Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
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. Romans 12:2 NKJV
The difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Working from the outside in vs. the inside out.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT
The goal of your salvation is not to get to heaven. It is transformation into His image.
This is a study of “being saved.” The process that takes place in each believer as he moves from faith to faith and glory to glory.
Romans 1:16-17 CSB
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
17 For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV 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 by the Spirit of the Lord.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:4 NKJV
Matthew Henry commentary on Ephesians 4:4:
“Even as you are called in one hope of your calling. Hope is here put for its object, the thing hoped for, the heavenly inheritance, to the hope of which we are called. All Christians are called to the same hope of eternal life. There is one Christ that they all hope in, and one heaven that they are all hoping for; and therefore they should be of one heart.”
What is our one hope? Is it heaven? Eternal life?
What is God's one hope? To have a family of mature sons and daughters in the image and likeness of God
Are we looking for a home in heaven?
Scripture says the meek shall inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:11 NKJV The meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Matthew 5:5 NKJV Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
God is looking to tabernacle with men who are on the earth.
Revelation 21:2-3 NKJV
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God
Ezekiel 36:25-27 CSB
25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Read the last line again. God didn’t just promise to make you new and put His Spirit in you; He promised that He’d cause you to follow and obey Him.
That’s exactly what Paul said. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him, and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT). The Gospel includes both “getting saved” and walking out your salvation, that is, “being saved.”
Matthew 28:19-20 CSB
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Remember = G2400 imperative of G1492 εἴδω eidō i'-do A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know: - be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wist, wot. Compare G3700.
Lo, remember, behold, never forget
“Pay attention! Listen! Understand! Hey, this is IMPORTANT!!!” Jesus wanted you to pay really close attention to this simple statement: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Isaiah 30:20-21 NLT
20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
Many of you are familiar with the time Jesus appeared to Paul and knocked him to the ground (Acts 9:3–6). But what we don’t often hear about is that Paul continued experiencing Jesus personally but in a much more encouraging way.
Acts 18:9-10 CSB The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”
Acts 22:17-18 CSB “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw Him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’
Acts 23:11 CSB The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”
Galatians 1:11-12 CSB For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:16-17 CSB At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Bible records Paul receiving direction from God through angels (Acts 27:23–24), through fellow believers (Acts 13:2; 20:22,23; 21:4, 10,11), and directly from the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:8-10; 16:6–10). However, out of all the ways that God used to direct Paul, the one that is recorded the most is through Jesus personally.
This type of experience was not just for Paul the Apostle. Jesus said that He’d reveal Himself to those who love Him. John 14:21 CSB “The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
Here’s what happened to a regular disciple: There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord!” he said (Acts 9:10-16).
The people who experienced Jesus in this way, and/or recorded the experiences, didn’t act and/or write like these experiences were out of the ordinary. Jesus revealing Himself to you is just a small part of what He means when He says, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age,” but these stories illustrate just how real your relationship with Him can be.
The part of the Great Commission that Mark recorded ended with a report of what happened after Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit came.
Mark 16:19-20 CSB
19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.
Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father but was also with His disciples working with them. The Greek word translated “working with them” means “to be a co-worker.” The whole reason why Jesus told His disciples that He’d always be with them is so that we would understand and remember that the discipleship program was never meant to end, only change.
The disciples walked with Jesus, talked with Him, were instructed by Him. But they didn't always comprehend His message, so they would question Him. He was their teacher. And we need to remember that, just like the disciples, we can ask questions and know that He will answer.
The relationship between Teacher and disciple changed after the Holy Spirit was given to His followers. The apostle Paul is an example of the change in the discipleship program.
John 14:16-29 CSB
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.
20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.
21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it you’re going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe.
Jesus was telling them that the way He discipled them was about to change. It would be no less real and constant—in fact, it would be more so; they were about to become the temple of the Holy Spirit and Jesus would be discipling them from the inside-out.
Christians often think about how great it would have been to walk with Jesus as one of the Twelve. However, while Jesus was preparing the Disciples for the transition He said that it would be better to be His disciple after He ascended.
John 16:7 CSB Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
The Twelve were actually a type or picture of what was to come. God used the concept of Jewish discipleship as a metaphor for how He intended to teach and transform us. He chose Twelve to train from the outside-in, and then He moved them from that to being discipled from the inside-out so that hopefully they’d get the picture.
Discipleship is how He is accomplishing His original plan for us—“Let Us make man in our image.” Jesus has guaranteed through His redemptive work that you will be transformed into His image and walk in God’s will and plan for your life. A big part of how He does that is by walking with you and discipling you from within. Just like a disciple in Jesus’ day was to walk closely with His master 24/7 and become exactly like him, so you are to truly walk with Jesus and be transformed into His image through the indwelling of His Spirit.
Jesus laid down His life, not just to rescue you, but also so He could have a relationship with you like He had with the Father.
Your relationship with Jesus is meant to be a growing, loving, very real, and eternal relationship with your Lord and Master who wants to walk with you, talk with you, reveal Himself to you, teach you, bless you, and see you transformed into His image.
After Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to two of His disciples on
the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). Jesus prevented His two disciples
from recognizing Him at first and explained to them what the scriptures
said about the Messiah (Luke 24:27). At the end of the conversation Jesus
revealed who He was and then immediately disappeared. Here’s what they
said as soon as He vanished:
Luke 24:32 CSB They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
The two disciples said that their hearts were “ablaze” or “set on fire.” They were listening with their ears but Jesus was showing them what it felt like to hear Him with their hearts, know the truth, and get excited about His Word.
That same evening Jesus appeared to more of His disciples and opened their minds to understand the scripture as well.
