Text: 2 Cor. 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (vs18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord".
Gal.2:20 " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me".
1 John 3:2-3 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.(vs3) and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure"
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary page 75, on 2 Cor.3:18 concerning the "Glorious Transformation" "Faith in Christ and fellowship with Christ are the forces which produce assimilation to Christ. The image which is beheld seems to infix itself upon the mirror-like soul that receives it. The life of faith thus serves to carry on a gradual process of spiritual assimilation. The progression is denoted by the phrase, "from glory to glory", by which we understand, not earthly splendor, but spiritual excellence and perfection. And the agency is indicated by the expression here used, "as by the Lord the Spirit". Because he is the Spirit, the Lord has access to the heart, and renews, hallows, and glorifies the nature to which he makes himself graciously and divinely known. And there seems to be no limit to this most blessed process. In fact, the future state appears to offer the most amazing scope for its continuation :"We shall be like Christ; for we shall see him as he is".
I am Transitioned, Transformed, and Assimilated Into Christ.
Transition -- a change or passing from one condition, place, thing, activity ect. to another see( 1 John 3:2).
Transformation -- to change the form, nature, substance, character, condition, or state, of something to another, especially for a new use or purpose. see(Ezek. 11:19-20).
Assimilate/ Assimilation --is to be absorbed or digested.(2) to make like in custom, and viewpoint.(3) is the(becoming) or process of being absorbed or digested . see (Col.3:3-4 ; Acts 17:28).
EXPOSITION
I am Transitioned, Transformed, and Assimilated Into Christ:
A. As I Change My Relationship From The world To Relationship With God--- 2 Cor. 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.(vs18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.(vs16)For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (vs17)And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
B. As I Move From Immaturity To Maturity In Christ--- 1 Cor. 13:11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
C. As I Move From Non-Contentment To Contentment in Relation to Life's Circumstances--- Phi.4: 11-13 “Not as I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (vs12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (vs13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
D. As I Move From Doubts and Fears to A Full Persuasion Of Faith Of The Love Of God Toward Me --- Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things, nor things to come, (vs39)Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
E. As I Move From a Selfish Individual Mindset To True Unity With My Brothers And Sisters In The Unity Of The Body Of Christ.--- 1 Cor. 1:10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
F. As I Move From My Earthly Ambitions To The Spiritual And Heavenly Ambitions In Christ Jesus--- Phi.3:13-15 “Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (vs15)Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
G. As I Move From My Identity Of Being Of The People Of The World To Being Of The People Of God--- 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (vs10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”