Page 110 - GRACE
P. 110

Expressions of Grace



                                      righteousness, whose end will be according to
                                      their works.”


                               Change  by  self  is  external  only.  Internally,  there  is  no
                               change. The change is in appearance and not in nature. It is
                               intended  to  deceive  the  public,  to  mislead  those  who
                               observe and those who follow the person. This change has
                               no divine stamp of approval on it. No matter how men
                               embrace or celebrate the one who has this type of change,
                               he is not accepted in the sight of God. Remember, God
                               looks  beyond  the  outward  appearance.  He  looks  on  the
                               heart.  Change  by  self  does  not  impress  God  at  all.  If
                               anything, it draws the ire and wrath of God, because it seeks
                               to deceive.


                               iii.   Change by God/Grace (Greek – Metamorphousthe,
                                      which  is  “to  transfigure’,  a  radical  change  in  the
                                      inner man that starts internally, and is not initiated by
                                      self but by the inner working of the Holy Spirit,
                                      something divinely allowed and is at work in the life
                                      of  the  believer.  Read  the  text  again  with  this
                                      understanding:


                                      “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  ser vice.  And  do  not  be
                                      [Suschematizoto]  this  world,  but  be
                                      [Metamorphousthe]  by  the  renewing  of  your



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