IV. God’s Purpose in Transformation
Jesus said, You are Simon, the son of John; you shall be called Cephas (which is interpreted, Peter). —John 1:42
John speeds along in his concise overview of God’s purpose with a brief reference to transformation. In God’s full salvation, He not only enlivens us but changes us. The Bible calls this change transformation (Rom. 12:2). This change is typified by the Lord Jesus changing Simon’s name to Peter, which means stone. We created from clay (Adam) but unless we are transformed into stone, we will not be suitable material for God’s building. The church can only be built with transformed materials such as gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:12).
Peter must have never forgotten the changing of his name and its significance as he writes about “living stones being built up as a spiritual house” later in his ministry (1 Pet. 2:5).
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