Being Transformed

Being Transformed 2022 02 06

Being TransformedRomans 12:1 – 21

 One of the real wonders of the natural world is the butterfly.  Without getting deep into all the scientific jargon describing the process, the butterfly begins life as a caterpillar that crawls everywhere it goes and transforms into the beautiful, graceful, flying creature we think of when we think of butterflies.  It starts out as one thing but is transformed into something totally different.  One is common, not necessarily very pleasing to behold, while the other can be so beautiful it can take your breath away!   You, Christian, are like the butterfly, starting out as a creeping, perhaps creepy little worm, and being transformed by your Creator into something beautiful.

Romans 12:1 – 21

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.  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 world around you IS in deep trouble, but you’re not if you’ve put your faith in Jesus Christ!  Follow Him and take courage, for He HAS overcome the world (John 16:33).

I  Do Not Take Yourself Too Seriously!

  1. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to.
  2. Paul wrote by the grace of God that you ought not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to, but instead to think soberly, recognizing that God made you, not yourself, and God has given you the measure of faith that you need for salvation.
  3. Whether it is little or great, you did not raise up this faith in yourself.  This fact should be sobering when you think about where you would be without it!  God tells us that “… the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; …”  Gen 8:21
  4. There is therefore no way that you would EVER put your faith in Jesus Christ all by yourself!
  5. The faith you have is itself a gift from God according to his good purpose and pleasure!  He does not call us to come to him with great faith.  He calls us to put that measure of faith he has given us in Jesus Christ.          

II  Present Yourself to God

  1. God has been SO merciful to you!  He sent his own Son who willingly suffered death for you on the cross to take away your sins!  I did not deserve it, you did not deserve it, but because of the mercy of God, Christ died in your place, the just for the unjust, and his blood was shed to wash away your sins.
  2. It is therefore entirely reasonable for you to give yourself completely to serving God! 

III  Be Holy

  1. God doesn’t want you to be serving him on one hand and willfully sinning on the other. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1Peter 1:16
  2. Be holy! This is the only thing that is acceptable to God, and it is reasonable for God to expect.
  3. No, you can’t be holy on your own or by your own strength. That’s why Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”  John 15:4 

IV Do Not Be Conformed                                                                                                                          

  1. Don’t let the world around you shape you! This world is corrupt.  It is slated for destruction.  It’s like an old worn out, tumble-down building, waiting for the wrecker’s ball.  The Bible says it’s going to be burned up.  2 Peter 3:10 says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
    1. Don’t be a part of that! Do not be conformed to this world but be ready for the next!

V  Be Transformed

  1. Be transformed, not conformed.  To be conformed means to be a part of the status quo, just like everyone else. Don’t get sucked into the stuff going on around you.
  2. To be transformed is to be changed completely from what you are or were into something new and much better.
  3. Do not be conformed but be transformed.
  4. How do you go about being transformed? By the renewing of your mind!
  5. How do you renew your mind? By putting into it the things that are not there by nature, but that God has designed for you.
  6. Where do you find those things? In the Bible!  God has preserved his Word so that you can understand and know what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

VI  Remember These

  1. Just like our body is made up of many different parts or members with different functions, so the church is made up of many different members with different gifts.
  1. Don’t try to be like everybody else. Use the gifts that God has given you.
  1. Love truly.  Don’t pretend.  1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
  2. Hate and avoid evil like it is hell, itself!  Psalm 119:104 “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
  3. Cleave yourself to good!   Be so strongly attached to that which is good that it is as if you are glued to it.
  4. Love one another like a parent loves a child or a sibling another sibling, putting others ahead of yourself.  Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
  5. Do a good job.  Whatever you are doing in the world, do your best, remembering you are serving God first.
  1. Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

VII  Do These

  1. Rejoice in your hope.  No matter what’s going on, you have a sure hope!  Jesus IS coming again.  When you trusted Christ, you were cleansed from all your sins by His blood and given everlasting life.  It is certain that you’re going to heaven!
  2. Be patient in tribulation.
  1. God’s word tells you that tribulation is good for you. James 1:4 “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
  2. God’s word promises you that there will be an end to all tribulation. Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
  1. Persevere in prayer.  Make faithful, faith-filled, daily prayer a major part of your life.
  2. Take care of those in need in the church.  Do not think of the things you have as yours, but as God’s, who has bought you with the blood of Jesus Christ.  God puts things into your hands for a purpose, not just for your own pleasure.  Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
  3. Bless those who cause you trouble.  Furthermore, bless them, and do not curse them! Jesus said,“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Matthew 5:44.
  4. Rejoice with those who rejoice and show your sympathy to those who weep.
  5. Don’t compete with one another but work together for the same goal.  Jesus said, “…seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…”  He DID NOT say to seek first your personal freedom! 

VIII  Don’t Do These

  1. Don’t think highly of your own wisdom.  Isaiah 5:21 says, “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”
  2. Don’t pay back evil with evil, but always be ready to do what’s right, and as much as possible, live in peace with everyone.
  3. Do not seek revenge but give place to wrath.  God sees what’s going on and will deal with those who wrong others, including you.
  4. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.  Help those who are against you in any way you can, hoping that the conviction that falls on them like hot coals of fire will lead them to repentance and everlasting life.

Conclusion:

The world is a mess, and it isn’t getting better.  In fact, the constant bad news from around the world clearly shows that it’s getting worse.  You’ve been given a great gift, a gift that will last long after this corrupt world is gone.  God has given you His Son whose blood was shed to take away your sins, dying in your place to pay the wages of sin, so you can have everlasting life.

  • If Jesus Christ is YOUR Saviour, today, it is certain that you will go to heaven when you die.
  • Therefore, do not be conformed to this messed up, selfish, self-destructing world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.
  • Determine that you will take heed to what God has shown you in His word and commit to spending time DAILY in His word and in prayer.  This will most surely transform your mind and make you all God wants you to be.
  • “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8