The Goal of Spiritual Change

2Cor. 3:18

Theme: The goal of spiritual change is transformation into the likeness of our Lord Jesus.

Introduction:

The frog was lucky. When the princess kissed him, there was a loud “PPppoooff!” The frog was gone. In his place stood a handsome young prince with golden, wavy hair; he was the picture of perfection. Of course the princess fainted. No worries...he caught her in his powerful arms and carried her effortlessly to his faithful steed, mounted swiftly, and raced off toward their happy ever after. (Anders)

His change was instantaneous, complete, and permanent. He did not have to struggle to change the way we do. No, the fairy tale frog was lucky. Real life for the Christian is not so easy. Our change from a frog to a prince is a gradual transformation, and not an unbroken, uphill progression. Rather, it is like a stock-market chart. Some days up, some days down, but overall, we hope, an upward movement. This can be pretty unnerving for us.  But it does help us to focus if we understood what our goal is. (Anders)

Message:

Second Corinthians 3:18,  says, "But we all, with open [unveiled] face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed [transformed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Clearly this is a supernatural, glorious, progressive—lifelong—transformation wrought from the inside out by the Holy Spirit advancing each Believer from one level of the unveiled glory of Christ to the next greater resemblance of Him.  This is our transformation experience.  It is an inward change that has an outward evident effect.  And what a glorious change it is! 

But how can such a drastic change transpire?  Well, the power lies in the Holy Spirit of God.

I.      The Power for Change—This Wonderful Process Is the Work of The Holy Spirit—“even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

A.     The Holy Spirit is the Power.  The third member of the Godhead who effects this splendid modification in believers. 

                                                 1.      He draws the believer’s attention to the perfections of Christ, highlights areas of deficiency and sin in the people of God, urges us on to our spiritual potential in Christ and then literally empowers us to attain it. 

                                                 2.      Clearly it is not through mere human effort, psychological reform, or mere human determination, for no such energy and power resides in the “flesh” of humanity (Rom. 7:18).  While men can alter their behavior, it is utterly impossible to affect the spectacular transformation mentioned here. 

B.     Every Believer Must Rely on Him for Spiritual Change! Even the child of God, who has a new nature and is indwelt by God’s Spirit, must depend on, trust in, yield to, and cooperate with the Spirit of the Lord to experience these changes.

                                                 1.      Also some reflection on the word “change,” employed strategically by Paul, is helpful here. The Greek word is “metamorpho,” which means “to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.”

i.         Our English word metamorphosis is a transliteration of this Greek word. Metamorphosis describes the process that changes an insect from a larva into a pupa and then into a mature insect. The changes come from within. –The Bible Exposition Commentary

ii.       Metamorphosis reminds me of the TV show, the Incredible Hulk where David Banner was transformed into a giant muscular monster because of a gamma radiation overdose.

iii.      The term refers to Christ’s appearance in Matthew 17:1-9 as ‘changed and resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration’. 

iv.     It is the same word the apostle Paul used in Romans 12: 2, where he commanded, “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Obviously the nature of this transformation is fantastic.

                                                 2.      But how can such a drastic alteration of morals, values, and character transpire?  The power for change is the Holy Spirit of God: “even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  

                                                 3.      William MacDonald observed, “As we behold the Lord of glory, study Him, contemplate Him, gaze on Him adoringly, the Spirit of the Lord works in our life the marvelous miracle of increasing conformity to Christ.” (MacDonald) 

II.   The Goal of Change—The Aim of Spiritual Change Is Christlikeness—“are changed into the same image….”

A.     The “Image” of Christ is what we Aim for. 

                                                 1.      The marvelous hope of conformity to Jesus Christ; the Son of God (Rom. 8:29)! But what image did the Lord Jesus give us? What are we to become?

i.         Jesus was always perfectly devoted to God (Jn. 4:34; 6:38; 8:29).

ii.       Jesus loved others as Himself serving them and dying for us all

iii.      Jesus was the flawless demonstration of godliness and holiness—He always did right

iv.     Jesus is the fullest expression of godly character and the fruit of the Spirit

                                                 2.      The Spirit leads Christians from justification through sanctification to glorification. As believers manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), they are progressively being transformed into His likeness. Christlikeness is the goal of the Christian walk (Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:10).–Walvoord

                                                 3.      Transformation typically does not happen overnight. But God invites us to go with Him on a lifelong journey—an expedition we know brings us, and His Churches, closer and closer to Christlikeness.  The Spirit of Christ is still effectively executing this ministry in each believer.

B.     An Old Proverb says, “The apple never falls far from the tree.”

                                                 1.      It means that children are often like their parents, both physically and in some nonphysical characteristics. God also wants us to not fall far from His tree. His goal for us as Christians is that we be changed from our pre-Christian nature into the likeness of our Lord Jesus.

                                                 2.      We see that we are being transformed by the Spirit of the Lord into the image of our Lord Jesus.

III.           The Tool for Change—The Spirit uses the Word of God—“beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord….”

A.     It Is True That The Bible Is The Mirror That We Are To Gaze Into (2 Cor. 3:18).  The Bible is the mirror that we are to study, meditate upon, memorize, and apply to life situations. Once again Paul said, “But we all, with open [unveiled] face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord” (2Cor. 3:18).  The word “glass” refers to a mirror, which is a type or representation of the Word of God (1Cor. 13:12; Js. 1:23).  The word shows the image of Christ and reveals the great chasm between the believer and the Savior.

B.     Expect The Spirit to Use the Bible. 

                                                 1.      The Spirit uses predominantly the one Book He Himself authored—The Holy Bible. The word of God is the essential element the Spirit of the Lord uses and He faithfully brings the believer’s attention to Christ Jesus. 

                                                 2.      There have been occasions when I misread the Word or tried to use the Bible to justify my sinful anger. The Lord Jesus expressed righteous indignation when He cleansed the Temple (Matt. 2:13-17; 21:12, 13) on both occasions, but I tried to use this to excuse my sinful and selfish anger. Later the Lord showed me my anger was rooted in sin, and Christ’s anger was a zeal or jealousy for God to be honored in His Temple. The Bible reveals our lives in the light of Christ’s perfections.

                                                 3.      Certainly this addresses the questions of what believers responsibilities are and how the Spirit effects this change. We Christians are to “behold” Him—the brilliant and glorious unveiled Son of God in the Word—we are to concentrate our spiritual and mental faculties on Christ.

                                                 4.      In other words, the Word of God does more than regenerate believers (we are regenerated by the Spirit of God using the Word of God, 1 Pet. 1:23).  Likewise “the Spirit of the Lord” uses His Bible to transform God’s children.  This is monumentally important! (Jn. 17:17; 1Pet. 2:2)

C.     Focus Your Attention on the Lord Jesus.

                                                 1.      Further the context of this passage contrasts the Old Covenant of Moses and its fading glory with the New Covenant of Christ with its brilliant and ever increasing glory.  Israel could not look on the glory of God not even for a moment, but Christians are privilege to “behold” Him gazing continually upon Christ.

                                                 2.      As we are occupied with the glory of the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into the same image. Here, in a word, is the secret of Christian holiness—occupation with Christ. Not by occupation with self; that brings only defeat. Not by occupation with others; that brings disappointment. But by occupation with the glory of the Lord, we become more and more like Him. –Believer’s Bible Commentary

D.     Let the Word Reveal the Glorious Christ! 

                                                 1.      The “glory of the Lord”—this is the reason the people of God must consistently study the Bible.  As we meditate on Him, we are moved closer to His image—reflecting more of Him inwardly and outwardly. O that God’s people would spend more time glaring in the mirror of the Word, beholding Him more.

                                                 2.      In the Scriptures we see His “open face” free of obscurities and obstructions. We are exposed to the explicitly declared Christ in His superb character. Oh, how terribly wondrous He is in glory!  Great is our privilege to see, know, and gaze upon Him!

E.     Beloved, Do you really want to be Christlike? Then spend time beholding Jesus.

                                                 1.      Turn your eyes upon Jesus;

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace. --Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

                                                 2.      I need this. I hope you, too, sense a need of seeing Jesus Christ on the pages of the Word of God so that you might grow more like Him. –McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary

                                                 3.      We must read, meditate, and live out the Word daily (Ps. 1:2; Matt. 4:4; Heb. 5:14).

Conclusion:

We are in a continuing process of transformation into the very image of Christ. Christlikeness is the ultimate goal of our journey (Eph. 4:23–24; Col. 3:10). One of the greatest compliments a Christian can receive is, “I see Jesus in you!” or “You handled that situation like Jesus would have were He here.”

While we are keenly aware of the importance of the externals, we must put forth greater effort in the cultivation of the inner life—inner grace moving us to think, desire, value, appreciate, and love as Christ would. We not only want to do the right things, but also be the right person. Being is as important as doing or not doing. Yes, it is right to have some standards and it is right to denounce sin, but do not fail to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ through actual internal change.