All right, if you wish to follow
along, turn to Romans 12 again. Romans 12, I will read just the
first two verses. I beseech you, therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. 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. What I want to try
to concentrate on is found in my title, and I've taken it not
It's not a quote from the text, but it's taken directly from
the text. My title is this, Transformed, Not Conformed. Remember, God's
mercies are always absolutely essential. He doesn't give us
simply mercy to save our souls and take us to glory. He gives
us mercy so that we might even walk in this world. that we might
even engage in by his power and spirit, reasonable service. The Lord Jesus Christ person
and work are always the foundation for all of our reasonable service.
Any service outside of that is not reasonable service. no matter
how religious or moral it might be. It is but a stench in God's
nostrils apart from the personal work of Jesus Christ. And this
world can't get a hold of that. They think if it's good, it's
got to be accepted of God, but the problem is it's not good. It may look very good to us. It may be very good amongst us,
but we're talking about a thrice holy God. A God whom others have
said before, and I probably, I think I just said it maybe
last week, a God whom the angels that fly about his throne, holy
angels, they're called holy angels, they've never fallen. They were
created perfect and have remained that way, and far as we know
will remain that way. They still must cover their faces
with one of their sets of wings as they fly around his throne.
This reasonable service has transformation, not confirmation, as its hallmark. That's what we've just read,
chapter 12, verse 1 and 2. Now, we're gonna deal with two
things this morning. The first one, I'm just gonna
state a couple things about it, and then I'll move on to the
second one, but it's not because the first one is unimportant.
Let me just go on, here's the thing. Number one, he says, and
be not conformed. That means to fashion alike,
to pattern after. See it, that's what the meaning
of the word to conform is. And be not patterned after this
world. In other words, do not use the
unregenerate as our template. They're wrong in everything they
do, even when they do their best. Because they do everything outside
of Jesus Christ. Everything. They may use his
name, but that's neither here nor there. They're using his
name as nothing, it may even be worse than me having a lucky
rabbit's foot in my pocket and pulling it out and rubbing it
every once in a while. It's superstition. Most people pray and they say,
in Jesus' name, it's just rote, it's just what you do. It's like
the proverbial lucky rabbit's foot. If I throw that in there,
gotta listen. The unregenerate is not our template. They're not our template. They're
wrong about everything because their minds are skewed with unbelief. Number two, now, the reason I'm
not gonna deal with all that, because if I tried to sit here
and talk about all the things that we shouldn't be conformed
to this world like, we'd never get out of here. Because it's
everything. Don't drive your car, let me
give you just a couple, don't drive your car like the unregenerate
drive theirs. They never think about Christ.
Think about Christ. God, help me to think on things
that are lovely, pure. Number two. Be ye transformed. You see it? Be ye transformed.
I'll give you three things here, and I'll deal mostly with the
third one. Be ye transformed. It means to metamorphose. We
know what that is, like a, what is it, a caterpillar? Metamorphose
into a what? A butterfly. It's the same creature,
but it's not the same creature. Does that make sense? It's the
same thing, but it's not the same thing. That's the actual
word, metamorphosis. To be of a completely different
state. Yes. Turn to 2 Corinthians. Now you know these passages,
but if you wish to look at it, 2 Corinthians chapter 5. See,
most people think about this this way. If I'm a dope addict,
I go from a dope addict to not being a dope addict. Well, that's
certainly an admirable thing. Yes, sir. Because being a dope
addict ain't good for anybody. I mean, wouldn't it be a miserable
life to live a life of a dope addict and still go to hell?
You understand? Or if you're a whoremonger, then
you quit your whoremonger. Well, certainly God's people
do stop that. But there are thousands of people
who've never been unfaithful to a spouse that will still perish
without the Lord Jesus Christ. And when people talk about being
transformed, they're always talking about, you know, I'm born again.
My life's all different now. People can go to AA and get that. People, if your marriage is on
the rocks, you can go to a marriage counselor and they can help you
fix that up. but be ye transformed, to be of a completely different
state. Now listen to Paul's words, and there's something in particular
I want to point out here. Verse 14 of 2 Corinthians 5.
