Be What You Are... Transformed!

[Justified Sinner]

Romans 12:1-2 is a fairly familiar passage. Obviously not as well known as John 3:16, but when you read it you'll say, "Oh, I know that passage." I think, however, there are some things we don't necessarily see immediately in that passage.

First, Paul is making an appeal to what he has said in the previous eleven chapters. Up to this point he's told you what God has done. Therefore, you are to live in a manner that honors Him, things that are acceptable to Him. You do this as an act of thanks and response in worship. So true worship of God is to forsake sin and give your body to righteous living.

One small caveat at this point. Paul previously said (Romans 7:7-25) that you won't be able to shake sin till you die. It dies when you die. Until then you're stuck with it (Struggling with Sin: The Normal Christian Life). That, by the way, is one reason you're saved by grace through faith, not works. You can't do perfect righteousness this side of the grave.

Back to Romans 12. Second, Paul urges us not to be conformed to the world. Conformed means to take the shape. When something is conformed, it doesn't change in substance; it changes shape. But what does Paul say later. Be transformed. That's a passive verb, not an active verb. With passive verbs, the subject is not doing the action. The action is done to the subject. The command isn't to transform yourself. The command is to be transformed. In other words, you are transformed. Live like it.

Here's my encouragement to you. You will struggle with sin till the day you die. However, that doesn't change the fact that IN CHRIST YOU'RE ALREADY TRANSFORMED!

 

[Aussie Pete]

Romans 12:1-2 is a fairly familiar passage. Obviously not as well known as John 3:16, but when you read it you'll say, "Oh, I know that passage." I think, however, there are some things we don't necessarily see immediately in that passage.

First, Paul is making an appeal to what he has said in the previous eleven chapters. Up to this point he's told you what God has done. Therefore, you are to live in a manner that honors Him, things that are acceptable to Him. You do this as an act of thanks and response in worship. So true worship of God is to forsake sin and give your body to righteous living.

One small caveat at this point. Paul previously said (Romans 7:7-25) that you won't be able to shake sin till you die. It dies when you die. Until then you're stuck with it (Struggling with Sin: The Normal Christian Life). That, by the way, is one reason you're saved by grace through faith, not works. You can't do perfect righteousness this side of the grave.

Back to Romans 12. Second, Paul urges us not to be conformed to the world. Conformed means to take the shape. When something is conformed, it doesn't change in substance; it changes shape. But what does Paul say later. Be transformed. That's a passive verb, not an active verb. With passive verbs, the subject is not doing the action. The action is done to the subject. The command isn't to transform yourself. The command is to be transformed. In other words, you are transformed. Live like it.

Here's my encouragement to you. You will struggle with sin till the day you die. However, that doesn't change the fact that IN CHRIST YOU'RE ALREADY TRANSFORMED!

Yes, indeed we are. We do need to deal with our thought life if we are to experience the best. The Christian life is not automatic. We need what God has done on the inside to be revealed on the outside. We need a renewed mind so that it does not argue against the truth of God's word. Many people trust their feelings more than God's word. Those who do not take the time to study and pray are ignorant of what God has done for us in Christ.

 

[Gideons300]

Romans 12:1-2 is a fairly familiar passage. Obviously not as well known as John 3:16, but when you read it you'll say, "Oh, I know that passage." I think, however, there are some things we don't necessarily see immediately in that passage.

First, Paul is making an appeal to what he has said in the previous eleven chapters. Up to this point he's told you what God has done. Therefore, you are to live in a manner that honors Him, things that are acceptable to Him. You do this as an act of thanks and response in worship. So true worship of God is to forsake sin and give your body to righteous living.

One small caveat at this point. Paul previously said (Romans 7:7-25) that you won't be able to shake sin till you die. It dies when you die. Until then you're stuck with it (Struggling with Sin: The Normal Christian Life). That, by the way, is one reason you're saved by grace through faith, not works. You can't do perfect righteousness this side of the grave.

Back to Romans 12. Second, Paul urges us not to be conformed to the world. Conformed means to take the shape. When something is conformed, it doesn't change in substance; it changes shape. But what does Paul say later. Be transformed. That's a passive verb, not an active verb. With passive verbs, the subject is not doing the action. The action is done to the subject. The command isn't to transform yourself. The command is to be transformed. In other words, you are transformed. Live like it.

Here's my encouragement to you. You will struggle with sin till the day you die. However, that doesn't change the fact that IN CHRIST YOU'RE ALREADY TRANSFORMED!