When my son was growing up one of the toys he played with was a “Transformer”. It might look like a car, but then you move around a few parts and it became a robotic action figure. Some were the good guys, and some were evil. Their “character” was disguised until they transformed into their action figure. Their transformation was not in character, but in its ability to be disguised in another form.
But God intends for His people to have a character transformation. When a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, God’s Holy Spirit indwells each new believer. He guarantees God’s permanent presence in the believer’s life. He works in each believer to transform our character, so that we increasingly have the character of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. He wants an inner transformation that will be revealed in how we handle life and our relationship with Him, and others.
2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
The character transformation takes place as the power of God’s Spirit works in His people. It is not something we can produce in our own power. It is evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Note who produces the fruit in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit …”. It is not believers producing the fruit, but it is God’s work done in our lives through His Spirit.
The remainder of the verse indicates the type of fruit God’s Spirit produces: “… is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”.
The natural question that follows: What is the believer’s part in the transformation process?
Romans 12: 2 explains what our part is in the transformational work of His Spirit: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”.
Colossians 3:5: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Unlike the transformer toys, whose character never changed, the true follower of Jesus becomes a truly “new person” by the transforming work of God’s Holy Spirit.
Paul states it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”.
At the moment of a person’s salvation, the characteristics of the “new creature” are not all evidenced in the believer’s life. It is a lifelong journey with God for that transformation to become a reality in the believer’s life and evidenced in one’s behavior.
Transformation of my character, displayed in how I handle myself, confirms my profession of faith in Jesus Christ. God’s transformational work is the light of Christ that others can see and know that I belong to him.
On my own, I can do some reformation, but that is not the same as being transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Reformation is a change by us to what already exists, but transformation is the new character produced by Christ. Reformation is not eternal, but transformation is everlasting.
A caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly. It is not anything the caterpillar could do on its own. It is the work of our amazing Designer. The butterfly never returns to being a caterpillar.
In the same way, when a person is born again, and the Holy Spirit transforms us into a new person in Christ, we can never go back to be “unborn again”. The work of the Holy Spirit is a permanent work in a person’s life.
Our transformation does not mean we don’t struggle with the temptations of the old life before Christ. We do struggle. Paul discusses that struggle in Romans 7. A believer understands the difference between sin and righteous living. Always choosing to react and respond in a Godly manner is another thing.
But God promises us victory, thus Paul’s words in Romans 8.
The more I walk with Jesus, the more voluntary my reaction and responses are in mirroring how Jesus responds to us. When I sin, I am quicker to admit my sin, and to confess it to the Lord. This is further evidence of the fruit of God’s Spirit.
Promoting unity is further evidence of God’s Spirit: 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
The toy transformers hide their true character when in their vehicle form, but God’s people are to walk in humility with Him, displaying His character in all situations. Much easier said than done, but when a believer abides in Jesus, it is possible.
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!
Extra verses to consider:
John 15
Romans Chapters 7 and 8
Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.
Copyright 2021 Donna Shappy
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.