For the love of Christ constraineth us. Now my question to myself
is, does it? Does it? If I am constrained
as a believer, it's the love of Christ that constraineth us,
you see. It's not our love for him that constrains us. Sometimes
I think we miss that. Well, I love the Lord, so I'm
not gonna do this. Just another religious thing we're going through,
huh? It's the love of Christ that
constrains, and it is in the possessive sense, His love that
constrains us. For the love of Christ constraineth
us, because we thus judge, we thus determine, that if one died
for all, then we're all dead, then. not then as a summary,
but then as a point in time. When he died, everybody he died
for, all of them, they died with him, a substitution. He still
ain't left the gospel, you see. And look, and that he died for
all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them and rose again. Therefore, even
our living in this world is what? To God. It's not for rewards.
It's not to have something greater or bigger in glory. Having Christ
and being totally transformed out of this fallen flesh will
be glory enough. Glory enough. Now, I've got all
kinds of questions I can think of now that I'd like to ask Christ
about. I mean, I look out there at these other galaxies, and
Joe, my mind is just boggled. We have those photographs down.
You can look. It just boggles my mind. But you know, when I
get to glory, I may forget all about all that. That may not
matter at all, Jack. I don't know. I don't know. Paul spoke of it. Paul seeing
things that he couldn't even put in words. You know? Okay, but let's go on. Wherefore,
henceforth know we no man after the flesh, yea, though we have
known Christ after the flesh. Think of that, that's an amazing
statement. Paul, no. Strike that. Saul of Tarsus believed
in the coming Messiah. We have every reason to believe
that. And that's what he's saying here. He knew Christ, but it
was how? After the flesh. That's also
a scary statement. A little frightening. Can shake
the boat a little bit. Because I ask myself, do I know
Christ only after the flesh? Most people don't want to deal
with that. You know what that makes me do? Cry out to God for
what? M-E-R-C-Y. All over again. Mercy, Lord. Mercy. I mean, some
people so caught up with, well, I know I saved when I was 13
years old. And they don't want to be shaken
on that. I can't even tell you exactly when I was actually gospel
converted. I look at sometimes, Ellen, and
I thought, OK, that's where it started. And then I look at myself
after that, and I thought, well, ain't you sure? That's where
it really started, you know? Sometimes back, I wonder if it
didn't maybe start yesterday. Is that when I really knew Christ,
but not after the flesh? Wherefore, henceforth now, know
we no man after the flesh, yea, though we have known Christ after
the flesh. Yet now, henceforth, know we him no more. Therefore,
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. That's the context. It's not about being a drunk
and becoming sober, although all of that has its place. This
is talking about knowing Christ by the power of the Spirit through
the preaching of the gospel. And here it is, my brothers and
sisters, does the gospel still thrill your soul? Because if
it don't today, it didn't really yesterday. You were knowing Christ
only after the flesh. So I keep pinpoint, yesterday's
gone, it's over with. Oh God, teach me your gospel
once again. Paul in this same book says he
hath saved us, he is saving us, and he will yet save us. It's
translated delivered, but it's the same exact word. Then look
what? Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. We see everything now in a different
light. We see ourselves in a different
light. We see Christ in a different light. We see our place in this
world in a different light. Everything's different now when
God opened Jai's. When God opened Jai's everything.
Now you don't see everything is different right at the start,
but everything you do see You see it differently. You understand
what I'm saying? I'm not saying I understand everything
now. I'm just saying, everything God gives you a little light
on in this world, you see it differently because you're in
Christ. You realize he's supreme, he rules, he's your Lord. And
as I said, he bought us lock, stock, and barrel. This means,
the means of this transformation be renewed by the renewing of
your mind. There are a plethora of books
written on how you do that. And we'll simplify, save your
good hard-earned money and don't buy those books and don't waste
your time reading them. Here it is. Here's what's going
to transform and the renewing of your mind. Christ crucified. That's it. It's that simple and
yet that hard to keep your mind on because everything else is
about us out here and even in here. Christ crucified, but here's
something that will help us with this word to metamorphose. I
mean, somebody just walks down the street. Yeah, I'm different
than I was 30 years ago, but that's just looks. That's just
looks. But I'm talking about a metamorphose.
