flawless...transformed by the Spirit

artwork by Kimberly Simmons

I pondered this beautiful, bold work of art by Kimberly Simmons while listening to the anointed new hymn, Flawless, by MercyMe, …this led my heart to a word study of the word, “transformed,” from Romans 12:1-2:

NASB: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Amplified: Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Living Bible: And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.


Phillips: With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Wuest:  I therefore beg of you, please, brethren, through the instrumentality of the aforementioned mercies of God, by a once-for-all presentation to place your bodies at the disposal of God, a sacrifice, a living one, a holy one, well-pleasing, your rational, sacred service, [rational, in that this service is performed by the exercise of the mind]. And stop assuming an outward expression that does not come from within you and is not representative of what you are in your inner being but is patterned after this age; but change your outward expression to one that comes from within and is representative of your inner being, by the renewing of your mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of God, the good and well-pleasing and complete will, and having found that it meets specifications, place your approval upon it. 

Young’s Literal: I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice -- living, sanctified, acceptable to God -- your intelligent service; and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God -- the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

Transformed is from the Greek word, metámorphoo from metá, which denotes change of place or condition and morphoo which means to form, from morphe which means form, shape referring to the essential form of a thing. It has the basic meaning of changing into another form and is the term from which we get metamorphosis, which in biology denotes the amazing change of a lowly worm into a beautiful butterfly.

Metámorphoo describes the process by which that on the inside shows forth to the outside such that that everyone can see. It describes an inward renewal of our mind through which our inner spirit is changed into the likeness of Christ.

The verb morphoo does not refer to what is outward and transient, but to what is inward and real and thus that which produces an outward expression which proceeds from and is truly representative of one’s inward character and nature.To be transformed describes a change on the outside that comes from the inside.

Pastor John Stott explains how metámorphoo takes place, noting that, "Although Paul does not here tell us how our mind becomes renewed, we know from his other writings that it is by a combination of the Spirit and the Word of God. Certainly regeneration by the Holy Spirit involves the renewal of every part of our humanness, which has been tainted and twisted by the fall, and this includes our mind. But in addition, we need the Word of God, which is the Spirit’s sword, and which acts as an objective revelation of God’s will. Here then are the stages of Christian moral transformation: first our mind is renewed by the Word and Spirit of God; then we are able to discern and desire the will of God; and then we are increasingly transformed by it."

Pastor Stott continues, "A transformed mind produces a transformed will, by which we become "innervated" and "energized" (enabled), with the Spirit’s help, to lay aside our own plans and to trust and accept God’s will, no matter what transpires. This is not easy nor is it the natural response which means it has to be a supernatural, God-driven response, and yet we are not puppets and thus must make the choices for or against the will of God. There is really no middle ground. The eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro throughout the earth for men and women who will not be conformed, but rather transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Jesus Christ. Beloved, there is no "middle ground", no neutral territory—if you are a follower of Christ, you are either a conformer or a transformer. Your life is being changed either by pressure from without (conformation) or by power from within (transformation). As we yield in Romans 12:1 and meditate on His Word, God's Spirit transforms us into living sacrifices with renewed minds, God-saturated people who radiate His glory. May God be pleased to raise up a generation of transformers, not conformers, men and women whose lives are controlled by a Divine Power from within, not worldly pressure from without. Beware of the subtle trap of seeking to avoid all manner of worldly behaviors and influences and yet failing to be transformed by the Spirit, for this is simply another form of legalism. To keep out the weeds of the world, seek continually to yield to and walk by the Spirit Who produces the fruit that effectively strangles the weeds."

Pastor John Piper says it this way...“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The focus is not first on getting the outside of the cup cleaned up, but on getting the inside cleaned up. In other words, transformation and non-conformity on the outside must flow from a new mind. Be transformed in the renewing of your mind."

Pastor Harry Ironside said, “In Romans 12:2 we are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds; that is, as the mind is occupied with Christ and the affections set on things above, we become like Him who has won our hearts for Himself. As we walk in loving obedience, we prove the blessedness of the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."

Pastor Ray Stedman writes, “The only way to not be conformed is to seek Jesus first and as His presence and power become more experientially intimate in your life, the things of this fallen world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. The right order is the Spirit of Christ first, then the lusts of the flesh. The opposite of being conformed to this world is being transformed by the renewing of your mind. The battle ground between an evil conformity and a good transformation is within the mind of the believer. Note that transformed is the passive voice which indicates that this process is being performed by an outside force, the Holy Spirit and God's Word, not a change produced by our self effort. We must be (passive) transformed by God, trusting Him to do in and through us what only His Spirit can accomplish."

Pastor Keith Krell illustrates the passive voice this way: “If I said to you, ‘I’m going to the store’—that’s active. If I said to you, ‘I was taken to the store’—that’s passive, someone else drove me. Paul is saying once we become living sacrifices something beautiful happens—someone else transforms us. The word translated, “transformed,” is a word that has been brought into the English language without translation. It’s the word, “metamorphosis.” When a tadpole is changed into a frog or when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, we speak of it as a metamorphosis. That is what God wants for each of His children—for us to be transformed from the spiritually defeated, dull, and depressing existence so many endure, into the victorious, vital, and enriching experience that is available to the believer in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, transformed is present tense, signifying that this is not a one-time event, not a single crisis experience, but a transformation that is progressively realized, a gradual process. In addition, “be transformed” is in the imperative mood (command), which indicates that believers have some responsibility in this transformation. How so? We are to have tender hearts and obedient, submissive wills so that we might allow the Spirit to do His work within our hearts and lives, and not quench, grieve or resist Him."

Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown watermelons for shipment—only these are no ordinary melons, they're square. They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a square watermelon? They're much easier to store in a refrigerator! It's interesting to think of how a naturally round watermelon can become square because of the shape of the container in which it's grown—just like the forces in the world that exert their influence on us and attempt to shape us. That's why in Romans 12:2 we are told not to be "conformed to this world," but to be "transformed by the renewing of our mind." We are to allow the transforming Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us.

Heavenly Father, may we yield to the power and authority of the Spirit of Christ, Who dwells in the innermost part of us. May we submit and surrender to the river of transforming power from the Holy Spirit flowing through us, washing away our unbelief, pride, idolatry, prayerlessness and legalism, and filling us to the brim with Your presence—believing You, glorifying You, finding our satisfaction in You, experiencing Your Peace, and enjoying Your presence—believing that the Cross has made us flawless. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Previous word studies…

9 word studies from Romans Chapter Eight…

12 word studies from Ephesians Chapter One…

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