222 Philippians: Extreme Makeover, pt. 1

Makeover shows have been exceedingly popular television viewing for decades. Do you remember the show, “Extreme Makeover”? They took ordinary people and completely changed their appearance. The transformations were astonishing!

While we may never be the recipient of that kind of makeover, the Bible says that an extreme makeover is possible for those who place their faith in Christ. Not only is such transformation possible, it’s expected!

But the changes Jesus wants to make are not necessarily on the outside. They are on the inside…where it matters most.

The Apostle Paul talked about this a lot, telling us that God’s plan for us to be to “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29), to be “transformed into His likeness” (2 Cor. 3:18). And in Philippians 2, he writes: “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling...” (vs. 12)

Notice he doesn’t say “work for your salvation,” or “work to keep your salvation.” He says “work out your salvation.” There are aspects of our maturity that require our involvement and effort.

God does what we cannot do; but He will not do what we are to do.

Verse 13 says that God is not only cheering us on in this transformation process, but He is helping us. If we hope to become more loving, more patient, more gentle, or more self-controlled, it will require the dual partnership of us working with God as He does His work in us.

Elsewhere, Paul uses sports to illustrate the idea of working out our salvation. He says that in the same way that an athlete goes into training in order to win the prize, so we should “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim. 4:7).

Spiritual transformation is not a matter of trying harder, but of training wisely.

How do you go into this kind of training? Well, there are some classic training techniques for spiritual transformation. They are known as the spiritual disciplines, such as: Bible study, prayer, Scripture memory, community, accountability, worship, and service.

These disciples are themselves indicators of maturity. Rather, they are the means to spiritual maturity.

An extreme makeover really is possible if you are willing to rearrange your life around those activities that enable you to receive power and life from God.

Text: Philippians 2:12-13

Originally recorded on September 7, 2008, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN