Being transformed...

"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 by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is one of sanctification as well as conviction and comfort. One of the paradoxes of the Christian life is that we are all sinners, and yet Christ commanded us to "be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) The New Testament view of this process is NOT that we are passive and inert objects. We have the responsibility to cooperate with God. This requires great struggle, since we are all inclined to sin and selfishness. We are not saved because of our struggles -- salvation is by grace through faith, which is a gift from God. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Dirk