Today’s blog post is on the miracle of spiritual change that God blesses those who are called into union with Christ. This lesson is one of many teachings in the area of biblical discipleship and spiritual reformation.

I pray that you may use this material for both personal studies and as a teaching tool for other believers that wish to move deeper into the pathway of biblical discipleship.

This educational information was motivated by chapter five. Spiritual Change of Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the character of Christ.

Grace and Peace

The Integration of the Reliable Pattern of Salvation

What is and just how are we to understand the elements of the unification and application of a Godly reliable pattern of divine salvation into our modern-day lives?

The starting point is the very words of Jesus as He was just about to leave earth and rejoin His heavenly Father, who sent Him,  

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The Biblical record of God’s “Big Picture” plan of redemption can be chronicled in these divine promises and manifestations on the earth!

• Genesis 3:15, Redemption promised. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” God created a kingdom, and he is the King, and he made human beings in his image to represent him in that kingdom. Adam and Eve rejected this call, which led to sin and death. But God promised to defeat the Serpent through the offspring of the woman.

• Matthew 27 and 28, The Death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Christ Return. For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

The Divine Steps of Salvation

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30

• Foreknew- Jeremiah 1:5
• Predestination in the likeness of Christ-1 Timothy 4:7
• Sanctification-Philippians 2:12-13
• Justification-Romans 3:24-26
• Glorification-Romans 8:30

The vision of a Loving God

The importance of Spiritual Change

What will I look like?

In the image and likeness of Christ!

But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:46-49

Why is this change important?

Most importantly, this change is for the preparation for the return of Christ, and the advent of a new heaven and earth. God’s ultimate plan of redemption according to the Holy Scriptures is based upon a Kingdom on earth, the King, and His people.

Until then, we are to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and be faithful witnesses for Christ on all the earth.

Christ return

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

New heaven/earth

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:1-3 

What must be done for this change?

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)

The intention of the Redeemed

The process of intention is effective action to involve order, subordination, and progression from one’s will. The inner will must intend (aim), purpose, to bring about while importing the vision of sanctification into reality.

The Means of Spiritual Transformation

The manner of means describes the instrumentalities used to become effective toward the progressive transformation of Christlikeness of one’s character.

The miracle of spiritual transformation can only occur at the initiative and constant direction and upholding of God, and His grace. The Vision, Intention, and Means [acronym] are derived from the Latin term, “vis” meaning directions, strength, force, vigor, power, energy, and virtue.

In observing the various meanings/functions of the Latin term “vis” the Holy Spirit of God comes into view just how the miracle of transformation happens within the heart. The Holy Spirit [ruach], describes the breath of God which is holy[pneuma].

Just as the Holy Spirit assisted in the Creation of heaven and earth, this same Spirit is recreating Christlikeness within our hearts. The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is often translated as “wind” or “breath” in the Old Testament.

The same word is found in Psalm 33:6, where we again catch a glimpse of the Spirit’s work in creation: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath [Spirit] of His mouth.”

The Spiritual Empowerment of the Spirit of God within our Lives

Strength The Holy Spirit makes the life of a faithful follower of Christ possible. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot even come close to living the life that God has called.

Ephesians 3:14-21- For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Holy Spirit as God’s Force and Motivation for Salvation

• The Gospel message is preached, and the living Word convicts the heart. John 16:7-8
• The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to the conscience. John 14:16, 26
• The process of spiritual rebirth sets in. John 3:3-6; 1 Cor. 12:13
• The believer is a new creature. 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15-17
• Once an individual accepts Christ and God’s forgiveness, then willingly yields their life to Christ, John 3:3-6; 20-22, says that person receives the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit enables such a person to participate in God’s purpose and they develop Godly character, 2 Pet. 1:4, and is sealed for eternal life. Eph. 1:13-14
• This process is initiated and completed by the power of the Holy Spirit, hence no human being can come to God except through the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit as God’s Agent of Sanctification

• We are set apart for God’s possession and purpose. Gal. 5:16-17; 2 Thess. 2:13
• We are made ready for every good work. Heb. 13:21; 2 Cor. 9:8; 2 Tim. 2:21; Col. 1:10
• The Holy Spirit searches the heart, making intercedes for us according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
• Empowers us to worship God in spirit and truth. Acts 10:46
• Helps in developing Godly character. Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Peter 1:2
• Enables us to know and interpret the Word of God. John 16:13, 14:16; 1 Thess. 1:6

Holy Spirit enables us to Witness Christ

• Go therefore and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that I command. Matt. 28:16-20
• Give believers motivation in speaking with boldness the Word of Truth. Acts 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 13:9
• Assist believers to pray accordingly to the will of God’s divine purpose. Luke 11:13; 1 Thess. 4:2-4

Holy Spirit is the agent of empowerment for service

Colossians 3:23-24- Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Holy Spirit as the agent for Unification of the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-6- “I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

The current study of the Reliable Pattern of Salvation is without any worldly, carnal, or human effort or system. Everything about this process of salvation is of divine order. Those who are called into a personal relationship with Christ must be filled with the Holy Spirit and the Living Word of God.

We have demonstrated that it’s God’s will and grace which enable us to function by His progressive divine purposes. For the Word of God is a guide, [light] that directs and instruct us into all righteousness that we are thoroughly furnished with all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

The same spiritual truth is for each of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:4-11- Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. Each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another, the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, …

The VIM of Spiritual Transformation

The vision that underlies spiritual transformation into Christlikeness is the Kingdom image of spiritual life now and in the eternity to come. This divine change reflects the range of God’s effective will, that is, you and I are partaking in the divine life of God. 2 Peter 1:3-4,

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The intention is based upon a moment-by-moment willful decision to faithfully follow Christ. This consist of trusting, relying on Him, and knowing Him as the anointed One from God. All of this is possible if each disciple develops an intimate relationship with Him.

It is through this conscience of intention to live in the Kingdom of God by obeying the examples and teachings of Christ Jesus that God’s will and purposes are actualized. Those who are faithful will produce righteous works. John 15:4-9,

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

The means of this spiritual transformation is where we are to co-labor with God on what is to be our literal progressive nature of “working out one’s soul salvation” in a fallen world.

• Christ Jesus is our model. Hebrews 12:2-3
• We must know and receive the love of God. Eph. 3:17-19
• We must practice willing obedience to God. Matt. 7:21
• Learn and daily practice Biblical disciplines. [inner, outward, and corporate disciplines, see Richard Foster’s book, Celebration of Discipline]
• One must embrace perseverance. Colossian 1:22-23
• Have a very healthy reverence for God. Psalms 34:7-11
• Let the divine will of God manifest with the heart. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Prayer

May Adonai bless you and keep you.

May Adonai make His face shine on you and show you His favor.

May Adonai lift His face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Amen

Grace and Peace

Brother Alonzo