In Ro 12:1-2, Paul makes the following plea regarding transforming our lives: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

 As we consider these verses, several questions come to our mind…

1. What does it mean to be transformed?
2. What is the goal of transformation?
3. What should motivate us to undergo transformation?
4. What does one do in order to experience transformation?

    Starting with the first question – “What does it mean to be transformed?”

1. THE DEFINITION OF TRANSFORMATION

1. THE WORD...
2. The Greek word is metamorphoo (met-am-or-fo’-o)
3. Lit., “to change into another form“
4. From which comes the word “metamorphosis”
5. Used to describe a change of form (e.g., when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly)
6. In the NT, this word is used to describe:
7. What happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration – Mt 17:1-2
8. What is to happen to Christians in their service to God – Ro 12:1-2

1. THE CONCEPT…

1. The idea being commanded by Paul is this:
2. Christians are “to undergo a complete change, which under the power of God, will find expression in character and conduct“
3. That is, we who are “caterpillars” are to become “butterflies“
4. Note that Paul uses the passive voice
5. Indicating that “transformation” is something we allow to be done to us
6. Not something we do by our own power alone
7. Rather, we submit to God’s power and by His grace…

        1) We are “changed into another form”

       2) We become a “new creation” – cf. 2Co 5:17

And this leads us to our second question – “What is the goal of transformation?”

1. THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMATION

1. TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST…
2. As expressed by Paul – 2Co 3:18
3. As predestined by God – Ro 8:29
4. The purpose of being a disciple (to become like his teacher) – Lk 6:40
5. The goal of Christian living – cf. Col 3:9-10

1. TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST…

1. To present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God
2. Is this not what Jesus did on earth? – cf. He 10:5
3. So we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices – Ro 12:1
4. To prove that God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect
5. Was this not Jesus sought to do on earth? – cf. Jn 6:38
6. So we are to demonstrate that God’s will is right – Ro 12:2

      Such is the goal of being transformed; indeed, it is the goal of being a Christian! Yet why do many never experience the transformation God offers? Why do they remain “caterpillars”? Perhaps they lack the proper motivation…

III. THE MOTIVATION FOR TRANSFORMATION

1. THE MERCIES OF GOD…
2. In our text, Paul appealed to transformation based on God’s mercies – Ro 12:1
3. What mercies of God had Paul discussed earlier in his epistle?
4. Freedom from sin – Ro 6:16-18
5. Gift of eternal life – Ro 6:23
6. Peace with God – Ro 5:1
7. Access to the grace of God – Ro 5:2
8. Saved from the wrath of God – Ro 5:9

  — Should not God’s mercy move us to repent and seek transformation? – cf. Ro 2:4-5

1. THE LOVE OF CHRIST…
2. Elsewhere, Paul revealed the motivating power of the love of Christ – 2Co 5:14-15
3. Such love compelled him to live for Jesus – cf. Ga 2:20

      — Does not the love of Christ move us to live FOR Him and LIKE Him?

1. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE…
2. The alternative to being transformed is being conformed to this world – Ro 12:1
3. The word conformed (suschematizo, soos-khay-mat-id’-zo) as used here implies that which is “transitory, changeable, unstable”
4. I.e., at the most we can only be an imitation, a cheap copy
5. If not transformed, we will either be conformed to…
6. The world

          1) Act like the world, be like those in the world

          2) In which we will bring shame to the name of Christ

1. b. Other Christians

          1) Outwardly we may act like Christians, appear like them

          2) But it will be just a cheap “copy”, which eventually reveals its true nature!

          — Is that what we want? To bring shame to the name of Christ?

              To be “plastic” Christians, or to be the real thing?

Why not let the mercies of God and the love of Christ motivate us to seek transformation? The process is not as difficult as one might think…