Christian brothers and sisters what do you think of this statement?

Question

" There are no shortcuts to transformation"

In the same way there are no shortcuts to growing in the human life.
Its because we went through each age and stage of the human life that we have transformed from being a baby to an adult.
This process came about through the hard and easy times... but because it was genuine it took time.
The goal in our Christian life inwardly is to be transformed in our emotion mind and will of our soul. Our soul was damaged because of the fall, it became the Self, very independent from God. Insteading of Living from our spirit as God intended.. man began to live according to the " Soul life" instead.
Learning to live according to the spirit comes about by the transformation of our soul, beginning with the renewing of our mind.
We cannot fast forward it. But we can give the Lord our top cooperation as He works and Wills His Good pleasure.
This transformation ends with us being conformed to the image of Christ.
Your thoughts on this

Your sister

Hello there Brother Jed:)
Sorry for all the seeming confusion.
I'll email you some verses that make reference to all that you asked:)
Your sis
sandy

Answer 1

Sis,

It is a growing, learning process.

One of my favorite passages for growth is:

2Pe 1:1-11 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace to all.

Answer 2

Are we in charge of our transformation? I have seen some people that were radically transformed by God over night, yes, it can happen! However, no one is perfect and the *process* of sanctification(being made pure and holy into the image of Christ) is life long while we are here on Earth, but will be already complete in Glory.

You express a dicotomy in you belief system of how a Chrisitan, or anyone for that matter is made up. I believe a man's(or woman's) spirit is seperate from his soul. The spirit is where communion with God, the Holy Spirit, takes place and it is also the womb through which is birthed the fruit of the Spirit(Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control). Again, it usually takes time but the more we surrender our mind, will, and emotion( the soul) over to God, the more the fruit of the spirit will be made manifest.

To answer your question, there are no short-cuts unless God makes one for us; in order to catch up to a certain point that we're supposed to be so we can fulfill His purposes.

Answer 3

I wish I knew what you meant by 'shortcut', here. I do know that Ist Corinthians Chapter 15, especially 44-58 and very specifically v51&52 tell me more about what you are sharing:

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This speaks of instantaneous transformation. Not necessairly a 'shortcut' to transformation. By the way Jesus is the 'shortcut' for me. Without my Wayshower, it's a very long and in some religions impossible movement.

I do like: be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds. That to me speaks of swiftness or slowness, depending upon my free-will choice.

What is long and tedious to mankind may be simply a 'nano-second' in the Mind of God.

Interesting Q. thx :)

Answer 4

I'm not sure if I totally agree with every single point in your Question but I would concur with your statement that there are no shortcuts to change. The truth is that Christians are sinful creatures. Although true Christians are free from the bondage and enslavement of sin, there is still sin that dwells within us. The Apostle Paul said in the book of Romans "I do what I don't want to do and I don't do what I want to do." The process of putting indwelling sin to death is called sanctification. There is no quick and easy way to do this. I wish there were but there isn't. There is no book or conference that will provide a shortcut. The process is accomplished through active daily obedience to Christ, trust in God's grace, partnership with other Christians around you, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

Well, it's not a very good fit for Christianity, which is, of course, all about having a shortcut.

I fully agree that there are no shortcuts to transformation. People want a dramatic life-changing moment. Generally lives are changed only over a long period of time. They want to have wisdom but generally aren't willing to put in the time, effort and discipline required and instead choose to just hang around people who like to talk about wisdom and spirituality. The creationists here are the obvious example of that - hardly any have made any effort at all to understand the world around them, and yet they want us to respect their beliefs about that world.

Respect, wisdom, and transformation are all earned, and time, effort and discipline are required.

Answer 6

Sure there is; ONE-JESUS! The word tells us that we ARE new creatures in Christ JESUS; old things HAVE PASSED AWAY, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW!
When one speaks of growing in the things of GOD, really your talking about submission.
In another place the Word tells us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Joshua1:8, points out the challenge with most believers; That is to MEDITATE upon the Word DAY AND NIGHT, that we may observe to do accordingly; having THEN good success!

Answer 7

I can agree, but the fourth paragraph, using different terminology confuses. Because of different terms or definitions, it may or may not be true. The soul became the self? Where is THAT in the Bible? Have I missed something? Maybe I've just grown totally confused now. Soul life?
Fallen nature isn't that the way the Bible puts it?

Answer 8

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your REASONABLE service, And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD ; But be ye transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may PROVE what is that good, acceptable, perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1,2

As Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it : THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD. THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A glorious CHURCH, NOT HAVING SPOT, OR WRINKLE, OR any such thing ; BUT THAT IT should be holy AND WITHOUT BLEMISH.
Ephesians 5 : 25 - 27

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1st. Peter 1 : 23

Till we all come in the UNITY of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the stature OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST.

Ephesians 4:13

Sooo many in the " Valley of Decision ".......

Answer 9

Absolutly!

The Christian life is a continuing journey, as seen here:

Philippians 3:12 (New International Version)

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Answer 10

Very true Sandy. Expierience is the best teacher. a believer w/the Holy Spirit inside them is in tune to learn as they go on. It's either going backward or forward. there's no in between.