Do not be conformed

Romans 12:2- Do not be conformed

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”

Review

Romans has moved from the theological (spiritual) to the practical

In response to the Gospel we should BELIEVE the Gospel (repent and trust in Christ)

In response to BELIEF, we ought to offer ourselves as a LIVING sacrifice, which should be HOLY

Our lives as Christians are no longer our own, as Paul mentions in 1 Cor. 6, We have been bought with a price.

What was that price? (The sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf)

Because of that, we ought to live sacrificially devoted lives that are holy

What does holy mean? (Godly, striving to do what is right according to God)

From v. 1, Paul continues to talk about the practical effects the Gospel message should have on the Christian

From the Positive to the Negative (V. 2) “Do not be conformed to this world”

Paul has just told us in v. 1 what we SHOULD be doing (living sacrifice, holy living) to NOW telling us what we should NOT be doing

“Do not be conformed to this world”

“Conformed” - Meaning to fashion after a pattern- To fit into a mold (Play do)

When we see this word for “world” it is speaking of the system of our society

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The World = anti-God behavior and actions. Sinful actions

Our society is an ever increasing anti Christian society

“Look like this, talk like this, dress like this, believe this”

Yet Jesus calls us to be opposite of that- Do not be like the world- Because the world HATES Jesus. The world does not tolerate the truth of Jesus. That He is the only way to heaven

Instead of conforming to what is around us, the Gospel tells us to be non conformists

Instead of conforming to the world, we should be conformed to the image of Christ

This verse tells us of the ever present reality that a godless society seeks to conform us to an anti Christian lifestyle

Students, it is not unique to look like our society. To hate like our society does. Do disobey God like our society does

IT is unique to look like Christ. To love your neighbor as yourself. To obey God and His word at all costs

Do you want to stand out and be unique? Read your BIble and live like you believe it

“One of these days some simple soul will pick up the book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed.” ― Leonard Ravenhill

“Do not be conformed to this world but be TRANSFORMED by the renewal of your minds”

The goal of our sinful society is to fit you into the mold of ungodly behavior, the way to combat that is to be daily transformed by the change of heart that you have had through the Gospel message

2 Cor. 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old things have passed away, behold the new things have come

Being conformed is outside pressures pushing in

Being transformed is the inner change of heart, and life due to the Gospel.

Being conformed is the outside pressure of fitting you into a mold, being transformed is the planting of the Gospel seed that takes root, gives you a new heart, and grows outwardly into our daily lives

This is done through prayer, through Bible reading and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your life

All of these are things that begin on the inside, and work its way to the outside

James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Do not let the world conform you to it’s ways, but allow the new life of salvation move from the inside to the outside in the way you live your life

The result of daily renewal- “that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”

The result of rejecting the world and clinging to daily renewal is that we are able to “test” what is God’s Will for our lives

As the world tries to conform us, we are able to test and reject those things that are opposed to God’s Will for our lives

We are reminded at the last of this verse that God’s Will is always good for us, acceptable for us, and even perfect for us.

It’s a matter of being a nonconformist, submitting to daily renewal, and seeking God’s will that ultimately is always best for us.