By Pastor Jack Marbida
Metamorphoo is a Greek word that means to change into another form, transform or transfigure. In the Christian world, it is the transformation of the soul. In the middle of a transformation, there is a struggle. But there is also a lead time. If you force something to be transformed right away, you will fail. Change is evident but it takes time.
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” The corrupted soul is being sanctified little by little. It is the process of becoming like Jesus Christ; the body dying will some day be glorified. Sanctification is the process begun by God and progressively carried on by the believer in cooperation with God, where he is transformed into the very image of Christ.
Sanctification is a process begun by God. - (2 Cor. 3:18, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 8:10-11, Romans 2:6, Gen. 20:17-18, 1 John 3:9, 2 Peter 1:4) It was begun by God when He created you in His own image and likeness. It does not happen overnight. You are still in this world and everything that is in it affects all of you and the decisions you make. God will not give you a problem that you cannot get out of and He is there all the way anyway. He will not allow you to linger in your sin because He wants you to be in His image and likeness. For you to be transformed into the beautiful human being that you were created to be, you must flee from sin. It is not easy but it is worth it.
God will complete the process. - (1 John 3:2. Phil. 1:6) God will not do something that He will not finish. No matter how much you sin, God will continue to work in you.
Sanctification is carried on by the believer in cooperation with the Spirit. - (1 Cor. 15:10, Romans 12:2, You are who you are but God’s grace has an effect on you. There are barriers in the renewing of your mind. Nothing is by you. But it is only all by God’s grace. You need to renew your mind. Do not conform to the patterns of the world. Listen. Do not simply hear.
Man has a default mind setting. He is morally corrupt, sinful and worldly. (Romans 1:28, Romans 8:7, Phil. 3:19, 1 Cor 2:16, John 6:63) But the word of God renews the mind. There are no shortcuts to permanent change. To have the mind of Christ, you must bask in the Word of God. You have the power to cast out the works of the enemy and all the lies he puts in you head. The devil cannot read your mind; but you have to verbalize what you want and not want, call it out and use God’s name.
Everybody is going through something especially during this pandemic; in your families, in your workplace, and everywhere else. Look at Jesus. The process of sanctification cannot be completed if you do not fix your eyes on Him. He will finish all that He began. There is a power when you participate with God. Use that power
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