Now here's the word. It's this word. transformed,
which means to metamorph, is the same word where it says Christ
was transfigured. Same, it's translated transfigured
there, but it's the exact same word. Transfigured. Totally different, but he was
still the same person. Right? He was still the same
person, but even his clothes shone like the light of the noonday
sun. Now, here's the three things. I'll try to move right through
this. You ever been grateful of God's
mercies in Christ? I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, don't ever grow above that. I know
that's so simple, but we forget it so easily, don't we? Because
we're surrounded by growth means I've become a better person.
I'm a little more holy. I don't sin as much as I used
to. I realize today that I sin more than I ever knew I did 30,
40 years ago. I do. And I'm not, God knows
I'm not gonna go into detail, but I can walk into this assembly
and be worshiping our God with you and my mind wonders. My mind wanders. I think of things
and I think, why am I thinking about that now? And then when
you try to not think of it, it stays there. So you have to cry
out for what? Mercy. Mercy. And where are you going to find
that? Not in getting better, but in Christ Jesus. In Christ
Jesus. Ever been grateful of God's mercies?
If you're not today, you never was. But if you are today, you'll
be grateful tomorrow if God leaves you here. You will, because that
don't leave you. If you've ever really been grateful
for God's mercies, it's because he's given them to you. He don't
take them back. It's like both these men have
showed us today, taught us today. We've heard more gospel in two
messages than most people will hear in their whole lifetime.
Most people will hear, this place ought to be packed. People ought
to be saying, we need to hear what those men are saying. But
look, they don't care. They don't care, why? Because
they've never known their need, their absolute need of the mercy
of God. At best, they think they've got
God's mercy, now they're moving on to better things, right? Isn't
that what religion is basically teaching people to do? Yeah,
you need God's mercy to get saved, but then you move on from that.
Don't ever move on from that. Here's the second thing. Do not
pattern after this fallen universe. Don't do it. It's fault memories
all now under the curse. Yes, sir. Even the land is under
the curse. The dirt is under the curse.
That's the problem with science. They're trying to figure out
if there is a God or not by the fallen creation. Yeah, it ought
to be evident. Something went wrong somewhere.
Exactly. Did it not, huh? Look at us creatures. And yet we are some of the most
destructive creatures upon this planet. Hmm. Oh, yeah, we can
murder murder and not give it another thought and We all would
apart from the restraining power of God Do not pattern after this
fallen universe Don't listen God is revealed out here But
don't look for him out there You heard what I just said. Yeah.
So let's say that can make sense. Look for him in here in here
and in here only. This dictates what we think about
this out here. You saw this dictates all this
out here. Well, if I see something out
here and it disagrees with what's here, my perception out here
is what's wrong. This book is right. This book
is right. Number three, moving right along,
by the renewing or the renovation or the restoration of your mind.
Six things. One thing we know for sure here,
and I know this is contrary to what most people in religion,
when they talk about present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable God, they're always talking about things you
do out here, right? Where does Paul start with this renewing?
Of your where? Mind. Not out here. It's in here. You remember what
our Lord said to the Pharisees. You cleanse out here. You clean
up the cup and the plate. Inside you're full of dead men's
bones. Our problem's not the out here.
