the working of God, the renewal of the spirit, and the desire to walk in newness of life. Complete surrender with the baptism of the Holy Spirit becomes the starting point in which true transformation can take place in us, and allowing God to reign and take full control over our hearts and minds.
The renewing of our minds is the process of transformation continues as we renew our minds.Let me explain the state of our mind before we came to know the Lord. Our flesh generates humanistic thoughts and ideas; it’s the part of us which was trained to live independent of God before we become Christians. At that time there was no Plan A in our life, we’re separated from God, ignorant in His ways and determined to succeed and survive by our own abilities. When we were born again, God gave us a new nature and we became a new person but nobody pressed the delete button in our brain. We brought with us into our new faith all the old Plan B habits and thought patterns of the flesh. So while our new self desires to live dependent on God and follow Plan A, our flesh persists in suggesting Plan B ways to live independent of God.
PLAN A - is living our life God’s way, operating by faith.
PLAN B – is living our life our way, operating by our limited ability to reason, survive and succeed.
In order to win the battle for our minds we need strategy. If the strongholds in our minds are the result of conditioning, then we can be reconditioned by the renewing of our minds. Anything that has been learned can be unlearned. We have to reformat our mind, deleting all our plan B habits, and reinstall the Word of God to guide and direct our new life in Him. Remember that we’re not just up against the world and the flesh, but we’re also up against the devil who is scheming to fill our minds with thoughts which are opposed to God’s plan for our lives. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says,
2 Cor 10:5 (NKJV)
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
Why? Because they are the enemy’s thought. Satan’s strategy is to introduce his thoughts and ideas into our minds and deceive us into believing that they are ours, it happened to David. In 1 Chronicles 21:1:
1 Chron 21:1 (NKJV)
Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
Satan moved David to number Israel, an act God did not command and David acted on Satan’s idea. Did Satan simply say to David “I want you to number Israel?” David was a godly man and he would not have obeyed Satan, but he suggested the idea into David’s mind in the first person singular. “I need to know how large my army is, I think I’ll count the troops.” When Satan disguises his suggestion as your idea you are more likely to accept it. That is his primary deception.
Satan’s power is in the lie. He has no power over us except what we give him by failing to take every thought captive and being deceived into believing his lies. Since Satan’s primary weapon is a lie, our defense against him is truth. Dealing with Satan is not a power encounter but it’s a truth encounter.
When we expose Satan’s lie with God’s truth his power is broken, that’s why Jesus said:
John 8:32 (NKJV) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
That’s why the first piece of armor Paul mentioned for standing against the devil’s schemes is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). Satan’s lie cannot withstand the truth.
Setting our minds
Col 3:2 (NKJV) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
As we continue to fill our minds with God’s truth we will equip ourselves to recognize the lie and take it captive to obey Christ. Evaluate every thought by the truth.
Phil 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there isany virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
We should master ourselves to know the real one from the fake. Praise God HE has given us His Word to guide us. Psalm 119:105 says:
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Turn to God when your commitment to Plan A is challenged by Plan B thoughts from the world, the flesh or the devil, bring them to God in prayer by doing so you’ve acknowledge God and exposing your thoughts to the truth.
Psalms 4:6 (NKJV)
There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
VICTORY IN THE BATTLE FOR OUR MIND IS THE UNDISPUTED INHERITANCE OF EVERYONE WHO IS IN CHRIST. AMEN
HINDRANCES FOR OUR TRANSFORMATION
Pride, resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness. Irregular bible study, prayerlessness and no fellowship. Feeding our minds with junk TV shows, magazines, books and movies. Spending more time on Facebook instead of spending time with God in prayer and reading and studying of His Word.
Remember that our attitudes and behavior is but a reflection of what goes into our minds.
CONCLUSION
We all have been called to be transformed. God’s abundant mercies and His love should motivate us to seek transformation of our hearts and mind. Our goal is: a) to become like Christ and b) to live like Christ.
We must allow our minds to be renewed by deleting all our old thought patterns that are contrary to God’s plan for us and stars filling our minds with the things of God (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:8 )
2 Cor 10:4-6 (NKJV)
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
In light of God’s wonderful grace, let us prove to the world that God’s will is indeed good, acceptable and perfect. How? by allowing God to mold us and make us or even break us, so He can fashion us the way He wanted us to be, that His Name be magnified in our lives as we represent HIM before the world, that are still yet to be won for Jesus to the glory of the Father. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD THAT SETS US FREE TO LIVE OUR LIVES FOR HIS GLORY.
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