Faithfulness to Holiness

Holiness is better than morality. It goes beyond it. Holiness affects the heart. Holiness respects the motive. Holiness regards the whole nature of man.

Charles Spurgeon

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1. Conformation

Legalism is concerned simply with external conformity and is blind to internal motivation.

R. C. Sproul

A. WHAT CONFORMITY IS NOT.

A neglect of conformity to the world does not mean legalism and conformity to a manmade set of rules, but rather to God and Him alone.

Legalism is the religion of human achievement. It argues that spirituality is based on Christ plus human works.

John F. MacArthur

B. WHAT IS THE WORLD?

The mass of unrenewed men as distinguished from the people of God. It is Satan’s kingdom. It has laws and maxims. Its manners and customs are determined by its reigning spirit. It has its consummation, which is perdition.

C. WHAT IS IT TO BE CONFORMED TO THE WORLD?

Romans, Vols. I & II Ver. 2

1. To be inwardly like men of the world in the governing principle of our lives, i.e., to have a worldly spirit, a spirit occupied with worldly things, mercenary, earthly. 2. To be so ruled by the world’s maxims that the question is not what is right or wrong, but what is the custom of society. What is the public sentiment? 3. To be indistinguishable from men of the world in our—(1) Objects. (2) Amusements. (3) General conduct.

2. Transformation

I. WHAT IS IT TO BE TRANSFORMED?

Romans, Vols. I & II Ver. 2

To be new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). 1. In our judgment concerning—(1) God (Matt. 19:17). (2) Christ (Phil. 1:21; 3:8). (3) The world (Eccles. 1:1, 2). 2. Our thoughts (Psa. 1:2). 3. Consciences (Acts 24:16). 4. Wills (Lam. 3:24). 5. Affections (Col. 3:2). (1) Love and hatred (Matt. 22:37). (2) Desire and abhorrence. (3) Joy and grief (Psa. 42:1, 2). (4) Hope and fear (Psa. 27:1). (5) Anger and meekness (Matt. 11:29). 6. Words (Matt. 12:36). 7. Actions (1 Pet. 1:15, 16). Towards God and men (Acts 24:16).

II. WHY ARE WE TO BE TRANSFORMED.

Romans, Vols. I & II Ver. 2

We are altogether sinful (Prov. 15:8). 2. We can enjoy no happiness here nor be capable of happiness hereafter (Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 2:14).