A Look At The Word "Transformed"

The word “transformed” is from the Greek word “metamorphoo,” (to transform or change into another form) and is found only in Romans 12:2 and two of the gospels. In the gospel accounts (Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2), the term is used with regard to the transfiguration of Jesus.

The story is told of a Christian man who wanted to teach his young daughters about the term “transformed“ and how a Christian is to be inwardly “transformed” from the world. So, he placed a green garden worm into a jar. Not too long after, the worm spun itself into a cocoon, staying there several days.

One morning, as the man and his daughters looked into the jar, there was a very beautiful butterfly in place of the ugly worm. The girls were so impressed by his illustration, that they filled the whole house with jars with worms in them.

When we are "baptized into Christ" (Gal. 3:26-27), we are transformed or changed from the “old man” of sin (the ugly worm – Romans 6:6) into a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) or a  “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17; cf. Romans 8:8-9; Gal. 2:20) or a “new man” (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10); i.e., a beautiful butterfly – a Christian (Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:14-16).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets