Afterwords -- transformation
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
July 20, 2023
Dear friends,
In chapter one of Romans, the Apostle Paul describes the downward movement of degradation in the human race. In chapter twelve, after writing extensively about Christ redeeming us (and his provision of the Holy Spirit for us), he describes the upward movement of sanctification in the life of those redeemed. Though the new creation (or re-creation) is not exactly like the first creation, those good things lost to us are regained in Christ and restored to us as we mature in Christ.
What got me thinking about this was a quote from Francis Schaeffer in his teaching Romans to students at Lausanne. He said to those who had received Christ, "Now you have become the redeemed portion of humanity, the humanity that is returning to the purpose of its creation." To be redeemed is to return to the purpose of our creation.
In comparing chapters one and twelve of Romans, I noted a return to the purpose of our creation, as seen specifically in our restoration in six areas...
1) A return to reason. Rather than suppressing the truth about God, with their intellectual pride and empty reasoning (Rom 1:18-22), those who are redeemed by Christ are being transformed in thought life (Rom 12:2, 3). They have embraced the truth about God and themselves. The Lord restores clear thinking to us, in order that we might be able to understand truth, and to see the world as God sees it. We have "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." (Col 3:10; cf Eph 4:23) In the gospel of Luke, the Gadarene demoniac, delivered from possession, was seen "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind..." (Lu 8:35). God restores to us a sound mind and a new God-centered worldview. C. S. Lewis wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
2) A return to freedom. There is a contrast of verbs used in chapters one and twelve. In chapter one, παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi), is used, which means to "give over into the hands or power of another, to deliver over into judgment or custody." (1:24, 26, 28) The so-called freedom of those who turn away from God becomes bondage and degradation. But in chapter twelve, the verb παρίστημι (paristēmi) is used, which means "to present, to offer oneself to another." The contrast is of being "given over" (degradation, bondage) and "presenting yourselves" (transformation, freedom). Paul wrote about "the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (8:21) And David wrote, "Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power..." (Ps 110:3)
3) A return to true worship. We were created to glorify and honor God with our whole selves (Deut 6:4-5; Matt 22:35-40). In Romans one we see men not honoring God, not giving thanks to our Creator, but rather glorifying themselves and worshiping created things (1:21-23). In chapter twelve, we hear the call to offer ourselves as living and holy sacrifices in worship to God (12:1-2). We now glorify God rather than ourselves or anything in creation. We are increasingly able to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." (Deut 6:5)
4) A return to wholeness. Our bodies, as well as our souls and spirits are presented to God. "Present your bodies..." (12:1) refers to the whole package that we are. We are not gnostics or dualists who do not care what we do with our bodies. In contrast to the sexual license and bodily degradation of chapter one, in chapter twelve we offer our bodies in pure service to Christ. We are not to let sin reign in our bodies (ch 6), and our bodies will be resurrected at the end (ch 8). So this is our calling: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thess 5:23-24)
5) A return to the goodness of God's will. In chapter one we see the consequences of a debased mind, doing "what one should not" (1:28). Fallen and rebellious men do not want to do God's will. In chapter twelve we are called to test (find out by personal experience) the goodness of God's will (12:2). His will is good, acceptable, and perfect. It is this goodness that will overcome evil (12:21). Abraham Kuyper wrote, "To be more and more transformed after the image of God means that God’s will ever more deeply enters into our will, which in turn means an ever better understanding of God, a better knowledge of him, and an ever-clearer insight into his will and purpose." (Read more here.) We cannot know God fully without embracing his will.
6) A return to true community. In chapter one we see that the rebellious actions of those who suppress the knowledge of God results in disintegration of the human family. The marriage relationship is perverted (1:26-27). People are hurt and abused, as we see this described with various terms -- malice, strife, envy, deceit, murder, and so on (1:28-32). But now, redeemed -- and addressed as "brothers" (12:1) -- we are to grow in Christ and work for healthy relationships through Christ (12:3-21). We are able to serve others, use our gifts, demonstrate genuine love, show mercy and forgiveness, and much more.
So, in Christ we have returned to the purpose of our creation! This is seen clearly in the contrast between Romans chapter one and chapter twelve. God in his mercy has reversed the downward spiral of sin and is now working in us the upward drawing of his grace in Christ, which is our sanctification.
READING and LISTENING.
-- "Theology matters because it shapes us not merely at the intellectual level but at the emotional and the practical level." Read Jen Wilkin on Theology: The Missing Piece in Discipleship. And speaking of biblical training, this is good stuff: so many good classes by excellent professors, online, and free!
-- How Were the Books of the Bible “Chosen”? By Michael Kruger.
-- "Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it." (Thomas Jefferson) Read about "The New Censorship."
-- "The question this time was from a woman who had become disillusioned with her husband and enamored with someone else. And as I read the columnist’s response I thought, 'I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how Satan would counsel if he was asked.'" Read "If Satan took up marriage counseling."
-- Please don't be offended: "Every Christian Music Video." (I found it funny...) Speaking of which, what music was I listening to in 1960? (Would you believe Calypso and Polka?)
FINAL QUOTE. “The physical sciences, good and innocent in themselves, had already begun to be warped, had been subtly maneuvered in a certain direction. Despair of objective truth had been increasingly insinuated into the scientists; indifference to it, and a concentration upon mere power, had been the result…" -- C. S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength (1945). Read more quotes from SF authors last century about the future.
That's it for this week!
Sandy
Image credit: photo above by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.