What Kind Of Shape Are You In?

Romans 12:2 NASB95

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Introduction

God’s will for our lives is for us to take on once again the shape of his image. Humanity lost this image when Adam sinned through disobedience, after which, mankind was no longer in the image of God, but rather in the image and likeness of Adam. (Genesis 5:3) “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:”

This is why every human being born is NOT in the image and likeness of God, but in the sinful image and likeness of Adam. This is also why David said in Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Then, Romans 5:12 says, “…by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men…”

Because of this, each and every human enters into this world a sinner and in very bad shape to begin with!

The world is in bad shape, because even after thousands of years war and destruction, we still have not learned to live in peace.

Humanity is in bad shape, because though we live in so-called civilized societies, how we treat one another is anything but civilized.

America is in bad shape, because we live in what is supposed to be a nation of laws, but the President himself is a convicted felon.

Our country is in bad shape, because after all that was done to defeat racism, we have people in government working feverishly to make it worse.

Our black children are in bad shape, because that criminal in the White House is robbing them of their right to learn their own African American history in schools.

The Church is in bad shape, because instead of preaching under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, preachers are simply repeating what they are given AI!

Now, our text tells us not to be conformed (Gr. συσχηματίζω, syschēmatizō, to shape one’s behavior to a pattern or mold ) to this world. This focuses on one’s physical behavior and actions so that they align with a culture that stands in opposition of everything God desires.

Instead the text says that we are to be transformed (Gr. μεταμορφόω, metamorphoō, to be spiritually transfigured in our nature) by changing how we think. This focuses on our mindset, or the nature of our thoughts, so as to align our thinking with the mind of God.

In both cases, we take on a spiritual shape that characterizes who we are. Today, I want to focus on the transformation of the mentality and the metamorphosis mind because how we think is the foundation of our behavior and what we do.

There are three reasons connected to the will of God for your life, that indicates why it is important that you undergo a transformation of your mind…

Main Outline

Maximize Your Value - “…good”

The word “good” means to be of high quality and immeasurable worth.

Many people demonstrate bad behavior and act out in life because they don’t value the person God designed them to be, so they try to change the design because they don’t feel “good”.

They are convinced that something has to be added, subtracted, or changed about who they are in order to feel like they are a person of value and worth.

The problem is that they are not “thinking” what God thinks.

God thinks…

Mobilize Your Virtue - “…acceptable”

The word “acceptable” means to be pleasing to God which is demonstrated by a life of virtue. To be virtuous is to be a person of high moral standards and personal biblical convictions.

Mobilizing you virtue means that you actively become intentional about how you live your life. It means that you are particular about the thoughts that come into your mind, you are careful with the words that come out of your mouth, and you are mindful of the things you do with your body.

This is a really big deal because this is how you really prove who you are! This is how you show the world that you are deeply committed to Jesus Christ in your life.

Show me something…

Manifest Your Victory - “…perfect”

The word “perfect” means to be fully developed, mature, and complete, and it implies that one has mastered the art of overcoming and knows how to finish strong.

This means that victory is baked into who you are as a person. It means that victory is how you are characterized when people see you coming.

Some people only see their struggles, their oppositions, and their pains, but what they don’t realize is that God is using all of that to prepare them for the coming victory. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

It’s working for you good!

When your mind has been transformed, you not only know how to get the victory - you are a victory!

I’m in good shape! (Closing)

Is 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Php 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Php 4:19

God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ro 8:37–39

we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

2 Co 4:7–9

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

2 Co 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.