My problem is right down in here. It's this heart, this mind. So
it's not in outward acts, but in mental attitude. I'm sure
there's a better way to say that, but that's the only thing I got. It's not in outward acts, but
in mental attitude. Think on right things. When you start thinking on the
wrong thing, think on the right thing, even if you're still thinking
about the wrong thing. And this is why a lot of religious
people, they lose it. They go off the deep end. Because
they're lied to. They think the resource of this
renewal is down in here. The resource of this renewal
is the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saturate
yourself in the gospel. Flood your heart and mind and
your ears with the gospel. I mean, you got a job to go to? You gotta concentrate on your
job. The gospel, think about Christ,
dwell on him. That's the only place you're
gonna have a mind renewed. It's the only place. And all
my years of experience don't mean squat. That's what Paul's
talking about here. By the mercies of God. And if I keep saying that, I
know you won't get upset if God saved you. But the unregenerate,
you done told me that. I believe it. Let's move on.
Don't ever move on. Don't ever move on. So turn to
Proverbs 21. Proverbs 21. I want you to read this one. I'm in Psalms. Proverbs 21. I
remember. It's not an outward act, but
it's in mental attitude. The second thing, the mind state
is vital. Proverbs 21 and verse 27. The sacrifice of the wicked is
abomination. What? How could that be? Look, how much more when he bringeth
it with a wicked mind. You see it? I'm just going to lay this, I'm
going to pull that pin. We all got wicked minds. The only sacrifice that was ever
offered that ever had any perfection to it is what? Christ crucified,
the sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, our sacrifices don't
cut it. If it's a literal, of course
we don't need to offer a literal sacrifice, but it's not, I won't
give up this or I won't give up that. No, concentrate on Christ. Then you won't be as prone to
abuse the things that God put in this world for us. but only
when we look to Christ. Here's the third thing. The Holy
Scripture is the only source of instruction for the mind.
Turn to Acts 17. Acts 17. Verse 10, and the brethren immediately
sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea, who coming thither
went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than
in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness
of mind, and search the scriptures daily. They didn't just read
the Bible. People say, read your Bible. No, search the scriptures. Why? Because in them is eternal
life. Because they testify of who? Christ. That's what he said. So Joe, I'll take his word as
the final word on it, right? Huh? They searched the scriptures
daily whether those things were so. See it? You see, when I read this book,
when I just read this book, if I'm not seeing Christ, I am not
studying it appropriately with the right renewed mind. I'm reading it and studying it
with the wrong mind. Because at the same time, we're
told we have the mind of Christ. Jack, I cannot explain that to
you. I can't explain that to you.
And there's no need for me to try to give some, I thought about
trying to explain, I thought it'd be nothing but a word salad,
as they say. I could find some fancy words,
Paul, but I can't explain that to you. I just know it's so. I just know it's so. Number four,
remember, our carnal mind hates God. Romans 8, 7, Ephesians 2,
3. Our carnal, our old man, our
old mind, it hates God. It's at enmity against God. It's not subject to the law of
God. It tries to say, well, that's not too bad, but this over here,
that's really bad, and I don't do a whole lot of that really
bad. Isn't that the way the mind works? Religion's caught up with
it. Why? Because they only know Christ
after the flesh. They don't know him through the
power of the spirit, through the preaching of the gospel.
Most of these religious people out here has never really even
heard the gospel. Although Jesus Christ the Lord
is on their lips. Remember, a carnal mind hates
God. Number five, the mind is to be gird up in the truth of
the grace of God in Christ Jesus. First Peter chapter one. Turn to that one, first Peter
one. First Peter chapter one, verse
13. Wherefore, gird up the loins
of your mind, be sober, and hope, now look at it, hope, now you
would think about the books you would read on religion today,
Peter or thou would start telling you, okay, how to start thinking
correctly, and think about this, and think about that. Look at
what Peter moved. Wherefore, gird up the loins
of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that
is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Right back to Christ again. And what he's gonna do for us
in the future. You see that? What are you going to do for
us in the future? As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lust in your ignorance. That was our
problem. As smart as we were and as religious
as we were, and some of us as moral as we were, and some of
us as immoral as we were, we were still all what? Ignorant.
