LESSON FOURTEEN
TRANSFORMATION

2 Cor. 3:17 And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18 But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.

TRANSFORMATION BEING THE METABOLIC FUNCTION OF THE LIFE

Transformation is not an outward change or correction but the metabolic function of the life of God in the believers. Transformation is not to make some corrections from without; it is the function of metabolism from within and is manifested without. Suppose a person is undernourished and appears thin and sickly. He cannot improve by merely applying some powder to his face. Rather, he needs to be supplemented with nutrition; then his physical condition will improve and his facial color will spontaneously become rosy.

If the believers are willing to grow in the divine life, the element of the divine life will in-crease in them and bring forth a metabolic change. Thus, their inward disposition will be trans-formed, and their outward image will also be transformed to be the same as the image of the Lord. (The Organic Aspect of God’s Salvation, pp. 52-53)

In the process of metabolism a new element is supplied to an organism. This new element replaces the old element and causes it to be discharged. Therefore, as the process of metabolism takes place within a living organism, something new is created within it to replace the old element, which is carried away. Metabolism, therefore, includes three matters: first, the supplying of a new element; second, the replacing of the old element with this new element; and third, the dis-charge or the removal of the old element so that something new may be produced.

The digestion and assimilation of the food we eat involves metabolism. First we take the food into our stomach. Then the food is digested metabolically to supply our being so that new elements may be added to replace the old and that new cells may be brought into being. Through this process of metabolism we grow and are strengthened. Also through proper metabolism we may be healed of certain illnesses. Constantly a healing is taking place in our physical bodies through the process of metabolism. This healing is not caused by medicine given by a physician; it is the healing that is caused by the proper functioning of the body itself. Daily by the process of metabolism we can experience healing. (Life-study of 2 Corinthians, p. 202)

By Turning to the Lord and Beholding Him with an Unveiled Face

If we desire to have this kind of transformation, we must first remove the various kinds of veils of our old concepts by turning to the Lord (2 Cor. 3:16) and by beholding Him with an un-veiled face and reflecting His glory like a mirror (v. 18). In this way we are being transformed into the same image as the Lord from one level of glory to another level of glory for His expression.

By Being Transformed into the Same Image as the Lord

It is from the Lord Spirit, that is, from Christ as the life-giving Spirit, that the believers are being transformed into the same image as the Lord. This Spirit contains the bountiful supply to be our new element. We must enjoy the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and allow Him to work in us, and then we will experience transformation.

Suppose you and another brother live together. Every day that brother has morning revival, prays, reads the Bible, and meditates on the Lord’s word. After a period of time, you will surely notice some transformation in him.

We have a spirit in us and the Lord as the Spirit dwelling in our spirit is very near to us. You can talk with Him and confer with Him in everything. The Lord’s Word says, “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Hence, if you have some problem, you just need to tell Him. He is right within you, and He is with you face to face. The Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit—is in us not to trouble us but to be our Paraclete, Comforter, Supporter. …Thus, you receive the Lord’s element into you and metabolism will work constantly in you. Consequently, what is expressed through you outwardly is Christ. This is to live Christ. Actually, you just need to practice speaking with the Lord constantly; then spontaneously you will live Christ. (The Organic Aspect of God’s Salvation, pp. 52-55)

By The Mingling of Humanity with Divinity

In our transfer from Adam to Christ, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the old teaching to the new teaching, and from the Old Testament ministry to the New Testament ministry, the divine element was added into our being. Now the mingling together of these two elements has produced the metabolic result of transformation. The way the divine element is constantly added into us is by our beholding and reflecting the Lord with an unveiled face. This is why we need to have morning watch each day. Following morning watch, throughout the day we still need to behold and reflect the Lord who is the life-giving Spirit. As the life-giving Spirit, He gives us freedom. As we behold and reflect, we receive the divine element which results in transformation.

TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF THE GLORIFIED CHRIST

We are being transformed into the image of the glorified Christ. Our image, which is the expression of what we are, becomes the same as the glorified Christ. He is holy and we are also holy. He is loving and we are loving. He is patient and we are also patient. He is full of dignity and so are we. This is the growth in life by transformation.

Transformation is from the Lord Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). The compound title Lord Spirit refers to one person. Today, our Triune God is the Lord Spirit. It is from Him that transformation, the mingling of divinity with our humanity, issues forth.

In summary, transformation is to receive the divine element into our being by beholding and reflecting the Lord, which causes a metabolic process to occur. This metabolic process is transformation, the mingling of humanity with divinity, to express the same image of the glorious Christ who is the God-man. (The Experience and Growth in Life, p. 115)

References: The Organic Aspect of God’s Salvation, ch. 4; Life-study of 2 Corinthians, msg. 23; The Experience and Growth in Life, msg. 17; The Secret of God’s Organic Salvation: ‘The Spirit Himself with Our Spirit,’ ch. 3.