SOUNDING
OUT:
Be Ye Transformed
Romans 12:2:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
But sets the negative command
to be not conformed to this world in contrast to the positive
command to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The combination of action in the forms of what not to
do and what to do is common in contexts that deal with
the renewed mind. Similar commands such as put off and
put on, also indicate complimentary actions required for
the renewing of the mind.
Since it was profitable to look at the different
translations of the negative commands, lets also look
at different ways the positive command is handled. Other
translations of be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind are:
- Be ye transfigured in the renewing
of your mind -- Alford
- By your new attitude of mind be transformed
-- Goodspeed
- By the new ideals that mold your
minds continue to transform yourselves -- Williams
- Let God remold your minds from within
-- Phillips
- Let yourselves be transformed by
a renewing of your minds -- Beck
- Be transformed by the complete change
that has come over your minds -- TCNT
- Be ye transformed (changed) by the
[entire] renewal of your mind--by its new ideals and
its new attitude -- Amplified
- Be reformed in the newness of your
mind -- DRA
- Be changed and made new in mind --
BBE
- Be transformed by the renewal of
your mind -- NAB
- Let God transform you into a new
person by changing the way you think. -- NTL
- Let the renewing of your minds transform
you -- NJB
The word transformed
is the Greek metamorphoo, which means changed.
The English language has borrowed the Greek word and uses
metamorphosis to speak of a change of form. It is applied
to the change that takes place when a caterpillar becomes
a butterfly. The transformation is extreme and its effects
are profound.
Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 record the transfiguration
of Jesus that Peter, James, and John observed. In their
vision, they saw Jesus change into a new form, shining like
the sun and brilliant. What a vivid mind picture that provides
of the power and glory available to change us today as we
are changed into the same glory.
2 Corinthians 3:18:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This transformation is to
be carried out by the renewing of the mind. The word renewing
is in the present tense and indicates a continuous action
going on at the present. This did not happen in the new
birth or it would be in the past tense. If it were to
be done in the future at the gathering together it would
be in the future tense. It is neither past or future;
it is present. The renewing of the mind will be continuous
present tense action until the Lord Jesus Christ gathers
us together. We should become masters at renewing the
mind because it is an active command that will keep us
changing for the better for the rest of our lives.
We gird up the loins of our minds and commit and
dedicate ourselves to effect our transformation because
there is another gracious change coming for the believer
at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13:
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,
and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought
unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Gods Word describes two
changes for the believer, and I dont like to talk about
the one without bringing up the other. Some believers
faint, viewing the renewing the mind as a tedious ongoing
process. Instead, the renewing of the mind should be seen
as a dynamic warm-up for the complete transformation that
God will effect in the day our hope is realized.
One change is effected by the believer, and one
change is effected by God. The one effected by the believer
is described as a metamorphosis, and it is a continuous
ongoing process begun at the new birth and continuing
for the rest of his natural life. This radical change
is accomplished by the renewing of the mind and is necessary
if one is to live rightly in this evil age. This one is
up to the believer whose faithfulness to renew his mind
will determine how complete the transformation is.
The other change, which shall be experienced by
all believers, is effected by God. This change will take
place at the gathering together. This change will be glorious
beyond our imagination. Since God is the one Who effects
this change you can be sure it will be complete, perfect,
and everlasting. The word used to describe this change
is allasso.
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed [allasso],
52 In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed. [Allasso refers to an
exchange. God will replace our old bodies with new ones.
He will replace our mortal and corruptible minds with
new ones. He will even provide a new heaven and new
earth in which we will live.]
53 For this corruptible
must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
54 So when this corruptible
shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.
55 O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is
sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord.
This change is effected
by God, and the whole of creation cries out in anticipation
for it. Not only will he change us, He will also change
the heavens and the earth to accommodate us.
Romans 8:18-23:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall
be revealed [apokalupto] in us.
19 For the earnest expectation
of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the
sons of God.
20 For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason
of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature
itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of 22
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children
of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but
ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for
the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Although the heavens and
earth will change, our God will not. He is ever faithful
to His promise, and He will simply fold up and put away
the old heavens and earth and provide a more suitable
one for us to enjoy in the future.
Hebrews 1:10-12:
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation
of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands:
11 They shall perish; but
thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a
garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt
thou fold them up, and they shall be changed [allasso]:
but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
This change evidently has
reference to the new heavens and new earth, which will
be the only suitable habitation for our new bodies. Until
it happens we effect a continuous, powerful transformation
by the renewing of our minds. The transformation we effect
through the renewing of our minds is after all preparation
for the complete change when our redemption will be fully
realized. Hallelujah! What a day that will be!
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