TRANSFERRED AND TRANSFORED - J. C. O'Hair

 
TRANSFERRED AND TRANSFORMED

Pastor J. C. O’Hair

In Colossians 1:12 and 13 we learn that believers give thanks unto God because God has qualified them for heaven, delivered them from the power of darkness and translated them into Christ’s kingdom. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12 to 14).
“Translated” is the Greek, “methistano,” which means “transferred.” From the power of darkness into Christ’s kingdom is a real “transfer.” It means the same as I Corinthians 6:11, “But ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified.”
Note how this change is stated in Ephesians 5:8 - 2:13 and I Thessalonians 1:9 and 10. “For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” “But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” “How ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
“Turned to God from idols” is a great change. The word “turned” in the Greek is “epistrepho,” the same word used in Acts 26:18, “turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God.” This word means to convert. The noun “epistrophe” means conversion. When a sinner receives Christ, he becomes a new creation. (II Corinthians 5:17); God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus, unto good works.” (Ephesians 2:10).
Believers are converted and transferred, brought from afar off to God by the blood of Christ. Out of darkness into light is indeed a transfer. Read this change in I Peter 2:9, “out of darkness into His MARVELOUS light.”
“To wait for God’s Son from heaven.” Then we shall be like Him, and shall have bodies like Christ’s own glorified body. (I John 3:1 to 3 - Philippians 3:21). “Who shall change (metaschematizo) our body of humiliation;” “fashioned (summorphos) like unto His body of glory.” (Philippians 3:21).
But here is God’s revealed mystery, or secret, for members of Christ’s Body: “We shall not all sleep.” “We shall not all die.” “But we shall all be CHANGED (allasso).” We shall be different. (I Corinthians 15:51 to 54).
The “TRANSLATED” in Hebrews 11:5 is a different Greek word, “metatithemi.” Note what happened to Enoch. “By faith Enoch was TRANSLATED that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had TRANSLATED him: for before his TRANSLATION he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5).
Enoch was transformed or transfigured at the time he was transferred from earth to heaven. Enoch walked with God and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24).
Saints who are alive and remain here until Christ descends from heaven will be caught up in glorified bodies. (I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18).
Then Christ will present the Church unto Himself a glorious, holy Church, without spot or blemish. (Ephesians 5:26 and 27).
Transferred and Transformed tells the story. Some Christians experience three great changes. First, As “dead sinners” they receive Christ and by grace become “living saints.” They pass out of death into life. (John 5:24 - John 11:25 - Ephesians 2:5 and 6 - Colossians 2:13.). Then they depart to be with the Lord. (Philippians 1:21 to 25). Then they will be the dead in Christ who rise first. (I Thessalonians 4:15 to 18). Many saints will be here when Christ comes for His Church. They will have experienced the first change and will experience the third change but not the second.

 

Posted By – Cecil Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

 

If you are blessed by this Bible Messages  please E-mail it to your friends.