Romans chapter 12. This is the
third time, this time, to be bringing messages from Romans
chapter 12. And I've pointed out to us that
with chapter 12 begins the practical part of this letter. Up until this point, the apostle
has been teaching. And now, because of the teaching,
The doctrine, this is how we are to put it into practice. Since last week, I found this
outline of the chapter I will give to us this evening. I think
it's a helpful chapter or helpful outline in studying the chapter.
A, what should be the attitude of the justified believer toward
God? in verses one and two. What should
be the attitude of the justified believer toward God? B, what
should be the attitude of the justified believer toward fellow
Christians, verses three through 13. And then C, what should be
the attitude of the justified believer toward outsiders, including
enemies, verses 14 through 21. Now we've looked at verse 1 twice,
what our attitude should be toward God. Our attitude should be that
we present ourselves as living sacrifice, sacrifices to Him. And we have seen that this is
our reasonable service, being recipients of the grace of God,
that is being saved by the grace of God, then this should be a
reasonable service, that we would present our bodies, which means
all of us, body and soul, that we would present ourselves unto
God as a living and holy sacrifice. Now tonight, I want us to look
at verse 2. And this, of course, continues
our attitude toward God. Let's read verses one and two.
I beseech you, therefore, brethren, and let me mention now this is
speaking to brethren, to believers. It's not right to take the things
of God and try to apply them to lost people. It's not right
to expect lost people to live by the principles and the teaching
of the Word of God, which is for God's children. This is for
brethren, for those who know Christ, those who have experienced
the saving grace and mercy of God. We can't expect a lost person
to present himself, body and soul, unto God. And that's a
mistake I believe that is often made by trying to take the things
of God and apply them to the world. And we'll see more of
that this evening. But I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this
world, But be you transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. What we are to do, that we may
prove, that we may discern the will of God, which is good and
acceptable, is perfect will for us. You know, there are principles
given to us in the Word of God. You may be in a situation and
you are seeking God's will in this matter and you say, well,
the Bible doesn't expressly have a situation just like I'm in.
It may not, but there are principles that are given to us in the Word
of God whereby we may find out and know as believers God's good
and acceptable and perfect will for us. Now there are three things
in this text, three points I want to make. First, we must not be
conformed to the world. That's the first thing the apostle
tells us. If we would know the will of
God for our lives, Then first of all, be not conformed to the
world. What does that mean? What exactly
does that mean? Be not conformed to this world. Well, for us to understand what
this means, I want us to consider two words in that statement. Two words, be not conformed to
this world. Two words in that statement.
The first word is the word conformed. Be not conformed. Now this word
that's translated here, conform, it's only used one other time
in all the New Testament. It's only used in one other text
of Scripture in all the New Testament. It's found in 1 Peter chapter
1 and verse 14. And let's hear how it is translated
there. To believers, as obedient children,
Here it is, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust
in your ignorance, that is, in your unregenerate state. Not
fashioning yourselves. The word, it comes from two words
which literally means to fashion alike. Do not fashion alike. Figuratively, it means to conform
to the same pattern. Do not conform to the same pattern. And the other word is the word
world. So do not fashion yourself. This is be not conformed to the
world. Do not fashion yourselves. And
the second word is the word world. Now, you know, The word world
is used in many different ways in the New Testament. Arthur
Pink in his book on the sovereignty of God has an appendix in there
where he shows that one word, which is translated word, is
used seven different ways in the New Testament. And that's
important because many times people just see the word world
and they think, well, that's everybody. Todo el mundo. No, it's not. Not always. Sometimes it is. Sometimes the
word world, that Greek word cosmos, that's translated world, means
the earth. The world, the earth that we're
living upon. When the scripture says the whole
world went after Christ, we know that cannot mean every single
solitary person. because there were many who were
against him. But here's the point, here's
the point. The word that is translated world here is not that Greek
word cosmos, which is translated world in other places, but it
is the Greek word aeon, meaning age, age. And I think if we look
