 “I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed [changed, transfigured, Gr. SC. # 3339 ‘metamorphoo’] by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Rom. 12:1-2.
Notice that the word ‘transformed’ is the same Greek word that is translated ‘transfigured’ (Matt.17:2). Jesus was transfigured before three of the disciples. His appearance including His clothing was transformed, that is, changed into another form, being changed by, and into, the glory of God. God’s goal for the saints is to become like Jesus: transfigured from a natural body to a glorious state.
This Greek word metamorphoo is only used in three places in the New Testament: in Romans 12:2 above, in the Scriptures that refer to Jesus’ transfiguration in the Gospels and in 2Corinthians 3:18 “but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The renewing of the mind
In Romans 12:2 we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds are renewed through repentance, the original ‘changing of our minds’ to believe the gospel and the ongoing “repentance from dead works”, not getting caught in religious mindsets.
Our minds are renewed by the revelational knowledge of the word, by having “the eyes of our understanding enlightened” Eph.1:18. To be transformed into the place where we know and can do the will of God requires that we “be renewed in the spirit of our mind and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” Eph.4:23-24.
Worship in spirit and truth
The transformation referred to in 2 Corinthians 3:18 is “by the Spirit of the Lord.” This is referring to a spiritual transformation that happens as we worship the Lord in and by the Spirit. Jesus said that true worship is “in Spirit and truth”(Jn.4:24). Worship in the Spirit is simply that: the Spirit enables us to behold God and to be caught up in His glory in worship. Worship in truth is the result of receiving the word by revelation through having the spirit of our mind renewed so that we can receive the word by revelation.
God’s goal is for us to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom.8:29), that is, to be like Jesus. Jesus came to the place in His maturity whereby He was able to be transfigured. Through transformation we will come to the same place as we walk in maturity.
Brethren, this transformation is happening. The last days revival that will prepare us to be “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but … holy and without blemish (Eph.5:27) that Jesus will present to Himself when He comes, has begun. It is the release and experience of His grace that is taking place!
By Grace released through redemption
This grace has been given to us in Christ Jesus before time began but is now becoming real in our experience (2Tim.1:9-10). As we know, Jesus completed the work of redemption fully through the cross and His subsequent entry into heaven with His own blood. Through Him we have been justified but we have also been glorified (Rom.8:30) and it is this entry into the glory that God is making possible today through the revelation of the mystery “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col.1:27) and by making known the deeper wisdom of His word “which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (1Cor.2:7).
Grace
- Justifies us - “We have been justified by His grace that we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” Titus 3:7.
- Enables us to function in the body – we have been given gifts according to this grace to enable us to function in the body in prophecy, teaching, ministry, exhortation, leadership, giving and in showing mercy (Rom.12:6-8).
- Is ministered through the five-fold gift – “to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” Eph.4:7. The gift is five-fold. “When He ascended on high He gave gifts to men – He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” Eph.4:8,11. These ministry gifts work through grace for the “perfecting of the saints” [equipping – setting the body in order so that every member can function freely and fully]. As these ministry gifts are raised up, released and received by the body then the whole body will be built up until we all come to maturity (Eph.4:12-13).
We are members of His body
It is time for the saints to perceive and understand that there is ONE BODY and God has appointed a place for each one of us in His body and that God has made us individually members of His body, appointing the various ministry gifts for leadership (1Cor.12:18,28), and all the other gifts that build up and enable the church to fully function in the love of God, demonstrating that love to the world (1Cor.13:4-8).
The Inheritance
The revival has begun and individual saints including many ministers are
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receiving a greater grace that brings them into the reality of adoption,
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understanding the ‘placement’ God gives to His children who have grown up to be His servants,
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fully functioning as sons,
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walking in the inheritance.
God has provided for us “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” 1Pet.1:3-5.
The inheritance is reserved in heaven but is to be received in the earth in the last time. ‘Time’ here is ‘kairos’ meaning a time of grace in which God is doing a special work in His people; ‘kairos’ refers to what is happening in a specific chronological time; Peter is referring to the time from now until the return of the Lord.
It is according to predestination
We have been predestined to this adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself:
- it is according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace (Eph.1:5-6)
- to be “conformed to the image of His Son” Rom.8:29 – this comes about by adoption, whereby we are placed as sons
- we grow up as sons, now graced to walk in maturity, knowing the Father more intimately than ever before
- being led by the Spirit as sons (Rom.8:14)
- God is bringing many sons to glory having made the captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb.2:10)
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All of creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons (Rom.8:19)
Who can enter into this revival?
The revival is receiving the spirit of sonship. All of God’s children are predestined to grow up to become sons.
How do we qualify for sonship?
The whole generation of people whom God delivered from Egypt were destined to enter the Promised Land. It was God who delivered them by parting the waters of the Red Sea; it was God who brought them through the wilderness journey to come to Mt Sinai. The Scripture says, “He bore us on eagles’ wings” (Ex.19:4). He brought the people to Mt Sinai, to the holy mountain, to give them the Law – the first Pentecost.
He saved us out of the world by the blood of Jesus and brought us into Christ through baptism, pouring out His Spirit on us – the second Pentecost and the fulfilment of it; but now He wants us to come into the land of inheritance, to finally come before Him in Zion and live before Him fully. This is the result of receiving the spirit of sonship [adoption]; the receiving of the spirit of sonship is the transforming experience that ushers us into the glory of the Father, enabling us to walk as sons, renewed in the spirit of our minds.
We enter by faith
He has covenanted with us even as He covenanted with Moses and the children of Israel. When they crossed the wilderness and came to Kadesh Barnea, they were not a perfect people; they were a mixed bunch – their children were with them. They are the same ones who had Aaron build the golden calf and yet had they dared believe God, they could have entered the land right there, right then. It was their unbelief that led to their rebellion and they refused to enter – they refused the promised inheritance.
But forty years later their children [their sons] inherited. So it is for the people of God today: it is by faith that we enter into the inheritance God has for us. And faith comes by hearing (Rom.10:17). It is as we hear the word concerning sonship, concerning adoption, concerning the release of grace, that we are enabled to walk in our inheritance. We enter into our inheritance by faith. It is never by works and it is at the Father’s appointed time (Gal.4:2).
The Goal is the Glory
In Colossians Paul summarises the ‘mystery’: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” God intends to reveal His glory in the earth through His people. It is because of grace that Paul was able to “preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies” Eph.3:8-10.
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It is through the church that God reveals the full victory of Christ in the earth;
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it is through a church that has grown to maturity;
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it is through the Holy Spirit raising apostles and prophets who are able to bring forth the knowledge of the mystery;
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it is through a church that has stood firm in the faith in times of suffering when all kinds of opposition, including direct persecution, are encountered.
God promises that He, the God of all grace, will “perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.” 1Pet.5:10.
Used by permission Revival Ministries Australia http://www.revivalministries.org.au
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