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Summary: Christian transformation refers to a profound inner change in a person’s life, where they move away from a life of sin and towards a life reflecting the character of Jesus Christ. This is achieved through accepting Jesus as their Savior and allowing the Holy Spirit to work within them. This leads to a gradual process of becoming more like Christ in thoughts, actions, and attitudes—essentially, a “new creation” as described in the Bible. This often happens through practice and partnership.
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:11-13.
Transformation takes practice and spiritual practices. Becoming more like Jesus does not happen by osmosis. Becoming more like Jesus is a process; it takes practice and intentional practices. Professional athletes don’t become successful without a lot of practice because it takes practice to become what you are trying to become. Pursuing spiritual transformation is to pair the target of what we do and how we do it with what Jesus did and how He did it. We’re looking at what practices will help us move into the presence of Jesus, some practices that move us towards wholeness, and some practices that move us into renewal, as we do as Jesus did, and then to intentionally practice those practices. The Message paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.” All good athletes train hard, so we must engage in practices that train us to be more like Jesus. Sometimes, that feels like a slog, but it leads to being transformed.
Transformation also requires partnership. Transformation doesn’t happen solo. It involves a partnership of some kind to make it happen. For Christians, that partnership is with the Holy Spirit. A partnership with the Holy Spirit is a relationship of faith and obedience in which a person allows the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and empower them. Partnering with the Spirit is about engaging with what God is doing in your life. The Holy Spirit is the one doing the heavy lifting here. Sure, we can engage in practices that grow us, but the spark, the fuel, the power is the transformative power of the Spirit of God. It doesn’t come by making vows or through the strength of your will. It comes by trusting in Him, depending on Him, listening to Him, and following His leading in your life.
The church plays a vital role in transforming believers by providing a community of support, teaching biblical principles, and offering opportunities for spiritual growth through fellowship, worship, and service. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, individuals are molded into the image of Christ. Transformation doesn’t happen solo.
Discussion Questions:
- What practices can lead to spiritual transformation?
- What is the primary role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life? How would you describe the Holy Spirit’s practical work in your life?