at a few verses where this same word is used, it will help us
to understand what it is that we are not to fashion ourselves
after. First of all, turn with me to
2 Corinthians chapter 4. Remember this is written to believers
now. 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Fashion yourselves not according
to this world. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 4
and verse 4, the same word aeon, which is translated world, is
here. It says, in whom, 2nd Corinthians 4 verse 4, in whom the God of
this world, the God of this age, hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them." The God of
this world, the God of this age. Fashion yourself not according
to this world. How is it that Satan, the devil,
how is it that he is called the God of this world? This is God's
world. This is Jehovah's world. Jehovah
created this world. Elohim, He created this world. This is His world. How is it
then that the Apostle speaks of Satan as the God of this world? Well, let me mention again how
this is so. When God created man, you remember
when God created Adam and placed him in the garden, as we read
in Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2. that Adam was created holy. He was created in the image of
God. And his loyalty as a holy man,
his loyalty was all to God. He was loyal to his Creator. He was loyal to God Almighty. But when man sinned, when man
disobeyed God, He fell, of course, and His loyalty now was no longer
to His Creator, but His loyalty now is unto Satan. He is the God of this world in
that sense, and that's the reason the Apostle John in his first
letter, chapter 5 and verse 19 said, ìThe whole world lieth
In wickedness are the whole world, life in the wicked one. Every
person who comes into this world, as we are born into this world,
dead in trespasses and sins, we are under the power, the dominion
of Satan. The Lord Jesus Christ said, if
the Son shall make you free. He's the only one who can. He's
the Lord Jesus Christ. If the Son shall make you free,
you shall be free indeed. He's the only one. He is the
stronger one who defeated Satan, the God of
this world. And he is the only one who is
able to deliver Satan's captives. In the preaching of the gospel,
God calls out his people, saves his people, and men are delivered
from the power of darkness, translated into the kingdom of his dear
son. In other words, taken out of
the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom over which Satan, the
god of this world, rules, and we are translated into the kingdom
of God. Let me show you that. Look in
Colossians. I believe it's Colossians. Colossians, if you will. Colossians chapter one. Verse 12. Giving thanks, chapter
1, Colossians 1, verse 12. Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet, that is, qualified us to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light, who, God, hath delivered
us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son. All men are in one kingdom or
the other. either the kingdom of darkness
or the kingdom of His dear Son. When we come into this world,
we are all under the power of the God of this world, the kingdom
of darkness. Now, be not fashioned, the scripture
here says, do not fashion yourself according to the dictates of
the God of this world. Be not conformed. Do not fashion
yourself according to the dictates of the God of this world. Just
remember this, just because the majority sees something to be
right, that doesn't mean that it is right. And all of you young
people here, you want to do something, your parents say it's better
that you not be allowed to do that, and you come back and you
say, well, everybody's doing it. Oh, that's one of the oldest
things that children have used for years and years. Everybody's
doing it, you know. All of our friends are doing
it. Well, have you ever stopped to think that maybe God has placed
you in a home with parents who love you more than your friends
are in a home where parents maybe don't love their children as
much as yours do, so they allow them to do these things. They
allow them to go to these places, participate. Do not fashion yourselves
according to the God of this world. The majority, well, the
majority is not always right. The majority cried out, crucify
him, crucify him. That was the majority opinion. Crucify him. So that's the first
scripture. Do not fashion yourself according
to the dictates of the god of this age, the god of this world. Remember he is the prince of
the power of the air and he is the prince of darkness. Number
two, let's look at 1st Corinthians chapter 2. We have this same
word translated world in 1st Corinthians chapter 2. And verse 6, ìHowbeit we speak wisdom among
them that are perfect, mature, yet not the wisdom of this world,
not the wisdom of this age, nor of the princes of this age that
come to naught.î Well, since the Apostle Paul in this passage,
he is speaking of the Gospel. Let us recognize that the wisdom
of this world, that is the gospel, the gospel of this world comes
to naught. Do not fashion yourselves according
to the gospel of this world. What is the gospel of this world?
