Transformed (Romans 12:1-8)

Transformers is a media franchise that includes toys, animated television shows, comics and movies which feature robots in disguise. These robots have the ability to change or transform into other things such as cars, airplanes, animals and even dinosaurs. Transformers began with a line of toys in the mid-1980s that you could change from their robot form into a car or plane and then back again. In the years since Transformers first appeared, various series of toys have been produced, from some that are very simple to transform to others that are very complicated. They all have kept the same idea: that there is more than meets the eye as the Transformers change from one form to another.

The verses of this week’s New Testament reading, Romans 12:1-8, are an important transition in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the early church in Rome. To this point in his letter, Paul has been explaining the significance and importance of the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Chapters 1 to 11 of Romans are the most systematic explanation we have from Paul of the gospel as he talks about sin, God’s grace in Jesus and how new life is available to all people. In the opening verses of Chapter 12, Paul turns his attention to the practical ways in which Christians can live out this good news in their relationships with each other and with the people around them.

He begins by encouraging the Roman Christians to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God as their spiritual act of worship (v1). Paul then writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (v2 NIV). As some Christian writers have stated, God accepts us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. Like a Transformer, God wants to change and transform us into the people he always intended us to be. He accepts and welcomes us as broken, messed up sinners, but he wants to transform us into people who reflect his goodness and glory to the world.

This means not being conformed “to the pattern of this world.” Instead of being shaped by the attitudes, values and behaviours of the world in which we live, God wants to change us to be more like his Son Jesus. The world shapes people in the mindset of focussing on ourselves and what we want, even if it comes at the expense of others and our relationships with others. This mindset can often lead us into worry, pride, insecurities or selfishness. God wants to re-shape our thinking through the Holy Spirit to be more like him. Paul talks about God “renewing” our minds, so we have a more Christ-like mindset. Instead of thinking just about ourselves, God wants to change our minds and our thinking, so they are directed towards him & his love for us in Jesus through faith, and towards the people around us in Christ-like love. This change in thinking gives us greater peace, patience, joy, hope and love. As God transforms our minds in faith towards him and love towards others, he liberates us from our negative patterns of thinking and renews our minds with more life-giving thinking.

This transformation isn’t something we can do ourselves. It can be sort of like a really complicated Transformers toy. Some have so many pieces that we need help to work out what piece goes where and how the different pieces need to move to fit in with the others around it to form the new shape. We need God to make the changes in us that God wants to see. God does this for us and in us by his grace to us in Jesus.

Paul uses the language of “being transformed” and not for us to transform ourselves. God transforms us by doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves through his grace and love in Jesus. In Romans 1:16 Paul writes that the Good News about Christ is the power of God at work in our lives. As we hear the message of Jesus, the life he lived on our behalf, the death he suffered in our place, and his resurrection from the dead to raise us to new life, the Holy Spirit works in us to change our thinking from the world’s pattern of selfish thinking towards the mindset of faith in Jesus and love for others. The Holy Spirit changes the way we think about God, ourselves and the people around us through the Gospel. The good news of God’s love for us in Jesus transforms us so we become more loving people. The message of God’s kindness to us in Jesus transforms us into people who are kinder in our words and actions. As we hear of God’s acceptance, patience & goodness to us through Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us to be more accepting of, patient with and good towards others. Transformation doesn’t come from us. It’s something God works in us through the Gospel of Jesus.

If we are looking for God to make this kind of transformation in us, the best place to start is with God’s Word and prayer. The stories of the Bible give us examples of the ways God changed people in Scripture such as Abraham, David, Peter, Paul, and so many more. When we hear the stories of Jesus, we can see the kind of people God is transforming us into as he changes us to become more like him. The Holy Spirit works through the words of the Bible and the good news they speak to us to renew our minds, give us a new way of thinking about God, ourselves and others, and shape our mindset to reflect the mind of Christ.

As we talk with God in prayer about our struggles and failures in living as his transformed people, as we ask for his grace and look for his help, the Spirit of God continues to transform us into the people he is calling us to be. Prayer is orienting our lives towards him, relying on him for what we need, trusting him with our deepest concerns and struggles, and staying connected with him in all things. These two key spiritual disciplines, listening to God’s Word and taking with him in prayer, are the ways that God has given us to remain connected with him so he can transform us more and more into the image of his Son as he renews our minds through the Gospel of Jesus.

So many people are finding that the pattern of this world doesn’t provide for the deeper needs of our souls. Conforming to the worldly pattern of “Me first” is leaving people worried, insecure, selfish or proud, and these are damaging our wellbeing and relationships. Paul teaches us not to be conformed to the “Me first” pattern of this world. Instead, God wants to transform us as he gives us new minds, new mindsets and new ways of thinking that trust Jesus in all things and loves the people around us. As God transforms us by renewing our minds, he will give us greater peace, joy, hope and love as his dearly loved and newly created people.

More to think about or discuss:

• What are some examples of worldly ways of thinking that you encounter? Do these ways of thinking help people find better lives? Give some reasons for your answer…
• What do you think Paul meant when he wrote about God transforming us by renewing our minds? What do you think that might look like in your life?
• How can regularly reading our Bibles & spending time in prayer help us to be transformed by the Holy Spirit?