If you ever feel down because someone you love seems to be unwilling to turn from their unhelpful lifestyle, there is good news. Anyone can be changed if they want to be changed! That thought came into my mind today as I listened to a sermon on the Transfiguration of Christ.
We read about the transfiguration of Christ in Matthew 17 verse 2, “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” It was the unveiling of the majestic glory of Jesus as the veil was lifted briefly to enable the disciples to behold His pre-existent glory. Jesus had prayed knowing that His life was coming to an end, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:5.
Jesus had come into the world in a humble form as St Paul showed in Philippians 2 verses 5 to 7, 5 “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” The word for “form” here in both instances is the Greek word [μορφή, morphē] meaning shape, nature, form.
However in the transfiguration Jesus was changed and the disciples for a short time saw His pre-existent glory. The word for “transfigured “ in Matthew 17 verse 2 is [μεταμορφόω metamorphoō] to transform, change, transfigure. Christ‘s appearance was changed and the disciples witnessed His pre-existent glory. This would mean so much to them soon after when Jesus was crucified in what appeared to be human weakness.
But here is the good news! There is another transfiguration or transformation in the New Testament. It Is the transformation of believers into the likeness of Christ. St Paul used the same word for this transformation in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Humans can be changed! They can become different! But how?
St Paul describes the process in 2 different ways, though really they are the same.
[i] In this passage it is by continually beholding the glory of the Lord. That means as believers focussing on Who Jesus is and on His revelation of Himself described in the scriptures. The more we come to know and understand the Person and the meaning of the ministry of Jesus, the closer we become to wearing His likeness in our daily lives. The more we absorb this enlightenment and act on it, the more that truth transforms us. This ongoing gradual transformation is wrought in us by the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
[ii] The second process is described in Romans 12 verse 2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” It is being transformed from conformity with the world’s values, standards and ways of doing things, to being in and doing the will of God. This is “good and acceptable and perfect” in the sight of God.
This process comes about as we allow our minds to be continually renewed as we read and act on the truths of God’s word. [“Be transformed“ here is present tense, passive, meaning allow yourself to be continually transformed by the renewing of your mind. In that way as we face the testing that the different circumstances and opinions that life brings upon us, we can learn to discern the will of God and discover that it is good and acceptable and perfect.
Summing up we can say that no human is beyond the grace of God if they are willing to change direction by turning from the world’s values and thinking, to the possibility of becoming a new creature in Christ . As St Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
This is a fulfilment of a prophecy of Ezekiel, Ezk 18:31 “Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?” The new spirit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit who by the grace of God comes to indwell every person who opens their life to Jesus.
Blog No. 589 posted on Sunday 15 February 2026. [Transfiguration Sunday.]
About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
589. Anyone Can Be Transformed If They Desire To Be Changed! Transfiguration Sunday.
If you ever feel down because someone you love seems to be unwilling to turn from their unhelpful lifestyle, there is good news. Anyone can be changed if they want to be changed! That thought came into my mind today as I listened to a sermon on the Transfiguration of Christ.
We read about the transfiguration of Christ in Matthew 17 verse 2, “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” It was the unveiling of the majestic glory of Jesus as the veil was lifted briefly to enable the disciples to behold His pre-existent glory. Jesus had prayed knowing that His life was coming to an end, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:5.
Jesus had come into the world in a humble form as St Paul showed in Philippians 2 verses 5 to 7, 5 “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” The word for “form” here in both instances is the Greek word [μορφή, morphē] meaning shape, nature, form.
However in the transfiguration Jesus was changed and the disciples for a short time saw His pre-existent glory. The word for “transfigured “ in Matthew 17 verse 2 is [μεταμορφόω metamorphoō] to transform, change, transfigure. Christ‘s appearance was changed and the disciples witnessed His pre-existent glory. This would mean so much to them soon after when Jesus was crucified in what appeared to be human weakness.
But here is the good news! There is another transfiguration or transformation in the New Testament. It Is the transformation of believers into the likeness of Christ. St Paul used the same word for this transformation in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Humans can be changed! They can become different! But how?
St Paul describes the process in 2 different ways, though really they are the same.
[i] In this passage it is by continually beholding the glory of the Lord. That means as believers focussing on Who Jesus is and on His revelation of Himself described in the scriptures. The more we come to know and understand the Person and the meaning of the ministry of Jesus, the closer we become to wearing His likeness in our daily lives. The more we absorb this enlightenment and act on it, the more that truth transforms us. This ongoing gradual transformation is wrought in us by the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
[ii] The second process is described in Romans 12 verse 2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” It is being transformed from conformity with the world’s values, standards and ways of doing things, to being in and doing the will of God. This is “good and acceptable and perfect” in the sight of God.
This process comes about as we allow our minds to be continually renewed as we read and act on the truths of God’s word. [“Be transformed“ here is present tense, passive, meaning allow yourself to be continually transformed by the renewing of your mind. In that way as we face the testing that the different circumstances and opinions that life brings upon us, we can learn to discern the will of God and discover that it is good and acceptable and perfect.
Summing up we can say that no human is beyond the grace of God if they are willing to change direction by turning from the world’s values and thinking, to the possibility of becoming a new creature in Christ . As St Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
This is a fulfilment of a prophecy of Ezekiel, Ezk 18:31 “Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?” The new spirit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit who by the grace of God comes to indwell every person who opens their life to Jesus.
Blog No. 589 posted on Sunday 15 February 2026. [Transfiguration Sunday.]
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.