The Trifecta and holiness. Romans 12.1-2

Not Tribeca in New York City where JFK Jr. lived, but Trifecta. The trifecta is the key to holiness that we have been talking about in these first verses of Romans 12.

In one sentence, Paul moves from ‘well, I do not really understand God’s ways, but I know his ways are great, and that everything finds its origin in him’, therefore, God is deserving of our worship—and our greatest act of worship is giving ourselves to him—as people who live holy lives, pleasing to God. (v.1)

The question is, ‘how do we become holy?’ I suggested that ‘There is this divine, supernatural thing that goes on . . . kinda’ like a joint venture between the Holy Spirit, the Scripture and you. A transaction if you will . . . a trifecta (where three elements come together at the same time) that allows us to become holy. Remember--we are commanded to ‘Be holy, even as God is holy.’ Here’s what it looks like:

There is the start of our relationship of faith in Jesus Christ—and then:

->God’s Word, (understanding God’s standards and his great LOVE for us!)

->God uses the Holy Spirit within us to facilitate the process

->The more we sense God’s presence in our lives, the greater our desire to please God . . .

But holiness while living in the world is an uphill battle. Christians must see things clearly, being aware that we are somewhat like aquarium fish, meant only for saltwater tanks, yet currently swimming in a fresh water tank. We are choked for oxygen, which only comes from the Creator; we are malnourished because we have a steady diet from our empty culture, rather than spiritual food. On top of that, we live in a world that has become quite opposed to the ways of God, and we have been lulled to sleep, not even seeing how the world’s upside down priorities have shaped us.

That is why Paul said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world . . .” I like how the Phillips Translations puts it, “Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold . . What does the world’s mold look like? What does it do? I think the mold of the world can make us: self-centered, self-focused, self-possessed, driven by wrong values, given to rationalization, given to comparison, listen to wrong voices, give heed to cultural mores rather than God’s rules, unaware of real truth, pander to the wrong people, pay homage to godless individuals and institutions, desire things we were meant to have, envy and covet, feel like we need to be busy, because it makes us feel vital and look important. I don’t want to be mold-y.

Back to our text: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12.2 If we conform to the pattern of this world, we are letting the world shape us; but Paul tells us we have a choice—we can choose to be transformed. The Greek word for “transformed” is ‘metamorphoo’—the same word used for metamorphosis. Most are familiar with this word—and that it implies process. The growth and maturation process of a butterfly includes egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to voila—butterfly! I would rather be a butterfly than stuck in a chrysalis, and yet, how many of us are stuck in a chrysalis in our spiritual lives, when God has so much more for us?!

Yesterday, someone said to me on the phone, “Christine, you have told us that all it takes to know Christ is to accept who he is and what he has done—by faith. But really, that’s not true—there’s so much more!” To which I say, ‘Well, yes and yes. True, faith makes you a Christian, but the joy and fulfillment comes in growing in our faith—and yes, that does involve more.’ See, Paul told us back in his letter to the Corinthians that, ‘anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old has gone; a new life has begun!’* James taught us that we are saved by faith, BUT if our faith is real, it will produce growth—it will produce fruit or works! Personally, I do not want to be someone destined to be a beautiful butterfly but stuck in the body of a caterpillar! I want to stretch and grow and think and be challenged and fly! I want to play a vital part of the Trifecta that will transform me into something holy and pleasing to God. Amen.

Christine

*2 Corinthians 5.17