Being changed

When GOD declares something will happen, it will happen.  GOD has declared that everyone who believes in JESUS and calls on the name of the LORD will be saved and changed into the likeness of JESUS so that JESUS would be the 1^st of many brethren (Romans 8:29, Romans 10:13).

But we try and try and fall so short of doing what we should.  So how can this be?

GOD demonstrates how this will occur in nature.  The caterpillar crawls on many legs and eats constantly chewing up leaves but then something happens.  It spins a cocoon around itself and little by little it dies and the dissolving parts of the old creature are used to create a totally different creature-one who will not live to eat nor chew but occasionally will flit to a flower and sip some nectar, it will fly freely instead of walking from place to place.  When the new creation is complete it comes out of the cocoon.

It is through the death of the caterpillar that the butterfly is formed.  It is only as we die to our old desires that we can become new. Death is not always easy and is not natural, nor can we do it ourselves.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one SPIRIT we (who believe in JESUS) are all baptized into one body (the body of CHRIST).

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of CHRIST

Roman’s 6:3-4 know you not that so many of us who were baptized (by the SPIRIT) into CHRIST JESUS were baptized into HIS death. Therefore, we are buried with HIM by baptism into death so like JESUS was raised from the dead by the glory of (GOD) the FATHER) so even so we should walk in the newness of life (by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT).

See the caterpillar becoming a butterfly?

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all (believers in JESUS), with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the LORD, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the SPIRIT of the LORD.

This wonderful truth that the HOLY SPIRIT is step by step (as we listen and obey) showing us more and more of the unfathomable wonders of our LORD JESUS CHRIST’s divine nature and as HE shows us HE changes us into that likeness, and we begin to participate in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

When the HOLY SPIRIT shows us more of JESUS’ gentleness we are enabled to be more gentle, as the SPIRIT reveals more of HIS forgiveness, forgiveness flows from us.  For the fruit of the SPIRIT flows from the one yielded to HIM.

Isn’t GOD’s plan marvelous?

Hugs

Sharon