April 2, 2013

From Gary V. Womack... Transformed to his image



TRANSFORMED TO HIS IMAGE

Lk. 6:27-36, 40 "...Everyone who is perfectly 
                         trained will be like his teacher." 
                         Loving your enemies = Merciful

Mt. 6:43-ff Loving your enemies makes you like 
                 your heavenly Father.

The nature & character of God is unique:
All-seeing - All-knowing - All-powerful - Ever-present We are none of these things

We are to become like Him as we grow in His grace.

Jn. 1:11-18 Jesus "declared" the Father - & gave 
                   us "power to become Sons of God.

This was a matter of God's choosing before He made us:

Rom. 8:29 "For whom He forknew, He also 
                  predestined to be conformed to the 
                  image of His Son, that He might be the 
                  firstborn among many brethren."

Rom. 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by 
                     the mercies of God, that you present 
                     your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, 
                     acceptable to God, which is your 
                     reasonable service. (2) 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."

Consider some characteristics in which we are to become like God:

HOLY

Lev. 11:41-ff Laws regarding clean & unclean 
                     animals - was to teach the Israelites 
                     about holiness.

They were to consecrate themselves and be holy like God

1 Pet. 1:13-16 "Therefore gird up the loins of your 
                       mind, be sober, and rest your hope 
                       fully upon the grace that is to be 
                       brought to you at the revelation of 
                      Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient 
                      children, not conforming yourselves to 
                      the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 
                      (15) but as He who called you is holy, 
                      you also be holy in all your conduct, 
                      (16) because it is written, 'Be holy, for 
                      I am holy.'' "

GRACE & TRUTH

Jn. 1:14, 17 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt 
                    among us, and we beheld His glory, 
                    the glory as of the only begotten of the 
                    Father, full of grace and truth."


                    (17) "For the law was given through 
                    Moses, but grace and truth came 
                    through Jesus Christ."

We are to grow in grace & knowledge of Christ = truth:

2 Pet. 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of 
                   our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To 
                   Him be the glory both now and forever. 
                   Amen."

NOT TO HOLD ON TO OUR ANGER

Psm. 103:8-10 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, 
                        slow to anger, and abounding in 
                        mercy. (9) He will not always strive 
                        with us, nor will He keep His anger 
                        forever. (10) He has not dealt with 
                        us according to our sins, nor 
                        punished us according to our 
                        iniquities."

We are not to let the sun go down on our wrath-
'
Eph. 4:26-27 "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let 
                     the sun go down on your wrath. (27) 
                     nor give place to the devil."

PATIENT - LONGSUFFERING

2 Pet. 3:14-15 "Therefore, beloved, looking forward 
                        to these things, be diligent to be 
                        found by Him in peace, without spot 
                        and blameless; (15) and consider 
                        that the longsuffering of our Lord is 
                        salvation - as also our beloved 
                        brother Paul, according to the 
                        wisdom given to him, has written to 
                        you."

1 Cor. 13:4 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does 
                   not envy; love does not parade itself, is 
                   not puffed up;"

IMPARTIAL - NOT PREJUDICED

Deut. 10:17-19 "For the Lord your God is God of 
                        gods and Lord of lords, the great 
                        God, mighty and awesome, who 
                        shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
                        (18) He administers justice for the 
                        fatherless and the widow, and loves 
                        the stranger, giving him food and 
                        clothing. (19) Therefore love the 
                        stranger, for you were strangers in 
                        the land of Egypt."

Jas. 2:1-9 We are not to hold the faith of our Lord with partiality.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

1 Jn. 4:7-11 The proof of God's love is our 
                    example

1 Cor. 13:1-3 Love is the measure of our maturity 
                      in Christ.

All who are in Christ are to set Him as their pattern for living - their goal

Col. 3:1-11 The "new man" is renewed in 
                   knowledge according to his 
                   Creator's image.

2 Cor. 3:12-ff (18) "But we all...are being 
                             transformed into the same 
                             image from glory to glory..."

God's children are blessed to walk in the way of the Lord - anticipating a time when we will see Him and be like Him.

1 Jn. 3:1-3 "Behold what manner of love the Father 
                   has bestowed on us, that we should be 
                   called children of God! Therefore the 
                   world does not know us, because it did 
                   not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are 
                   children of God; and it has not yet been 
                   revealed what we shall be, but we know 
                   that when He is revealed, we shall be 
                   like Him, for we shall see Him as He is
                   (3) And everyone who has this hope in 
                   Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."




We are purified in the blood of Christ - to walk a new life

Rom. 6:3-13 Being dead to sin - we are freed 
                    from sin & made alive in Christ

2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a 
                   new creation; old things have passed 
                   away; behold, all things have become 
                   new."

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