The Bible transforms lives

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Paul reminded the Corinthians of that truth: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). What is the “mirror” he speaks of? Scripture. James wrote, “If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was” (James 1:23, 24). 

How do we become transformed to be like Christ? As we see the glory of Jesus Christ revealed in the mirror of Scripture, the Spirit of God transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ. That is the master key to spiritual growth.

The Puritan Philip Henry wrote:

Conversion turns us to the Word of God, as our touchstone, to examine ourselves . . . as our glass, to dress by (James 1); as our rule to walk and work by (Galatians 6:16); as our water, to wash us (Psalm 119:9); as our fire to warm us (Luke 24); as our food to nourish us (Job 23:12); as our sword to fight with (Ephesians 6); as our counselor, in all our doubts (Psalm 119:24); as our cordial, to comfort us; as our heritage, to enrich us.

The Bible transforms lives. Paul encouraged the Ephesians to be renewed in the spirit of their minds (Ephesians 4:23). In Romans 12:2 he said that the renewing of our minds transforms us. Even as believers, we need to let the Word change us. We do not become perfect when we become believers. The Holy Spirit still has a lot to do to mold us into Christlikeness. We still struggle with our old sinful patterns of living (Romans 7:15-25). Only through filling our minds with the Word and living in obedience to its principles can those patterns be changed.

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1991). The keys to spiritual growth: unlocking the riches of god. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.


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