The gradual process of our transformation

Paul calls us to transform ourselves. It must be clarified that the transformation of being, that total metamorphosis of which we spoke in our last meditation, the transformation of the believer, is not something that we operate through our own efforts, our own initiative; It is not that we transform ourselves but that we undergo a process that leads to our transformation.

Rather, the call to transform ourselves means: let yourselves be transformed and this transformation occurs as we always say through the work of the Holy Spirit working in us and drawing us closer and closer to the form and style and character of Jesus Christ.

So Paul says: transform yourselves and give us the very specific instrument through which we are going to experience that transformation, the process that we must follow even more specifically of simply presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice.

Paul says that that total transformation to which we aspire at the end of our journey has to take place gradually, gradually each day through the renewal of our understanding. The contrast between these two words is interesting: transformation and renewal.

In this case the word transformation is the end result and the word renewal is the gradual, continuous process that leads to transformation. So Paul is saying that the way the Christian reaches that privileged state of Christlikeness is through a continual renewal of what? from your mind, from your understanding, from the way you interpret the world.

Did you know that according to your way of thinking and your perspective of the reality that you live, of all the experiences you have had, that will determine your state in Christ and your ability to be more like Christ? The place where the transformation process occurs is in the mind; in thoughts, attitudes, the way we see life and see clearly that again and again that theme of the renewal of the mind that leads to the transformation of the nature of the son of God is repeated over and over again.

For example, if we go to Ephesians chapter 4 in verse 23, we go even to 22 before the apostle Paul says: "Regarding the past way of life, put off the old man that is corrupted" that is, it is damaged according to deceptive desires. Do you see there similar to what Paul says before, no? to present your bodies as a sacrifice pleasing to God that is equivalent to putting off the old man as we saw in one of the previous meditations.

Generally, before the transformation takes place, there must be dispossession, gradual death, there must be destruction before there is a building, and there must always be a call to get rid of the attitudes and behaviors of the flesh and of the old man as described. imagine here right?

But then Paul proceeds in Ephesians 4:23 to a positive call and says, "And be renewed." Do you see the same word there? the renewing of the mind in Romans 12: 2 now here it says in Ephesians 4:23: "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind" in the spirit of your mind.

It is interesting that once again the spirit of renewal is located in the mind and in passing in 24 he says: "And put on the new man created according to God in the justice and holiness of the truth." You see that progression here again, don't you? stop doing and feeling and experiencing and giving opportunity to old, old, carnal things and renew yourself in your mentality and in your attitude and then put on the attributes of the renewed man, the new man who is Christ Jesus evidently.

There is another passage in Colossians that is a very similar Letter in fact to the Letter to the Ephesians, Colossians chapter 3 verse 10 where we see a similar calling and always in the context of a new life leaving the old life. Colossians chapter 3 verse 10 says and even on the 9th we always come to the former, it says: "Do not lie to each other having put off the old man" once again get rid of the old nature.

Verse 10 says: "And clothed" you see again putting on the new "clothed with the new man which, according to the image of the one who created it, is renewed until full knowledge. In other words, again, do you see that idea gradually? ? "which, according to the image of the one who created it, is renewed until full knowledge" that full knowledge, I would say, is the transformation we were talking about previously.

It is assumed that each day the believer is renewed in his mind, not in the original Greek, it is there in the understanding, beliefs, attitudes, the way to interpret the world. Our understanding has to change, our mentality, our way of thinking, our attitudes so that we can then experience that new state of transformation that pleases God.

If you want to experience a true life of peace, tranquility, rest, spiritual triumph, you have to undergo that process of gradual death and mental renewal that leads to a transformation of your life and then gives you the power to live above the temptations and the seductions and traps of this carnal world.

God bless you and may God grant that this process of mental renewal has already begun in your life and if not, set it as a goal and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to subject yourself to it so that your mind can be transformed from day to day until come to the full knowledge of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Lord be with you and until our next meditation.