Be Transformed!

BE Transformed

 

 

Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 

 2. As we consider this text, several questions come to mind...

a. What does it mean to be transformed?

b. What is the goal of transformation?

c. What should motivate us to undergo transformation?

d. What does one do in order to experience transformation?

 

I. THE DEFINITION OF TRANSFORMATION

A. THE WORD...

a. What happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration –

Matthew 17:1-2

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”

 

b. What is to happen to Christians in their service to God

 Romans 12:1-2

““I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 

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 

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" –

 2Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

 

II. THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMATION

A. TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST...

1. As expressed by Paul –

2Corinthians 3:18

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

 

2. The purpose of being a disciple (to become like his teacher)

- Luke 6:40

“The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”

4. The goal of Christian living

 

Colossians 3:9-10

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

 

**When you become saved, you put off all your sins (Old man) and is renewed as a new man; renewed in knowledge after the image of God. **

 

B. TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST...

1. To present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to

God

 

-So we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices

Romans 12:1

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

 

2. To prove that God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect

a. Was this not Jesus sought to do on earth? –

 John 6:38

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

 

b.  So we are to demonstrate that God's will is right –

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 

 

The Significance of Being a Christian

"THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING A CHRISTIAN"

Living By Faith

 

 

“faith" is the underlying principle of all the Christian's

conduct...

a.  It is fundamental to our salvation in Christ

Romans 1:16-17

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

b.  It is central to the life we now live in Christ

Galatians 2:20

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and have himself for me.”

 

** We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, knowing this, we accept Him into our life, and abide with Him through Faith and not just works alone. People misconceive the word that say I do good works, I will go to heaven. No, the Lord speaks against that. We must have faith first, and with that faith we will produce good works for our Lord Jesus Christ with our heart. **

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

 

Romans 6:1-2

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead in sin, live any longer therein?”

 

3. Yet the nature of faith and its importance in the life of

Christians...

a. Are often misunderstood

b. Are often neglected

 

I. THE MEANING OF FAITH

A. INVOLVES THE IDEA OF BELIEF...

1. The certainty or conviction that one has in some truth or

proposition

2. E.g., believing in things concerning Jesus and His kingdom

- Acts 8:12

“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

3. Such faith, or conviction, comes from the Word of God

 Romans 10:17

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

 

B. INVOLVES THE IDEA OF CONFIDENCE...

1. The willingness to place one's trust and reliance on someone

else

2. E.g., placing our trust in God, that He is reliable

 Romans 4:20-22

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving the glory of God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

C. INVOLVES THE IDEA OF FIDELITY...

1. That one is loyal, committed, and can be trusted

2. E.g., a faithful steward is one who is reliable

 1Corinthians 4:2

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

[A faithful Christian, then, is one who believes in the Word of God, he

has confidence in the Person of God, and is himself loyal and

trustworthy in the service of God.  Now let's take a look at what can

be said about...]

 

II. THE LIFE OF FAITH

A. INVOLVES CONFESSING OUR FAITH...

1. I.e., acknowledging our belief in Jesus Christ before others

2. Something we must do as a condition of salvation

Romans 10:9,10

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.”

 

B. INVOLVES LIVING BY FAITH...

1. I.e., conducting one's life with trust in Jesus Christ

2. Trusting in the works of Jesus, not our own; that His death

was truly for our sins

1Corinthians 15:1-3

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which  also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

3. Trusting in the words of Jesus, and living accordingly

Matthew 6:33,34

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

-- The life of faith is one that seeks to live in harmony with

the teaching of Jesus

 

C. INVOLVES BENEFITING BY FAITH...

 Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive such

blessings

Philippians 4:6-7

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”

-- The life of faith does not go unrewarded in this life, even

though its primary concern is the life to come

 

D. INVOLVES MAINTAINING OUR FAITH...

1. I.e., remaining steadfast in the faith we have in Christ

2. There is a need to stand fast, for faith can turn into

unbelief

Hebrews 3:12-19

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitful of sin. For we are made partakers for Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he greieved forty years? Was it not whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”