Luke 24:44-45 CSB
44 He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
The Disciples often didn’t understand what Jesus taught and it seems that they blamed Jesus for not “speaking plainly.”
John 16:29 CSB His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language.
Jesus knew that only after He had redeemed His disciples and come to them through the Holy Spirit, could He really start teaching them. Here’s what Jesus said as He was preparing them for inside-out discipleship:
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth” John 16:12–13.
“I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father” John 16:25.
Jesus knew that once they were made new and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that all of His disciples could be taught and caused to bear (receive, hear, understand, and live)(to lift, literally or figuratively (endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.): - bear, carry, take up.) the things of God.
And Jesus promised that He, Himself, would teach you and speak to you plainly about the Father.
God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT
Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great, and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness. (Isaiah 54:13–14).
It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me … (John 6:45).
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Transformation Part 2: Our Teacher
The Work of Transformation Part 1: Overview
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. Romans 12:2 NKJV
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
The difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Working from the outside in vs. the inside out.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT
The goal of your salvation is not to get to heaven. It is transformation into His image.
Romans 1:15-16 NKJV
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:7-8 NKJV
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
The Gospel is “God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes”; not just when they first believe but also as they continue to believe. According to Paul, you are not just to enter God’s Kingdom through the Gospel message, but you are to continue in the Gospel, living by the same faith in Jesus Christ that got you in.
He preached the Gospel to the lost and continued to explain it to those who entered into it (Romans 16:25; Galatians 1:6–7; Philippians 1:27; Colossians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). The Gospel is the Good News of God’s Kingdom, not just the Good News about its entrance.
Philippians 1:27 NKJV Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
2 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul says that the message of the cross is for Christians who are “being saved.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 CSB
1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
The Bible is clear that you are “being saved” by the Gospel. The New Testament teaches that when you make a decision for Christ, you are saved.
Ephesians 2:4-5 CSB
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,
5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
You are saved and you are being saved both by the Gospel, which is the power of God. The first is instantaneous and complete; the second is a process in which you progressively grow into what was already accomplished for you.
This study is about the process of “being saved.”
You are saved, you are being saved, and you will be saved. The Gospel is the Good News of God’s love and what Jesus did for you, and it encompasses all three aspects of your salvation: past, present, and future. Paul wanted to go to Rome and preach the Gospel to the Christians there because he knew how important it was for them to understand, not just how to get into the Kingdom, but how to live and grow in the Kingdom.
Look again at Genesis 1:26 CSB Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.”
God’s “Let Us” conversation was not just talking about Adam being created with God-like attributes, but was prophetically looking forward to you being created new in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:29 CSB For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God foreknew and predestined us to be conformed to the “image of His Son.” When did He foreknow and predestine this? When He said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”
Image = H6754 צֶלֶם tselem tseh'-lem From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, especially an idol: - image, vain shew.
Likeness = H1823 דְּמוּת demûth dem-ooth' From H1819; resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like: - fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.
So when God said “Let Us make man in Our Image” He was talking about His plan to create us in Christ who is the image of God. God knew that man would lose His image in the fall and He already planned for us to regain it and to fully realize it in Christ.
Colossians 1:15 CSB Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Philippians 2:5-8 CSB
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.
Jesus was God’s plan from the start.
Genesis 1:26 prophetically looked forward to Jesus coming, being born as a man and taking on human likeness (“taking on the likeness of men … as a man in His external form”).
Hebrews 10:5 ESV Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
God the Son, Jesus Christ, has two arms and two legs and He’ll have His resurrected body forever. Jesus became like us so that we could be like Him (image and likeness). At the end of this age we will receive our glorified bodies which will be like Jesus’ current heavenly body—and God’s original and full intent for “likeness” will be completely realized.
Philippians 3:21 CSB He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.
1 John 3:2 CSB Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.
God intended to fulfill His desire to make you in both His “image and likeness” by sending His Son. The Gospel was proclaimed in Genesis 1:26.
Likeness = form Image = character
2 Corinthians 4:4 CSB In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
If the Gospel is “the gospel of the glory of Christ” what is “the glory of Christ”? Paul just said, “the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”; Jesus carried and displayed the image of God and that was His glory. So what did Paul mean then when he taught that the glorious mystery of the Gospel is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”?
Colossians 1:27-28 CSB
27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
In your new birth you were created in His image and likeness. “The hope of glory” is the hope that you would carry and display Christ’s image just as He carried and displayed the Father’s image. The Gospel is “the gospel of the glory of Christ” because the Gospel proclaims that in Christ you realize God’s original intention for you: “Let Us make man in our image and likeness.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Paul says that as you behold “the glory of the Lord” you are being transformed into “the same image.” “The glory of the Lord” is the image of God. We are being transformed into what we are beholding: Jesus, who is the image of God, which is the glory of the Lord. Christ is in you by His Spirit to give you His life and transform you into His image—that’s the Gospel of the glory of God, and God’s original intent for mankind. Jesus’ work on the cross did not just provide us with a passport to heaven. Jesus’ work on the cross provided everything necessary to fulfill the original intent of creation.
2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
He has “called us to His own glory and excellence” and to be “partakers of the divine nature.” That’s the image of God. Believers are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). If you’re a Christian, then that’s been God’s plan for you from the beginning of creation. And it’s all provided for you in what Jesus did—you can’t earn it or produce it in your strength. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness … ” and “he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature … ”Everything you need to be transformed into His image has been granted to you through God’s promise and by His power.
To be Christlike means to become the individual son or daughter of God that He originally created you to be. Jesus is the firstborn and your example. God wants you to be like Jesus, following in His footsteps.
The transformation into Christ’s image starts now, not when you’re in heaven. You were born again with the purpose of growing up into Christ.
The difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Working from the outside in vs. the inside out.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT