Author Archives: Dan Lemburg

About Dan Lemburg

Hi I'm Dan, I'll update this bio info soon.

Gone to Flying!

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In the New Testament, the term used for transformed is a Greek word from which our English word metamorphosis comes. It means radical change from one form to another. Probably the most common example of such change in the natural world is the striking metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly—a transformation so radical that it is entirely inexplicable. The caterpillar takes on an amazing new form as the result of metamorphosis. Not only is the butterfly a much more beautiful creature, but it also behaves differently. No longer is it confined to merely crawling around; now it can fly!

Well, it’s not too hard to see how such a dramatic transformation might apply to our initiation as that “new creature” in Christ.(2 Corinthians 5:17) But it’s a little more difficult to understand how the concept of metamorphosis might apply to a change in our character. Just how are we “transformed by the renewing of our mind?” And more puzzling yet, how is it that our old self can co-exist right alongside our dynamic new self? Yet this is nothing more than the core question we’ve been grappling with right along, isn’t it?

Our old self doesn’t simply evaporate once we’re saved. It hangs on, not only as an ever-present reminder of our humanity but as an impediment to our spiritual growth as well. So this can’t help but raise a legitimate question: if we can never altogether get rid of the old self, how can we ever claim to be genuinely transformed?

Interestingly, the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into the butterfly sheds some light here. You see, though radically changed, the genetic make-up of the butterfly hasn’t changed at all; it still retains the DNA of the caterpillar. In like manner, our life now rooted in the new self maintains the stamp of our humanity. But we’ve gone to flying instead of merely being limited to crawling around!

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

Proven Character

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When the topic of transformation in our life comes up, we typically think in terms of something much less extreme than what God has in mind. In our humanity we resist genuine change, simply as a matter of course. We cling to doing things our own way because the crux of the matter is our self-will. So when sin crops up, we react by trying to patch it up in one way or another, rather than taking the time and effort to get to the root of the problem.

We behave this way because it’s painful to root sin out. Yes, we want to change; at least we give lip-service to it. But when it comes right down to it, we usually are more comfy staying right where we are—superficial change, yes; genuine transformation, no.

 

 

 

Scripture makes it very clear that God is interested in something a whole lot deeper. He wants to live His life in and through us, to bring us to a place of spiritual health and maturity where He can use our life to radically impact the world. And it’s impossible for Him to do this without first transforming our character through the renewing of our mind.

What  character have to do with it? Well, the definition of character largely answers that question. Character in the Greek means proof of genuineness, trustworthiness. It’s not surprising, then, to find it translated in at least one place as “proven character.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Character Formation

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A common byproduct of redemption is the supernatural healing of oppression or addiction. In one form or another, many of us have experienced such deliverance (as we often call it) from the ways of our old life. And deliverance is not limited to our new-birth experience alone; it can happen even long after we’re saved. So we shouldn’t ever stop seeking such miraculous intervention by God.

But what’s frustrating is the fact that we can’t pick and choose which of our weaknesses will be healed in this manner. That’s because God has a plan—a plan revolving around His purpose for us. It’s a plan that is not only a whole lot different but also far less comfortable than what we might choose if we had the chance.

What I’m referring to here is actually an entirely different kind of change in us; it’s what Paul is referring to when he says, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”(Romans 12:2) To better understand what he means by this, we need to remember that the mind (and thus the renewal of our mind) doesn’t merely mean the physical mind, but rather the inner man—the immaterial part of our nature as it interacts with the physical mind.

What he’s describing here is a type of change that God employs far more commonly than the instantaneous kind. It’s a transformational change in our character, change which invariably is a more prolonged, arduous and painful solution to the problem of our weaknesses. Yet as annoying as this approach might seem, it is ultimately far more productive when the entire scope of God’s purpose is taken into account.

Seeds of Transformation

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Isn’t God’s plan of redemption incredible? In Him we enjoy all the advantages of absolute security. As the old hymn says, He is our refuge and our strength. But even so, we must not let it stop there, for the Lord has called us to even greater purpose—wholehearted submission to His will.

Such intentional commitment to Him demands that our life be squarely aimed at two very important targets: to serve Him in whatever capacity He desires, and to embrace spiritual growth through personal transformation. Dedication toward the pursuit of these goals provides the catalyst for bearing “much fruit.” And because these objectives are intended to compliment each other, we can’t be truly effective in one without the other.

Yet personal transformation is the key to serving God with a whole heart, so we must ask a very important question: What does it mean to be transformed? Is this the change that takes place instantaneously when we’re saved? Yes, in one very real sense it is, since being born again results in a dynamic transformation of our life. How could being brought from death to life—from the domain of darkness to being firmly planted in Christ’s kingdom—be anything but utterly transformational? Still, there’s a whole lot more to it than that.

Law of the Spirit

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“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2) is an unalterable spiritual law. In Christ we are no longer condemned for sin. Rather, sin itself has become the culprit worthy of condemnation

The bottom line is that we need to start behaving like dead men—dead to law, that is (and as a consequence, dead to sin). This extraordinary life as believers is all about faith in what Jesus has done, regardless of the weakness of our flesh. Paul’s admonition in Colossians 2:6 says it all: “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

When we were steeped in sin, we freely received God’s gift of grace. Now that we are saved, our job is not to try to appease Him by attempting once again to keep the law, but to live out our lives daily walking in the grace He has so abundantly provided. Only then can we enjoy the confidence that we are truly living a life of godliness.

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

Take Care with Gifts

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Freedom from the power of sin is a phenomenal gift of God. But we need to be careful as we revel in it. Our death to sin, brought about by our freedom from law, has one purpose and one purpose only: that we might be endowed with the ability to pursue unfettered relationship with God—in spite of the weakness of our sinful nature.

Never is this freedom to be thought of as a license to sin. Rather, we have been joined to Christ “in order that we might bear fruit for God.”(Romans 7:4) The byproduct of being given this amazing privilege is that we now have the capacity to make good choices, whereas formerly we did not. We have freely and gloriously been given everything we need for our pursuit of Him.(2 Peter 1:3)

Visit to Israel

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I haven’t blogged the last few weeks because Karen and I took a trip to Israel. We were in the country for a little over two weeks. What a trip it was!

Two years ago good friends of ours emigrated to Israel and they now live in the Negev about 45 minutes south of Beer Sheva (Abraham’s old home town).We stayed with them from time to time and also traveled with them to Jerusalem and throughout Galilee. In all, driving about 2,000 miles, we saw almost every aspect of the land.

It was really wonderful to get a first-hand look at all I’ve learned about Israel over years of reading about it in the Bible. It certainly gives one a good sense of perspective when coming across names and places in the Word.

It is also truly amazing what the Jews have done to make their land fruitful. Everywhere we went we saw both new development and crops blanketing the landscape. It leaves no doubt in one’s mind that God is up to something big, just as He predicted millennia ago through His prophets.

If you ever have a chance to go to the Holy Land, I encourage you to jump on the opportunity. You won’t be sorry you spent the time and the money–I guarantee it!

Set Free from Law

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In Romans 8:4 Paul talks about there being a “requirement of the Law,” meaning that the law obligates us to obey it in its entirety.(James 2:10) But God knows there is no possibility that we can ever obey His entire law. And since the punishment for failing to do so is spiritual death—separation from God—He had to provide a way to overcome this barrier. So, God’s solution was simply to take the law out of the way as it relates to our relationship with Him.

Paul further explains this truth in Romans 8:3-4: “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

The effect of having been set free from law—since punishment for breaking it is no longer imputed—is that we are in fact now no longer subject to the realm of the flesh, even though our flesh may continue to brutally oppress us.

Paul puts it this way in Romans 8:9-10: “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…If Christ is in you, though your body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Consequently the outcome for us—unbelievable as it may seem—is that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”(Romans 8:1-2)

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

No Separation from God

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Jesus took the punishment for our sin upon Himself, as a result freeing us from its inevitable consequence—separation from God. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Redeemer, a secure union is established with God. And since we have now been joined to Him by means of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we share in all the benefits that Jesus Himself experienced in His resurrection.(Romans 6:5)

The death and resurrection of Christ as it relates to our own death and life in Him is a constantly recurring theme throughout these chapters of Romans. Time and again he brings this issue to the forefront, because Paul knows that understanding this principle is absolutely vital to our spiritual progress.

At the very heart of this truth is the fact that freedom from the power of sin—our death to sin—is guaranteed by our death to law through Christ’s bodily death and resurrection.(Romans 6:14)

Thinking back to Paul’s example in the first few verses of Romans 7 of a married woman, one might say that Jesus was both the old husband (coming in the form of
sinful flesh, dying for sin to free from law), and the new husband (resurrected
to life in God, never to die again). Freedom is now the absolute reality of our
life in Christ because we are no longer bound by what Paul calls, “the law of sin and death.”(Romans 8:2)

 

New Testament Law

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What about the concept of law found in the New Testament? Have you ever considered how Jesus’ teaching might impact us in this regard? Time and again Jesus startled people because He seemed to be adding to what the Law of Moses said.

The truth is that much of His teaching holds far more stringent demands than anything contained in Old Testament law (take the Sermon on the Mount, for example).(Matthew 6,7 &8) Why? Because Jesus addresses the intentions and motives of the heart rather than emphasizing what we more commonly associate with law—that is, outward behavior.

So, at first blush it seems like Jesus heaps on more responsibility for conforming to God’s law rather than freeing us from it. How then can we say that we are free from the Law? The answer, of course, is that we have been set free in Christ, but this certainly can be a bit confusing when the issue of law continues to stare us in the face.(Romans 8:2)