TRANSFORMATION!

What a transformation.

From January 9, 1982 to April 29, 2011, she was Miss Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, aka Kate. From April 29, 2011, she became Her Royal Highness Princess William Arthur Philip Louis, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus.

All because of her bridegroom: His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus, etc., who, needless to say, was born His Royal Highness.

What a change indeed for his bride. The good lady was born a commoner. She is now royalty, after a wedding watched by over 2 billion people and reportedly costing upwards of $70 million!

From commoner to royalty. Doesn’t happen to most.

Wait, … it does. Or could.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,

and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

Colossians 1:13

“Commoners” we all are, “by nature” sinners, estranged from a holy God, and deserving of the consequences of sin.

And you were dead

in your trespasses and sins,

in which you formerly walked ….

We too all formerly lived

in the lusts of our flesh,

indulging the desires of the flesh

and of the mind,

and were by nature

children of wrath.

Ephesians 2:1–3

But then, an amazing transformation takes place.

But God, being rich in mercy,

because of His great love

with which He loved us,

even when we were dead

in our transgressions,

made us alive together with Christ

(by grace you have been saved),

and raised us up with Him,

and seated us with Him

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4–6

Commoners to royalty with Christ. Sinners to saints in Christ.

And how does this transformation occur?

For by grace you have been

saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves,

it is the gift of God;

not as a result of works.

Ephesians 2:8–9

Nope, it didn’t cost $70 million. In fact, it’s free. Free, because someone else paid for it, with his life, bearing the cost of our sins. And for those who, believing in Jesus Christ as their only God, place their trust in him as Savior, this free gift becomes theirs.

For the wages of sin is death,

but the free gift of God

is eternal life in

Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Transformation. Royalty. Heirs. Reigning.

… we are children of God,

and if children, heirs also,

… fellow heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16–17

You were slain, and

purchased for God with Your blood

those from every tribe and tongue

and people and nation.

You have made them a kingdom

and priests to our God;

and they will reign upon the earth.

Revelation 5:9–10

And one day it will be said:

“The kingdom of the world

has become the kingdom of

our Lord and of His Christ;

and He will reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 11:15

Not only that, there in that new kingdom …

… the throne of God and

of the Lamb will be in it,

and His bond-servants will serve Him;

… and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:3, 5

Both the King and his royal people, reigning forever and ever!

And so as commoners-turned-royalty, let us focus on royal things, eternal things, things of value.

Therefore if you have been

raised up with Christ,

keep seeking the things above,

where Christ is,

seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above,

not on the things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:1–2

Transformed into royalty, not commoners any more.