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met·a·mor·pho·sis
–noun, plural |
A transformation. A marked change
in appearance, character, condition, or function. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the
English Language, 4th Edition, Houghton Mifflin , 2000.
 Scripture
teaches us that when we are saved, that we are changed to a
different kind of life. There are natural examples of this kind of
change.
Caterpillars change to butterflies and the
fish-like tadpoles change to bullfrogs. When Jesus comes into our
hearts, our lives don’t necessarily change
physically, but we change spiritually and relationally. Just as
seed begins its life in secret within its shell, there is new life
germinating within our hearts.
Let’s look at the 3 key
anthropological changes.
Creation of Man
The term “man” in this instance is a general term that
includes both men and women. The
Bible says that after God made the earth and a suitable environment, God
created man in His image (Genesis 1:26). The divine image does not mean
that we physically looked like God, but that we are relationally
favored over all creation and that he imparted on us authority as stewards of creation. The Psalmist sings to God about man:
You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to
rule over the works of Your hands. You have put all things under his
feet. – Psalm 8:5-6
Man’s first change, then, is receiving life, purpose, and
a close relationship with God. Because every person was made in the
image of God, man has an inherent significance and deserves respect.
The Fall of Man
God gave his word to Adam and Eve,
the first people. He spoke blessing on them, but also told them
what was right and wrong. When they were eventually tempted, they
reasoned when they “..saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food
and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom…”
(Genesis 3:6) God’s word became relative to them. They stopped
believing that God means what he says and they doubted God’s love.
As a result, the consequences affected every human being: sin and death
came into the world. God’s image, though retained, became
disfigured and the Holy Spirit no longer lived in man. Scripture
states:
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- Romans 3:23
Our creation made us God's most beloved
creature. Having the image of God enables us the potential for
virtuous and noble acts. However, our sin made us rebels and objects of wrath.
Our sinful nature enables the potential for great evil.
There
are only two paths for those who live according to their sinful nature.
The first path is that of complete separation from God without hope of
reprieve. The second path -- the one I hope you are on by
accepting God's one and only way of salvation,
Jesus -- is that of the redeemed. Jesus said:
Enter through
the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
- Matthew 7:13-14
Let’s look at the condition of man graphically in the
table below.
The Gospel
The Apostle Paul summarized the gospel (good news) like
this:
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the
word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I
received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that
he was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...
-1 Corinthians 15:2-4
(NIV)
 Oh! How You Have Changed!
Even though it may not be apparent, extraordinary changes
happened to you by believing the gospel. Here are but a few:
-
You are a Child of God
- John 1:12
-
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
- 2 Cor 5:17
-
Born Again
- John 3:7
-
Forgiveness of Sins
- Col 1:14, Acts 13:38-39
-
Cleansed
- Ephesians 5:26, 1 John 1:7
-
Eternal (Everlasting) Life
- John 3:16
-
You have become a member of Christ's Body
- Eph 5:30
 How
You Now Ought to Live
The Lord has changed you in so many ways. He has
given you a second chance. You now have the ability to resist sin
and make Godly decisions. He has adopted you as his child.
As such, you are now his representative and ambassador on earth.
Therefore, do not misrepresent your Heavenly Father, but reflect his
image by imitating him. Get to know him through prayer, Bible
study, and corporate worship and fellowship.
God has given us his very great and
precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the
divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil
desires. - 2 Peter 1:4
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life." - John 8:12
Learn more about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ
on our web page about Discipleship.
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