RESURRECTION!

R is for redemption.

E is for eternal life.

S is for the Spirit of God.

U is for unity.

R is for restoration and reconciliation.

R is for righteousness.

E is for evidence.

C is for confidence.

T is for transformation.

Transformation is a beautiful word. It’s a word of hope—of possibility. When you think about it, our whole lives are about transformation. Webster defines “transform” as “to change in composition or structure; to change the outward form or appearance of; or to change in character or condition.”

Isn’t this the essence of life?

Life begins at conception when two cells meet. Immediately, transformation begins. In the mother’s womb, the composition or structure of those two cells changes rapidly. For nine months, they multiply and develop until at full term what began as two tiny cells enters a new phase of life called infancy—a noisy, hungry baby able to express his demands loudly so that he receives what he needs to continue to transform.

The outward form and appearance of a baby transform ever so quickly. The first year of life sees massive changes in so many ways. Personality and preferences are soon apparent and for about twenty-one years our physical bodies continue to transform as we change from children to adults.

While the outward changes are obvious, the change in our character and condition is more subtle, for it happens in the unseen part, our soul and spirit. Here is where we see the power of the resurrection begin to affect the human condition. If it is not applied—the child isn’t taught the truth about Jesus, the Bible, God, and his own spiritual need—the fallen fleshly nature will be the driving force for the development of our character. And we’ve all seen and experienced where that transformation leads!

The power of the resurrection is the power to transform us inwardly, returning us to the image of God for which we were created. The resurrection imparts a new life. It starts at salvation when God regenerates our fallen, dead spirit and gives us the life of Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. True transformation can then begin. We have a new DNA, the blood of Christ applied to our lives. Our outward appearance begins to change as the peace with God and the peace of God does its work on our hearts and minds. Our character is transformed into conformity with the character of Jesus. Our souls are transformed.

Romans 6:4 – Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The word “transformed” here is the Greek metamorphoō, from which we get our English “metamorphosis.” It’s the same word translated as “transfigured”, the description of what happened to Jesus on the mountain, witnessed by Peter, James, and John. For just a moment, God pulled away the cloak of humanity that shrouded the glory of God and what Jesus was innately was suddenly visible.

Mark 9:2-3; Matthew 17:2 – Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. … And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.

While Jesus’ transformation happened instantly, our transformation is a lifelong process called sanctification. We are to lay down our lives (be crucified with Christ) and allow His resurrection power to transform us into a new life.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed [suschematizo] to this world, but be transformed [metamorphoō] by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Vines explains, Metamorphoō of believers, “be ye transformed,” the obligation being to undergo a complete change which, under the power of God, will find expression in character and conduct; morphe lays stress on the inward change, schema (see the preceding verb in that verse, suschematizo) lays stress on the outward.

Just as Jesus’ innate character became visible (the glory of God), His character becomes visible in us as we are transformed into His image over time.

Charles Spurgeon says this about the transformation wrought by the power of the resurrection:

If you have been truly born again you have a new and holy nature, and you are no longer moved towards sinful objects as you were before. The things that you once loved you now hate, and therefore you will not run after them. You can hardly understand it but so it is, that your thoughts and tastes are radically changed. You long for that very holiness which once it was irksome to hear of; and you loathe those vain pursuits which were once your delights. The man who puts his trust in the Lord sees the pleasures of sin in a new light. For he sees the evil which follows them by noting the agonies which they brought upon our Lord when He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. Without faith a man says to himself, “This sin is a very pleasant thing, why should I not enjoy it? Surely I may eat this fruit, which looks so charming and is so much to be desired.” The flesh sees honey in the drink, but faith at once perceives that there is poison in the cup. Faith spies the snake in the grass and gives warning of it. Faith remembers death, judgment, the great reward, the just punishment and that dread word, eternity. –C.H. Spurgeon

There’s one final transformation coming, only possible because Jesus defeated death through His resurrection. It is the transformation of our unredeemed flesh, these fragile, frail, susceptible-to-illness-and-disease mortal bodies into immortal, glorified bodies that are fit for heaven!

Philippians 3:20-21 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

How’s your transformation process going? Can we see the changes effected by the power of Jesus’ resurrection in you? Can you see it in me? May it be so!