Are You Living A Transformed Life?

When you read books about Christianity written before the 1900s, or even the early 20th century, they often used different words to described what a person coming to Christ should look like and act like. Generally, they did not use the word “SAVED” or even ”Born again” but rather they used a word like “Converted” to describe the change in a person’s life. Why is this important and and how should we look at our own salvation or the experience of others who have been “Born again?”

When a person embraced  the Jewish faith, or any other religion, they were described as having “CONVERTED” because they had a major shift in their ideology and lifestyle. They embraced a whole new set of practices and values of that faith or religion.

When I became a mechanic I had to study electricity, and the difference between AC and DC power. To not understand the difference could be very costly to your income and your life. Household electricity is referred to a AC current and is used to run everything form your household appliances to major industry.  DC current is used in batteries and small items like clocks, phones etc. If you connect a DC device to household electricity or AC current you would fry that device and ruin it for good.  Both AC and DC are considered electrical currents, but the power they produce and the way they produce it are vastly different. The same is true for how a person lives their life: for themselves or for God. Both are living life, but from difference types of power and for different reasons.

The apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans, Chapter 12, that a person coming to a saving knowledge and experience in Christ should go through a “METAMORPHOSE” in which everything is reorganized in a persons life from the inside out.  In the same way a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis as it turns into a butterfly from a caterpillar. The two are so drastically different from each other that, unless you saw the process of transformation, you wouldn’t think they are the same creature. The person gaining a Christian life should go through the same type of process in their soul or they can’t truly be called a Christian, except in name only. That total change happens in the person’s mind and soul being rewired to think and act differently.

Romans 12:2

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.

Paul continues this idea of metamorphose in saying that it is God who changes the person because that person was “RECONCILED” to God. So the process that Paul explains is transformation as a two-fold process of God and man working together to create the transformation. If either God or man does not fully participate in the process there is no reason to expect our transformation.

Romans 12:18

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

The reason the conversion, or transformation, happens is because of “Reconciliation,” meaning the conflict has stopped and there is harmony between the two parties. The false notion being communicated in many churches today is “Accept Jesus,” as if liking him is all that is required to be a real Christian. That is the farthest from the truth. If hostility does not get reconciled there is no transformation, even if the person starts going to church and bible studies.

In 2 Corinthian 5 Paul talks at length about this transformation process. Yes we are a “NEW” creation. That newness is because our purpose for living has changed, and our hostility to God’s authority and will has been repaired. The core of our values and loyalties have shifted from “US”-centered to God-centered, and because our rebellion is resolved we are able to live in relationship to our creator.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

The Greek word for new creation is translated as the English word “FORMATION” as in building something that was not there before, like the creation of a house. Everyone knows a person doesn’t appear to change overnight, but in reality they do because they change on the inside first, then on the outside.  But for a person chasing religion that change is from the outside first trying to change their heart and soul by force. Religion doesn’t truly transforms us, it just restrains us.

Paul says that once this transformation happens our new role in life is to represent Jesus to the world around us as ambassadors, because we are in agreement with God. The truth of why we live is no longer to supremely represent ourselves as much as we are now representing the King of kings because he is the object of our affections and pursuit. We acknowledge that we are his creation and he is now our Heavenly Father.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

So the question today is: are we all in the midst of our own “METAMORPHOSIS,” or just trying to be changed by religious rules and traditions? At first the two can look similar, but they are as different as night and day. Remember the illustration I used about electrical power. Are we DC charged and energized or AC charged and energized? If Christ is your all-in-all you must cooperate with the Holy Spirit and let him transform you from the inside out. Learn to be changed as your thinking and will conforms to that of God, by the power of God, and not just your willpower alone.

Once a person is born again the process of transformation starts, but it takes a lifetime of process to be completed. The important thing to remember is that this happens because of reconciliation, meaning we and God agree to partner together. If at any time be get trapped in deception or rebellion, that transformation is either hindered or stops completely.

To be born again is to be reconciled to God. It doesn’t mean we feel good about Jesus, or that Jesus made us happy, even though that can be part of the reconciliation. If we see reconciliation as the pivotal point in being born again we can understand the rest of the Christian faith and how it is meant to be lived.

Questions:

1) Can you identify the day you were reconciled to God? If not, you need to do so now and consciously surrender to the will and purpose of God.

2) Are you still being transformed in your mind and soul, or has the transformation stalled? The only reason for stalled transformation is fear or self-interest that is blocking the presence and blessing of God.

May we pursue our own transformation until we meet Jesus face to face,

Pastor Dale