Transparent Christianity

The holiness of God in a believer by grace and ChristÂ’s blood is a transforming power that creates transparent saints. The very glory of His transforming grace is to make us His temple where men see the beauty of Christ instead of the ugliness of the flesh. Flesh is only ugly when sin shines and the Adamic nature rules. Look at the child that still possesses innocence and all you see is beauty. The smile, the cuteness, and the little mischievous antics are thrilling to behold. Children are totally transparent until sin begins to mar their creative beauty.

Our world has become a cesspool where most children have no chance of retaining their childlike purity. The loss of innocence in children is a national tragedy. Children are thrust into sex appeal dress styles before their little hearts can understand such thinking. Instead of a lifestyle for children, itÂ’s a beauty contest that leaves them vulnerable for exploitation. Why are parents so ignorant and our culture so crippled?

True Biblical Christianity is the only culture in the world that reflects the transparency that God has ordained for healthy, happy living. Our bodies were created for the glory of our Creator. We were formed in His image that living should be holy, pure, and a reflection of Him. We are just a little lower than the angels, and our lives were ordained to be so full of GodÂ’s character that the joy of living explodes from within. Joy cannot be an external matter. You cannot paint it on the face, wear it on the body, or find it in an emotion of pleasure.

Transparent Christianity is a Godly possession of us until He shines from within. Clean transparent living allows the beauty of Christ to flow out of us and in the process we are set on fire with the joy of His supernatural life. We do not possess Him as much of the church world seems to suggest; but, we have surrendered to Him to be possessed ourselves. All kinds of suggestions in todayÂ’s theology have the believers in charge of their destiny and Christ but a subject of our choices. ThatÂ’s not Biblical Christianity. The Christian life is surrender, clearly and simply, to Him where He becomes the center and the complete fullness. We give up ourselves to the fullness of Him and He takes possession.

Godliness that is born of the Spirit by the Word of God cleanses the flesh of all its selfishness, and, in the process, we become transparently pure. The face, the personality, and all habits are purified unto righteousness; His righteousness. The worldÂ’s beauty becomes crass and cheap and we easily discard it for the higher life. Jesus Christ, in possession of our inner life, is a miracle of heavenly beauty that frees the soul and spirit of the former nature. The world has forgotten how to trust God for the inner transformation of the new birth. Trying to put on Christ with our theological systems without an experience of Spirit empowerment can never change the person no matter how sincere their effort. Flesh can never change flesh in a spiritual sense.

The Spirit of God is the “change agent” of Biblical living. If we are willing, the Word of God will sanctify the flesh, strip it of all selfishness, and purify it unto transparency. Once the flesh has been surrendered to ultimate grace for cleansing and the soul of that person has become totally willing to follow through in devotion, the temple that is created to be a temple of God becomes a work of beauty. The Spirit was sent by the Father at the request of His Son to graft Jesus Christ in us. He can only shine through a transparent person. As long as flesh is the beautified object, transparency is impossible.

The Bible says, “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.” (II Corinthians 3:18). Our God desires to possess us and turn us into the image of His glory. He can only do this in a vessel that is willing to become transparent by His cleansing and stripping of self. The self-life leaves nothing but flesh to be visible, but the Spirit-filled life shines through the vessel set apart unto holiness.