God’s gift to us is magnificent! It is not just the gift of “not death”, but the gift of life - life in Him! (Romans 6:4)
Jesus came to take from us our sins and relieve us of our condemnation - meeting us in our death, He did not come to condemn us but offer us the gift of life, salvation by grace, through faith, and with that, eternal life. (Jo 3:16-18; 1Pe 1:3-9)
But there’s something else, something we must remember, and rejoice in - that Jesus not only came to take our sins, but then transform us - to give us new life in Him - that by His work His Father, Our Father, would create us as new creatures in Christ (Is 65:17; Ez 36:26; Jo 3:3; 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15), in fact, we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works - works prepared in advance for us to do”, works that are not burdensome, but joyful works, works that we are eager to do, that we might please our Father in the heaven.
Titus 2:11-14
11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Eager to do good…
What is it to “offer” our body, that good gift God has given each of us? It is to work out this glorious salvation we have received and having been transformed, we now live a life of transforming - this is our loving gift to our Father and one another. (Phil 2:12-16)
…to receive from God His goodness and love and offer it back to Him… by giving to others.
Romans 12:1-2
1Therefore, 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. 2Do 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.
What is it to offer my body?
First, it is to no longer conform to the patterns of this world. (Rom 8:6; Eph 2:2; 4:17-22; Col 3:5-9)
Conform - one’s mind and character to; identified with, having outward shape - similar outward expression by following the same pattern; to fashion oneself
The thoughts and pursuits of this present time
No longer live as we did, but to live according to who and Whose we are (Eph 4:25-32; 5:1-2)
To no longer conform to the broken destructive ways of this age, my past life without Him, but to be the very thing He has created us to be - His children, born anew, set apart for Him, to be a witness of His grace, and life in and with Him.
But, that’s not all. If we are to be aware that it was not just from sin and death that were saved, but toa vibrant transformed life in Him and good and beautiful works with Him, we must not only look at the “do not’s”, but go on to the “do’s”!
We are changed! We have been transformed: from sin to righteousness; from death to life; from condemnation to celebration! (Eph 2:1-7)
…but be transformed by the renewing of the mind - truly seeking God’s will and purposes (Eph 2:10; 4:23-24; Col 3:10-17)
Transformed - metamophoo - having been made new, we are to act, more and more, as new
Change after being with
Changing in form keeping with inner reality
We are no longer of this world (John 17:13-20), but in fact have been transformed, changed, made into something
Righteous
Good
Beautiful
It is ours to cooperate with God to allow that beauty to emerge, to become on the outside, what He has created us to be on the inside - like Jesus
This is a great word! It is the expression of God’s live giving and transforming power. It is only used 4 times in the NT
Jesus, the light and life, is transformed to light and glory…
Matthew 17:2 “2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”
Mark 9:2-3 “There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”
We are the light, having been transformed from darkness into light, being transformed from glory to glory
2Corinthians 3:18 “18And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his
image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
We get to work out our salvation with God to continue that transformation, having been made new, we work with God to realize that newness…
Romans 12:2 “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
This is to God’s glory! And how do we work this out with God? (Phil 2)
Abiding with God in His word, in loving obedience to it (Jo 14:21; 15:7-17)
Communing with Him in prayer (Mat 6:5-14)
Gathering with the “one another” in the fellowship, serving, edifying, and encouraging one another (1Co 12:7; Heb 10:25)
In service to God and the body, edifying and building up, growing into the “Head”, reaching unity while we live in harmony - that we would be one - the very prayer of Jesus. (Ro 12:11; 1Cor 12; Eph 4:11-16; Phil 2:2; John 17:21-23)
In this way, we are then conformed to the image of Christ - the new creature that we are. Since we have been changed, we are to be changed - and this is the greatest gift we can give our Father and the Spirit that resides in us (not grieving), and in return for the gift given - the gift we can give back to our brother and savior - Jesus and life in Him.
