Transformed

OM 12:2{The word here translated " transformed " is only found four times in the New Testament. It is used both in Matthew and Mark to describe the change in the appearance of our blessed Lord on the mountain when " His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light." In these places it is rendered " transfigured." It is met with finally in 2 Cor. 3:18¹⁸But 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. (2 Corinthians 3:18), where it is given as " changed." Who can doubt'' that there is an intended connection between these Scriptures? When the Lord was " transfigured " on the mount, God showed out, in anticipation, the glorified state on which His beloved Son would enter after His death and resurrection. (See John 17:5⁵And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5).) But we believers shall, by His grace, be glorified together with Him: see John 17:22²²And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22); Rom. 8:17¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17), etc., from which Scriptures we learn how this will be accomplished. Rom. 12:2²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2) teaches that it is, first of all, a moral work within-a spiritual change effected by the renewing of our mind.. From 2 Cor. 3:18¹⁸But 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. (2 Corinthians 3:18) we gather that while Christ in glory is the model to which we are to be conformed (compare John 17:19¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19); Rom. 8:29²⁹For 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. (Romans 8:29)), it is by beholding His glory that we are gradually " transfigured—from glory to glory—into the same image. God thus uses by the Holy Spirit the glory of the Lord to change us morally into the likeness of His beloved Son. But, as 1 John 3:2²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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. (1 John 3:2) tells us, we shall not be like Him until we see Him as He is. We wait, therefore, until His coming for the full accomplishment of the counsels of God, when our bodies as well as our souls will be conformed to the image of His Son (Phil. 3:21²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)). In the meantime our moral growth hi His likeness will be in proportion to our present occupation with Him in the place where He is.

" And is it so? I shall be like Thy Son;
' Is this the grace which He for me hath won?
Father of glory, thought beyond all thought,
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought,"