Ignorant. About got in a fight at golf
course one time for using that word. But as he which hath called
you is holy, that is distinct. It's not here talking about God's
sinlessness here. God is sinless. Of course, separateness,
distinctiveness. He is unique in all that is. Mac, whatever it is, he's the
one unique thing. He's God. He's God. As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lust and your ignorance, but
as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner
of conversation, because it's written, be ye holy, for I am
holy. I like being like my Lord. And I am ashamed of myself when
I know I'm not. And that seems like it's all
too often. But you know what that does?
You know what the good thing about my sin is? I may be oxymoron. You know what the good thing
about my sin is? It keeps driving me to Jesus Christ. That don't
make me want to sin more so I can run to him more. No sir, I don't
think that way. But I know this, I still sin
far more than I want to. And when I try to stop it, it
seems like it gets worse. If I say, well, I'm not going
to do that again, that's the very thing I'll do before the
day's out. Just think about Christ, you know? Amazing. The mind is to be geared up with
the truth of the grace of God given us in Christ Jesus. Here's
the sixth thing. The mind caught up with Jesus
Christ is a renewed mind. Turn to Philippians 3. Philippians 3. Now see, I know
when I started into this, some people say, well, I want to listen
to that. I want to listen to that. He's
going to tell us how to present our bodies a living sacrifice.
I'll tell you how to do that. Think on Christ. Think on Christ. That's the only thing that's
holy and acceptable unto God, is it not? All right, now let
me find my spot. Philippians chapter 3. All right, Philippians 3. Verse
three, finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write
the same thing to you, to me indeed, is not grievous, but
it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision, for we are the circumcision which
worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus. He didn't
say we don't have any flesh. He says that have no confidence
in the flesh. The flesh is there and will remain
with us till we awaken his likeness. Either through the resurrection
from the dead or the transformation of our bodies at his return.
One or the other. You see it? Now let's move on.
Look at verse eight. Verse eight. Okay, hold on. Yea,
doubtless, I and I count all things but lost for the excellency
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Now you read down through
these next verses later on, it's though, Paul, you're caught up
with Jesus Christ. The answer is thank God. Amen. Thank you. I mean, people I've
made work with when. Had a big roundtable discussion.
And we were all asked the question, there were quite a few people
there from all the different departments. What's the most what's the one
important thing to you in this world? And I was glad I was about
in the middle way, because I wanted to hear what other people were
saying before I said what I did. And many of them, they couldn't
narrow it down to one. Most couldn't. I love the Lord
and my family. The Lord and my family. When
it got to me, I said, to know God's Christ. That's it. That's the most important. I
love that woman right back there. But Jack, I got to know Christ.
to know Him and the power of His resurrection. That's the
only place I have any stability, any peace of mind, the only way
I can breathe and put up with myself every day. And you read
what place, like Paul is caught up with the person and work of
Jesus Christ. Oh, that I even felt that way
every once in a while. Minds renewed by spiritual thirst
for the truth of the personal work of Christ. These minds,
and that's what he's talking about, these minds prove or put
to the test. They don't do the Lord's will,
they prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will
of God. What? That God's Son be honored. That's the most dear thing to
God Almighty in this whole universe. And even outside the universe
because I know there's his his place outside the universe that
third heaven is Paul talked about. that I don't remember who it
was, I don't remember the conference, I wasn't there, but I heard a
preacher who was there mention there was a preacher preaching
at that conference, it's been years ago. And even if I knew
who it was, I wouldn't mention the names. But he's got it in
the podium and said, what we got to do is get beyond this
thing of Christ, Christ, Christ. That's sad. That's a mind that's
not being renewed at all. Not being renewed at all. So
the next time you sin, you already have. Cry out for the mercy of
God in Christ. Because that's what it's all
about. We're not gonna get rid of this till we awaken his likeness. We're stuck with it. And there
won't be no change of it. The flesh will just get worse
in the sense of it will be more exposed and more exposed. And
the Spirit's sometimes very hard to recognize, is it not? Is it
not? But His mercy, I can recognize
that. I see it every time I think of
His Son hanging on a cursed tree. Father, comfort, strengthen us,
help us to keep going, to keep going, in Christ's name, amen.