Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Disobedience dulls the conscience, darkens the soul, deadens our spiritual energies--therefore keep the commandments of Christ with implicit obedience. Thelema has both an objective meaning (what one wishes to happen) and a subjective connotation (the act of willing or desiring). There is that kind of a mind. So we tend to copy the people with whom we associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to which we listen, almost without knowing it. Third: Power. They may attain to a scheme of orthodox notionsbut they will remain destitute of the life, power, and comfort of pietyso long as they cleave to those things which are incompatible with it. of mind. If the person be metamorphosed, as the word originally implies, from a state of nature to a conformity with Christ, it will certainly appear, and the state of the heart will be evident from the life. It comes to be a solemn question for each of us whether we can say, To-day I am liker Jesus Christ than I was yesterday; to-day the truth which renews the mind has a deeper hold upon me than it ever had before. But this positive commandment is only one side of the transfiguration that is to be effected. How sad it is that the soul, that princely thing, which is made for communion with God and angels, should be put to the mill to grind, and made a slave to the earth! How do I feel about my job? That is a brutish recompence, befitting only animals, which are not conscious of any being above them, or of any existence hereafter. 16Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of anothers worth as you are your own. We are not to suppose that nonconformity to the world necessarily involves awkward behavior, peculiar dress, or rude manners. How does it affect me? Kehillah in Rome 12:2 (OJB) So the Christian's shield should be without a stain, his reputation without a blot. Joshua What's in this chapter? (On the word "experience" 1Thessalonians 5:10 , where the sentiment is the same). Isaiah They have found a way, as they think, to serve both God and Mammon. SO THAT YOU MAY PROVE: eis to dokimazein (PAN) humas: Analyzed Literal: in order for you to be proving what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God. Devote your life as a Christian to being changed. "No," they said, "we're changing it a bit, modernizing it, bringing it up to date." What are you going to do with your life?" What a world will ours be when this shall become its reigning spirit! Never have Gods people needed this more than we do today. Bless--that is, Call down by prayer a blessing on. Every Christian who is saved is saved out of that dominion, that pattern, and that way of thinking and doing things. whether--we have the gift of prophecy--that is, of inspired teaching (as in Acts 15:32 ). Conformity to the world is the bane of many professors in this day. (Stedman, Ray: Living Day by Day). Don't be fashioned according to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. As clearly stated in Joshua 1:8 (note) a key element in this process is meditation which is so crucial to mind renewal but unfortunately is a vital spiritual discipline which is seldom practiced by Christians today. But His love abideth ever, get to know the Bible better! In ideas similar to Jesus command to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. How does this supernatural mind renewal take place? Likewise, we hear sermons from Romans 12:2 about being not conformed to the world, but the preceding verse bids us present our bodies as living sacrifices. Compromise Don't be fashioned according to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. --JDB. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, Or Dont be squeezed into the mold of this present age. Paul uses the Greek word, which means spaces of time or present time. The Aramaic word carries the same idea but it is much deeper in meaning. Before long, you could see without difficulty. Anakainosis is not known outside Christian literature nor in the Greek Septuagint (LXX). God wants our bodies and our minds; He wants our total submission. God himself sounds a retreat to us to call us off the world. 12And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. New Living Translation (NLT). Amos Your love will be damped (literally made slightly wet but here figuratively meaning stifled or deadened!) For though we are many, weve all been mingled into one body in Christ. Nothing will dampen our love for Christ as will love for the world. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. Romans 12:2 (NLT) . The death of the one "Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world," has swept all dead victims from off the altar of God, to make room for the redeemed themselves as "living sacrifices" to Him who made "Him to be sin for us"; while every outgoing of their grateful hearts in praise, and every act prompted by the love of Christ, is itself a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savor ( Hebrews 13:15 Hebrews 13:16 ). When he went to the opera to practice he found some people performing a rather lewd dance. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another. The idea is rather simple: We are to allow the transforming Word of God to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us. Repentance: Psalm 32:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 -note Patience for God's sake, is true piety. Ive found that the phraseThis does not meet our needs at this timeor evercan be a helpful saying in my Christian walk to renew my mind and refocus my thoughts on the Lord. Dont be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all. We are rather called to be in the world, but not of it. Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come. And you shall learn to prize these words as among your choicest treasures: "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, EVEN AS I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love." THE WORLD SAYS: We must CONFORM man in our image. We must not conform to the maxims of the world. He is as different from what he was before, as one species of animal is from another. I own dozens of translations and hundreds of commentaries to immerse myself in the language and the context of the biblical narrative to see how the Living Word of God impacts culture and the love of God transforms lives. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Jas 1:27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Be honest.) This shows that, in general, it is not difficult to discriminate Christians from the world. Therefore, how much more so should we as children of our perfect, holy, heavenly Father seek to so live, so that we might continually be in the "center of His will", pleasing to Him! Or ministry, let us wait on--"be occupied with." The concept of knowing Gods will is often limited to discerning what specific situation we will be in at some future time. The Cross of Christ has come in between the believer and the world (cp Ga 2:20-note). Celebrate with those who celebrate, and weep with those who grieve. The line of our duty is clearly marked out, and if our enemies are not melted by persevering kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be . DUTIES OF BELIEVERS, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR. One of the best ways to "energize" and facilitate this "mental revolution" which produces transformation is to memorize the living Word of God (see Memorizing His Word), allowing implantation of the "seed" (see 1 Pe 1:23-note; 1 Pe 1:24 -note; 1 Pe 1:25-note cf Jer 23:28, 29, James 1:18-note, James 1:21-note) which His Spirit can germinate into a new way of thinking for as Jesus declared "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." Be a thermostat. You don't need to think about washing the dishes! 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? For example, if you have found yourself watching television shows or movies that years earlier would have shocked you, then STOP NOW! Brings nothing but sad heartache. Do not mind it; be not in love with it. Zephaniah If we are born of God we will see His guiding hand and give Him the credit. Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! He was told, "This is the choreography that introduces the opera." And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home. in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head--As the heaping of "coals of fire" is in the Old Testament the figurative expression of divine vengeance ( Psalms 140:10 , 11:6 , &c.), the true sense of these words seems to be, "That will be the most effectual vengeance--a vengeance under which he will be fain to bend" (So ALFORD, HODGE, &c.). You cannot gain it while you commune with sinners. He became possessed of a desire to become a star in the Metropolitan Opera Company. The words he sang were. And to maintain that kind of thinking in the midst of the world takes a renewed mind." I've worked hard for months to train for this role, but I will not sing in your opera if that dance is in it." Amen (Ed: And all God's people said "Amen"!). (J. C. Philpot. Just as when you take away disturbing masses of metal from near a compass, it trembles to its true point, so when, by the discipline of which I have been speaking, there are swept away from either side of us the things that would perturb our judgment, there comes, as blessing and reward, a clear insight into that which it is our duty to do. Christlikeness: Php 2:1-11-note. Theres nothing between. According to John Piper dokimazo "has two implications: one is the idea of testing and proving something's value. (Living Sacrifices), Haldane adds that renewing of your mind signifies that "It is not the conduct merely, but the heart itself, of the Christian that is changed; and it is from the renewal of the mind that the conduct is also renewed. Much of the difficulty we experience about submitting to the will of God would disappear if once we could see clearly that the "character" of God's will is always agathos or good and beneficial in its effect! He that has this rule over his spirit, is better than the mighty. That can only come as you are exposed to the truth as it is in Jesus. If you want to change your characters, and God knows they all need it, change the deep convictions of your mind; and get hold, as living realities, of the great truths of Christs Gospel. Jerome did. It is evident that there is a gradual growth of this awareness, as Paul sets it forth here. The secret of it is given in the words, "the renewing of your minds." Paul is actually calling us to think Christianly. To make a deliberate break from the decadent mind-set of a decaying society and reorient ourselves toward God. Nothing Less which is your reasonable--rather, "rational" service--in contrast, not to the senselessness of idol-worship, but to the offering of irrational victims under the law. I am not going to let my name be used to entice people to come in to see filth like this. Blamires was a student of C. S. Lewis. Peter wrote, "They think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you" (1Pe 4:4-note). And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what [is] the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God. In these first two verses of Romans 12 note the progression Dedication We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. Amen. We cant renew our minds by ourselves (Rom. Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others. It starts with a change in your thinking. Indeed, nothing can be more true than that these renewal of the mind is necessary for a successful inquiry into every part of the will of God. 4, 5. God's will is "good," as it demands only what is essentially and unchangeably good ( Romans 7:10 ); it is "well pleasing," in contrast with all that is arbitrary, as demanding only what God has eternal complacency in (compare Micah 6:8 , with Jeremiah 9:24 ); and it is "perfect," as it required nothing else than the perfection of God's reasonable creature, who, in proportion as he attains to it, reflects God's own perfection. 4In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. when you focus on God. This is unlikely as there is no historical evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Not your will, but his will be done; not the building of your kingdom and your empire, but the advancement of his kingdom. Leviticus leads to It must of course be our duty to avoid a conformity with the world in those vain and sensual amusements, which stand in as direct contradiction to a spiritual frame. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. The first questions cannot be "How do I feel?" All rights reserved. Sometimes with a heavy mallet, and a hard blow, and a broad chisel, we have to take away huge masses; sometimes, with fine tools and delicate touches, to remove a grain or two of powdered dust from the sparkling block, but always to seek more and more, by slow, patient toil, to conform ourselves to that serene type of all perfectness that we have learned to love in Jesus Christ. President, Global Spheres Inc., President, Glory of Zion Intl. And as the issue of all we shall have clearer and deeper insight into that will, which to know is life, in keeping of which there is great reward. Some like the NIV favor this verb means reflecting, others like the NASB, KJV that it means to gaze upon) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed (present tense = pictures a continual process; passive voice = indicates transformation is wrought by the Spirit) into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." Practically this means we must be careful what we read and watch (see discussion of to this world below). There is an eternal opposition between God and the world lying in wickedness. Look at the context - specifically notice what Job had just declared in Job 23:10-note), William Newell writes that "the object of this "renewing includes the mind, with its thoughts; the imagination--so untamed naturally, the sensibilities or feelings; the tastes, or natural preferences, all which, since the fall of Adam, are naturally under the influence and power of the sinful flesh, and must be operated upon by the Holy Spirit, after one's regeneration. In Spooner's style, one fell swoop became "one swell foop" and a pouring rain became "a roaring pain.". Adaptation from the glorious pure light of Jesus to the dim, dreary, decadent lights of this world is possible for any of us. Test and approve.". Many books can inform, And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [ a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that . Tho' the whole world against me convene; Deuteronomy This will empower you to discern Gods will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. In some instances Simmons arguably demonstrates a better grasp of the meaning of the text than Moo does. Learn to defeat ill designs against you, either to change them, or to preserve your own peace. (see Ephesians 3:18-note; Ep 3:19-note) Would you receive an abundant entrance into the joy of your Lord? Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. We are to stop allowing ourselves to be fashioned after the schemes of this passing evil age in which we live. Turned upside down, we see everything suspended precariously, dependent on God rather than being solid and secure. The world system is driven by money; it feeds on materialism. The word rendered "prefer" means rather "to go before," "take the lead," that is, "show an example." Dont be a thermometer. (Counsel and Help), John Newton "Be not conformed to this world." We give way in this and that thing. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold, (Haldane), James Montgomery Boice - Harry Blamires, an Englishman who wrote an important Christian book in 1963 titled The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think? Be a soldier that asks for nothing but the orders of the commander. So when a believer conforms to the fallen world's standard, this external does not represent the new creation on the inside of the believer. Joshua 1:8 (note) called Joshua and by way of application all believers to think "Biblically", reading, assimilating and reflecting on and obeying the Word of God, so that we live "Biblically" in all we say and do. (3-8) Exhortations to various duties. a living sacrifice--in glorious contrast to the legal sacrifices, which, save as they were slain, were no sacrifices at all. He entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. So Paul says, Dont try to match your life to all the fashions of this world; dont be like a chameleon which takes its color from its surroundings. Even so-called Christian counselors often go to the world for their training. The term conformed literally means to be molded or stamped according to a pattern. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) David C. 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