Changed By The Word and The Spirit

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:17-18 (KJV) emphasis mine

This passage reminds me of Zechariah 4:6 that says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

When we put these scriptures together, we find out that we can’t change ourselves, just like we couldn’t save ourselves. It must be a work of the Holy Spirit, and not a work of our flesh. Trying to change ourselves will only result in failure and frustration. However, as we yield, or say yes to, the Spirit of God, He changes us. The question is, how does He do it?

Our above noted scripture from II Corinthians tells us that the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word as a mirror (see also James 1:25 and James 2:12). As we look into God’s Word daily, the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of God’s Word to us, and reveals the truth about us. He brings liberty to us, changing us by the Spirit and the Word.

And the more we are exposed to the glory of His presence, the more change takes place in us- and we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. Being Christ-like means we resemble Jesus in every way, thinking, talking, and acting like the Lord. An example of this transformation is seen in Matthew 17:1-8, where Jesus is transfigured by God’s glory. This gives us a glimpse of the glory Jesus had with the Father in eternity past, and the glory we will have with Him for all eternity.

The Holy Spirit and the Word transforms us until we look, sound, and act the same as Christ. How glorious to be just like Jesus!