Transfigured
God have predestined us to conform into Christ (Romans 8:29-30) “for whom He
did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did
predestinate, them, He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified,
and whom He justified, them He also glorified”.
Not only did God predestinate this for us, but He also made it available for us
(Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry; for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the unless of Christ. That we hereafter be
no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ”.
The Bible tells us how Jesus was transfigured in Matthew 17:1-8 which says “and
after six days Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother, and brings them up
into an high mountain apart. And was transfigured before them, and His face did
shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there
appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and
said to Jesus, Lord it is good for us to be here, if You will, let us make here three
tabernacles; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet
spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the
cloud, which said, this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you
Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, arise, and be not afraid. And when
they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only”.
We have to remember that Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say to you, he that believes
on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and grater works than these shall he
do; because I go to My Father”.
That might sound far fetched, but we learn in II Corinthians 5:17-20 as the apostle
Paul reveals “therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry
of reconciliation. To say, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of
reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God”.
The apostle Paul reveals the mystery of how to achieve this to us in Romans 12:1-
2 which says “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. And be not conformed to this world; but be you transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and
acceptable and perfect, will of God”.
Believers are to continually renew their mind through prayer and the study of God’
s word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and so be transformed and made like
Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 3:12-18) “seeing then that we have such hope, we use
great boldness of speech. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that
the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is
abolished. But their minds were blinded; for until this day remains the save veil
untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in
Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when he shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the
Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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”.
The apostle Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus “for this cause I bow my knees
to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and
earth is named. That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to
be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in
your hearts by faith; that you. Being rooted and grounded in love. May be able to
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height. And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be
filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19).
Remember that our outward man is decaying, but our inner man is being renewed
(II Corinthians 4:14-16) “knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall
raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for
your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many
abound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day”.
Romans 8:11 says “but if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you”.
Some people don’t think that a man can be transfigured, but Moses is our example
because after going up the mountain to be with God and he was given the ten
commandments, Exodus 34:29-30,32-35; it says “and it came to pass, when
Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’
hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of
his face shone while he talked with Him. And when Aaron and all the children of
Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come
near him. And afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them in
commandment all that the Lord Yahweh had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And
till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when
Moses went in before the Lord Yahweh to speak with Him, he took the veil off, until
he came out. And he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel that which he
was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin
of Moses’ face shone; and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in
to speak with Him”.
Jesus tells us to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16) “you are the
salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It
is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of
men. You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and
it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.
The apostle John writes in I John 3:1-3 “behold, what manner of love the Father
has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the
world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it does 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. And every man that
has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure”.
This sounds like Philippians 3:20-21 which says “for our conversation is in
heaven; from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to His glorious body, according
to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself”.
The best news is that as we are washed by the water of the word, we are changed
from glory to glory. God have done His part, and we have to believe it and receive
it.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 26, 2011
God have predestined us to conform into Christ (Romans 8:29-30) “for whom He
did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did
predestinate, them, He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified,
and whom He justified, them He also glorified”.
Not only did God predestinate this for us, but He also made it available for us
(Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry; for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the unless of Christ. That we hereafter be
no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ”.
The Bible tells us how Jesus was transfigured in Matthew 17:1-8 which says “and
after six days Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother, and brings them up
into an high mountain apart. And was transfigured before them, and His face did
shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there
appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and
said to Jesus, Lord it is good for us to be here, if You will, let us make here three
tabernacles; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet
spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the
cloud, which said, this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you
Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, arise, and be not afraid. And when
they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only”.
We have to remember that Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say to you, he that believes
on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and grater works than these shall he
do; because I go to My Father”.
That might sound far fetched, but we learn in II Corinthians 5:17-20 as the apostle
Paul reveals “therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry
of reconciliation. To say, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of
reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God”.
The apostle Paul reveals the mystery of how to achieve this to us in Romans 12:1-
2 which says “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. And be not conformed to this world; but be you transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and
acceptable and perfect, will of God”.
Believers are to continually renew their mind through prayer and the study of God’
s word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and so be transformed and made like
Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 3:12-18) “seeing then that we have such hope, we use
great boldness of speech. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that
the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is
abolished. But their minds were blinded; for until this day remains the save veil
untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in
Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when he shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the
Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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”.
The apostle Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus “for this cause I bow my knees
to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and
earth is named. That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to
be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in
your hearts by faith; that you. Being rooted and grounded in love. May be able to
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height. And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be
filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19).
Remember that our outward man is decaying, but our inner man is being renewed
(II Corinthians 4:14-16) “knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall
raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for
your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many
abound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day”.
Romans 8:11 says “but if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you”.
Some people don’t think that a man can be transfigured, but Moses is our example
because after going up the mountain to be with God and he was given the ten
commandments, Exodus 34:29-30,32-35; it says “and it came to pass, when
Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’
hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of
his face shone while he talked with Him. And when Aaron and all the children of
Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come
near him. And afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them in
commandment all that the Lord Yahweh had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And
till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when
Moses went in before the Lord Yahweh to speak with Him, he took the veil off, until
he came out. And he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel that which he
was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin
of Moses’ face shone; and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in
to speak with Him”.
Jesus tells us to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16) “you are the
salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It
is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of
men. You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and
it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.
The apostle John writes in I John 3:1-3 “behold, what manner of love the Father
has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the
world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it does 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. And every man that
has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure”.
This sounds like Philippians 3:20-21 which says “for our conversation is in
heaven; from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to His glorious body, according
to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself”.
The best news is that as we are washed by the water of the word, we are changed
from glory to glory. God have done His part, and we have to believe it and receive
it.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 26, 2011
