In Creation

Many of God's creatures undergo a strange process which causes them to take on an entirely different appearance. In biology or zoology, the word used for this change is metamorphosis. Perhaps the most common of this wonder of God's creation is the caterpillar that changes to a butterfly. This biological word, metamorphosis, is a transliteration of the Greek word pronounced the same. It is found four times in the New Testament: twice in the epistles, where it is translated "transformed" and "changed."

In the Life of Jesus

In the parallel accounts of Matthew and Mark, the word is used to describe the change that took place in Christ on the so-called Mount of Transfiguration. In Matthew 17:2, we read, "And [Jesus] was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light." What Peter, James and John saw was a preview of the risen, glorified Christ as He will appear in the coming kingdom of His glory. Peter refers to the incident thus: "We . . . were eye witnesses of His Majesty . . . when we were with Him in the Holy Mount" (2 Peter 1:16-18).

Contrary to the change in God's creatures, the Lord Jesus reverted to His earthly appearance and would so remain until His resurrection from among the dead and the future manifestation of His glory. Jesus told His disciples upon coming down from the mount, "Tell the vision to no man until the Son of Man is risen again from the dead."

In the Believer

When one puts His trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is born again, or from above, or anew: he becomes a new creation in Christ (See 2 Cor. 5:17). This new creation manifests itself in a change so contrary to the unregenerate person who was dead in trespasses and sins. New creation implies new life in Christ, and this new life is Christ living in the believer. The apostle Paul speaks in Gal. 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." In Romans 12:2, he exhorts, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God." What a choice word this is for the truth the Holy Spirit wishes to press upon the believer! As unregenerate, worldly persons, we were conformed to this world. We were like the ugly caterpillar. But being born anew we are introduced to a complete change: we become a new creation in Christ. It is a change in the heart. In fact, we receive a new heart, a new and divine nature. And this change on the inside will be seen in a change on the outside in our daily practical living that, like the caterpillar, we are metamorphosed into a complete change. It is an attractive change, and one that pleases God and witnesses to men. The power to effect this change is the indwelling Spirit of God who produces the "fruit of the Spirit"; that is, the lovely qualities of Christ in us.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we have the same word and thought: "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." In conjunction with Romans 12:2, the Christian life now is to have a likeness to our resurrection life of Christ we possess. When converted there should be a change in our life and conduct as significant as the transfiguration appearance of Christ to His disciples. The more we behold His glory as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, sit at His feet and learn of Him through the Holy Spirit's teaching and thus have our minds renewed, the more we will be changed in moral character and conduct. "From glory to glory" suggests the continuous progress in our growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This will then be displayed as the "butterfly" character of the resurrection life we possess—all for His eternal glory and praise.