The Bible has a lot to say about transformation, specifically how God transforms people’s lives. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of God radically changing people’s hearts, minds, and actions. The process of being transformed is referred to as sanctification or becoming Christ-like. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.
When someone puts their faith in Jesus, they become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Their sins are forgiven, and they receive eternal life. However, this is just the beginning of the transformational process. Salvation is an event, but sanctification is an ongoing journey. The goal is for believers to increasingly reflect the character of Christ.
A Change of Heart
One of the first things God changes is our heart. In Ezekiel 36:26, God says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Whereas we previously loved sin, we now desire God and his ways. The Holy Spirit plants new motives, desires, and inclinations inside us.
This heart transformation manifests itself in several ways. We begin to:
– Love God and want to obey him (Deuteronomy 30:6)
– Love others (1 John 4:7-8)
– Desire righteousness (Matthew 5:6)
– Bear good fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8)
It’s not behavior modification or trying to keep a list of rules. It’s a change at the heart level that results in changed thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
A Renewed Mind
In addition to a new heart, God also renews our mind. Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Before Christ, we were conformed to the values and beliefs of fallen culture. But through Christ, we can develop new patterns of thinking.
Some ways our mindset changes:
– We recognize our identity in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14)
– We think biblically vs. worldly (1 Corinthians 2:15-16)
– We take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)
– We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
This mental renewal sanctifies both our inner thought life and outward habits. As Dallas Willard notes, “spiritual transformation only happens as the mind is renewed.”
A Life of Love
As our heart and mind are transformed, our actions follow suit. We begin living a life characterized by love – the greatest mark of a disciple. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
This love expresses itself in many forms:
– Loving God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27)
– Loving our neighbor as ourself (Luke 10:27)
– Loving each other in the church (1 Peter 1:22)
– Loving through practical service (Galatians 5:13)
– Loving enemies and persecutors (Matthew 5:44)
It’s a complete life transformation from selfishness to selflessness – made possible by the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
Growing in Christ-likeness
The goal of Christian transformation is to increasingly reflect Jesus Christ. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
We grow to exhibit Jesus’ character qualities like:
– Love (John 13:34)
– Joy (John 15:11)
– Peace (John 14:27)
– Patience (Romans 15:5)
– Kindness (Ephesians 4:32)
– Goodness (Galatians 5:22)
– Faithfulness (1 Corinthians 1:9)
– Gentleness (Philippians 4:5)
– Self-control (Galatians 5:23)
This process of sanctification is a lifelong journey. We will never achieve sinless perfection in this life. But as we walk with Christ, we can increasingly reflect him. “And we all…are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Catalysts for Transformation
How does this transformation take place? What are the catalysts God uses to reshape us? There are several biblical keys that facilitate life change.
The Word of God
Regular Bible reading, study, and meditation facilitates transformation. God’s word exposes our sin (Hebrews 4:12), renews our thinking (Psalm 119:11), and equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Spirit uses Scripture to sanctify us. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Prayer
Prayer is another catalyst for transformation. As we come to God in humble dependence, he answers our prayers to change us. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) Through prayer, we receive grace and strength to walk out God’s will.
Church Community
Fellowship with other believers reinforces our transformation. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) The church provides encouragement, accountability, teaching, and examples ofmaturity that help us grow in Christ.
Life’s Trials
Difficulties in life also transform us. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3) Hardships refine our faith and shape our character in positive ways.
Obedience
Actively obeying God molds us progressively into the image of Christ. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21) As we follow where God leads, we become more like him.
Transformation is God’s work in us, but he invites us to participate through spiritual practices and obedience. As Tozer said, “God will not make us Christlike without our cooperation.”
Evidence of Transformation
How do we know if genuine inner transformation is happening? What kind of outward fruit should we look for?
Some biblical signs of transformation include:
– Increasing love for God and others (Luke 10:27)
– Desire to obey God (John 14:15)
– Distaste for sin and worldliness (1 John 2:15-17)
– Desire for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)
– Bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
– Eternal perspective (Colossians 3:2)
– Demonstration of faith (James 2:14-26)
– Humble servant-heartedness (Philippians 2:3-11)
As Dallas Willard notes, “The real test of spiritual integrity lies in our actual habitual responses to the daily challenges of life.” Transformation shows up in changed reactions, priorities, and character.
Biblical Examples of Transformation
The Bible contains many examples of God radically transforming people’s lives. Studying these can encourage us in our own journey of being changed into Christ’s image.
The Disciples
Jesus’ disciples experienced amazing transformation. When Jesus called them, they were uneducated men, dependent on their own limited understanding. But through three years with Jesus, they were changed. After Pentecost, they boldly preached the gospel and “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
Paul
Saul persecuted Christians ferociously until his dramatic conversion on the Damascus road (Acts 9). After encountering Christ, Saul (named Paul) became Christianity’s foremost missionary and theologian. His life displayed the gospel’s transforming power.
Woman at the Well
In John 4, Jesus encounters an immoral Samaritan woman fetching water. After an extended conversation, she accepts Christ as Messiah and is completely transformed. She immediately begins spreading the good news in her city.
Peter
One of Christ’s closest companions, Peter often stumbled and struggled. But over time, maturing in his faith, Peter grew into a pillar of the early church. Before Christ’s death, Peter denied Jesus three times. After Pentecost, Peter stood before crowds and authorities boldly preaching Christ.
We too can experience transformation by God’s grace. As Augustine stated in Confessions, “God doesn’t change us overnight, but beckons us onward through new beginnings.” Scripture gives hope God will complete his transforming work in us (Philippians 1:6).
Our Role in Transformation
Sanctification is God’s work, but we have a role to play as well. How can we cooperate with God as he transforms us?
Present Yourself to God
Actively position yourself to encounter God’s presence and grace. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Set Your Mind on Things Above
Fill your mind with godly truth from Scripture, worship, and Christian community. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
Put Off the Old, Put On the New
Consciously consider sinful patterns that need changing, and adopt new holy habits. “Put off your old self…be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Walk by the Spirit
Depend continually on the Spirit’s guidance and power to transform you each day. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
Press On Towards Maturity
Persevere in pursuing increasing Christ-likeness, without losing heart. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)
God does the work in transforming us, but we have the privilege of actively cooperating in the process.
Why Transformation Matters
Why is transformation in Christ so significant? What purpose does God have for changing us?
It Brings Glory to God
Our sanctification glorifies God by visibly demonstrating his transforming power. Believers are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10)
It’s Evidence of Salvation
Transformed character and actions give evidence to the genuineness of our faith. “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)
It Enables Us to Fulfill God’s Will
As we mature in godliness, we’re equipped for greater kingdom impact. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
It Leads to Eternal Rewards
At the judgment seat of Christ, there are eternal rewards given for life transformation and good works. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Experiencing Christ’s redemption is a glorious start. But God intends to continue his sanctifying work in us until we see him face to face. As John Newton wrote, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
