Ever had of that word transformed? We always hear it and we are constantly reminded by God’s word to be transformed! but What does it really mean? How can I be transformed, How do people who are transformed behave like? I’m I living a transformed life that God requires of me? I’m I really transformed?
I used to always ask myself these questions several times, once I embarked on my new journey with Christ. I would yell and scream and tell Jesus how much I loved him and wanted to live for HIM. I would cry out and ask Him to change my life, change my ways, I don’t want to live as I used to, I want a new life in Him. It was not an easy thing to do because I realised I had to give up so much If I wanted a new life with Jesus! I had to let go of my old self and become a new person. My life had to completely change once I had accepted Him (Jesus) in my life. I could nolonger be or behave the way I was, there had to be a change, a difference, a transformation with the way I was living!!. It was not a suddenly moment but it was a process, gradually the holy spirit started to mould, uproot and build me in order to be transformed.
What is transformation?
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24
The old man
Transformation is to change in form, nature or appearance. This means to change in our physical bodies, shape, manifestation, character, identity and personality. Transformation does not happen overnight but it is a daily process for us to become who God wants us to be. The above scripture tells us once we have heard the truth and been taught the truth which is the gospel of Christ and have accepted it and now we believe. Then we must put off! every concern of our former conduct, the old man!. The old man or sinful nature is who we used to be the way we presented ourselves, our character or behaviour, our lifestyle before we came to Christ. This old man that we were didn’t know Christ and therefore we lived our lives as we wanted too. No conviction, guidance, correction because the flesh was at rule in our lives. This old man grows in corrupt by deceitful lusts such as fulfilling the pleasures of the flesh, satisfying the lust of the heart and being deceived that what you get or have can provide you with lasting longer joy. This is why Jesus came, the old man was disobedient, rebellious to God, the mind, the thoughts, the fruit everything was ungodly nothing was like God and it brought a great distance between us and God. But Jesus eliminated the distance that we can live with God and have a relationship with Him. Roman 5:8 says while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore the old man has been crucified by His blood. So therefore this old man, old self must not be seen in us for now we are a new man, new creation in Jesus.
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. 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. Roman 12:1-2
The new Man
A person who is transformed becomes or is a new man. once they come to Christ and accept Him, the holy spirit comes on the inside of them and settles within their heart. The heart can be referred to as the human brain where the thinking process occurs. Then our soul is the spirit which is our whole being. This individual soul is a spirit and has got a mind, now this mind sends information to the spirit. The scripture above tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind why?, because if bad thoughts or wrong information enters our brain, it influences our minds and therefore affects the state of our spirit. Our conscience becomes weakened and our spirit can be corrupted. The holy spirit comes in our hearts and does the amending process. He brings information to our brain which is the word of God, and then we act on it. This influences our minds being renewed and the condition of our spirit is affected and becomes purified. This is why we have to renew, renew, renew our minds!!!. daily and the only way is by feeding, studying on the word of God!
Having their darkened being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Ephesians 4: 18-19
The new man or transformed person no longer walks as the rest of other unbelievers who walk in the futility of their mind. Their understanding is being darkened because of their ignorance, they are enstranged or isolated from the life of God or the things of God. Their ignorance to God and His word has made their hearts blind and therefore their spirit is corrupted so they allow themselves to work and walk in all uncleanness, lewdness with greediness. But us who have known Christ we must put on the new man!. The scripture says this new man was created to God in true righteousness and holiness. This means that the new man the transformed man must walk in righteousness and holiness. Putting away every form of evil, this can only be done through renewal and by the help of the holy spirit. It is the responsibility or role of the holy spirit to make us like Christ but we have to yield to Him and not refuse Him. If we obey and listen to His still small voice, we are transformed renewed and sanctified. once we are transformed we know what God wants from us, we can discern evil and good, we are able to walk in the will of God and glorify Him in our works, ways and our lives.
How do people who are transformed behave like? I’m I living a transformed life that God requires of me? I’m I really transformed?
The fruits
Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Mathew 7: 15-20
A transformed person is transformed in every area of their life period. There character, personality, words, thoughts, motives, appearance etc is transformed. it is very visible and noticeable to those around them and they see them as different people. You can only tell people are transformed by their works and not their words. There works which are the fruits will show you and tell you. What they are is what they produce, if they are godly and speak about Christ and tell others too, their works, fruits, actions will prove it and this is what unbelievers see not just words. It is the works that show whether we are truly transformed or not. The evidence is in the fruits not words. How we conduct ourselves tells us whether we are changed, the way we dress, talk, behave, think must be different, right and pleasing to God. A transformed person is expected to bear good fruit, that is good works, godly living or godly lifestyle. Their lifestyle must be different from the world. loving what God loves and hating what God hates.
The light
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mathew 5:13-16
When we are transformed we become the light to the world, to the unbelievers. Because we are now totally new in Christ and live according to the way He lived, imitating Him. we begin to walk in His word, obey His voice which changes our lifestyle, works and ways. the light in us is the light of Jesus Himself that sits in our hearts and the holy spirit whose within us. This light of Jesus shines through our lives when our actions reflect the nature of Christ, such as love, forgiveness, compassion, humility etc. His light shines through our attitudes, words, deeds, lifestyle. when people see that our lives have been changed, that we have the values of Jesus and God’s power is at work in us, then they believe that we have God, that His real!! and a wonderful saviour! Eventually they will believe and come to Christ. This means people are watching us, the holy spirit in us guides us to walk righteously, He graces and empowers us to imitate Christ and be changed forever. We must be led by the holy spirit and walk in Him. in our own ability we cannot change but He enables us to be transformed.
The more we grow in Christ, the more we become transformed. Christ transforms us to be more like Him everyday. We must earnestly seek Him, study His word and apply it daily to our lives, fellowship with other believers. flee away from every form of sin that is even friends whose characters are not godly, we must love them at a distance so that they do not influence us. Our lives must reflect Christ fully and wholly not just half way but with everything we are, unbelievers must see Christ in us, our lives, actions must preach to them about Christ not just our words. They will have to see the transformation in us first which can draw them to God too and believe.
A life transformed glorifies God. I pray that as we live in this life, we become transformed forever to glorify God and bring many to Christ! when people see Jesus in us!
God bless you.
ALL ABOUT JESUS 