Well, basically, it is that man is his own savior. That's basically,
I mean, it has a lot of different forms, but that's what it all
comes down to, that man, by his doing, whatever, he saves himself. That's the gospel of this world.
Don't believe that. Don't fashion yourself according
to the gospel of this world. The gospel of Jesus Christ is
the gospel, first of all, of substitution. of substitution,
that Jesus Christ died in the stead and the place of His people. And the gospel of Jesus Christ
is the gospel of satisfaction. He satisfied God on behalf of
His people. Do not fashion yourselves according
to the gospel of this age. All right, look in Galatians
chapter 1. Here's another place where we
have this same word. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Do not fashion yourselves according
to the character, the character of this world or age. What is
the character of this world? Well here it is. Who gave himself
for our sins that he might deliver us from this present Evil, E-V-I-L,
evil world. That's the character of this
world. Do not fashion yourself according
to the character of this world. The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself
to deliver us from this present evil world according to the will
of God and our Father. And one other place, if you will,
in Matthew chapter 13. Matthew chapter 13, and this
is in the parable of the sower. And this tells us, verse 22,
this tells us about one who received the word. The seed was sown and
this one received the word. But notice what takes place.
He also that received the seed among the thorns is he that heareth
the word and the care of this world. The care of this world. Do not fashion yourself according
to the cares of this age. which will choke out, as we see
here, the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,
choke the word, choke the word of God. Do not fashion yourself
according to the cares of this age or this world, because these
cares will choke out the word of God. And what are the cares? What shall we eat? What shall
we drink? And wherewithal shall we be clothed? That's what most men spend their
lives. That's all they're dealing with.
What shall we eat? What shall we drink? And what
shall we be clothed? With what shall we be clothed?
That those cares. We have needs. We have needs
of food, of drink, and of clothes. But we are to trust our Father. The Lord Jesus Christ said, your
Heavenly Father knoweth you have need of these things. But most
people spend their time with these cares and it chokes out
the Word of God. Don't fashion yourself according
to the cares of this world. I read this past week, this statement,
from a pastor, he's since gone to be with the Lord, an English
pastor. But he said this, he said, many people believe on
Christ who do not believe in Christ. You say, how is that
possible? Believe on Christ for salvation,
but yet we do not believe Christ when he tells us that He will
supply our needs, that we are not to be anxious for these things. If we are anxious for these things,
He says we are like the Gentiles. And in that context, of course,
unbelievers. We're like unbelievers when we
allow these cares to so consume us. as in this place, to choke
out the word of God. He has told us he will supply
our every need. If we are his children, I have
four children, some of you men here, you have children, and
I know this is true of every one of us. If we see one of our
children have some need, we'll do everything we can, if it's
a legitimate need, to meet that need. How do we compare with our Heavenly
Father? How much more our Heavenly Father? Do not fashion yourself according
to this world, the cares of this world, that which takes up the
time of most people. Remember he said, seek ye first
the kingdom of God. And he's talking to believers
when he says that. I'm not talking to unbelievers.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added unto you. All what? Food, clothes,
drink, whatever we have need of. So first, be not conformed
to this world. Now, the second thing we read
here is be transformed. Be transformed. We must be transformed
by the renewing of our mind. Back in Romans chapter 12 and
verse 2. And be not conformed to this
world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. The word translated, transformed,
is a Greek word, metamorphou. I'm sure I don't pronounce that
right. But literally, or figuratively, metamorphos. That's the word
that both Matthew and Mark used when telling about our Lord's
transfiguration. When he went up on the mountain,
he was transfigured before them, metamorphos. And here are two
things about this exhortation. Now we all know metamorphosis,
the butterfly, and all of that. It goes in a caterpillar, not
very pretty, is it? A caterpillar but comes out a
beautiful butterfly. Metamorphosis. Here are two things
about this exhortation here. But be ye transformed. He uses
the present tense. It's not like you experience
this and that's it. It's a one-time experience and
that's it. That's all in the past. Now just
go on to something else. It's like that scripture that
says, Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be being filled with
the Holy Spirit. It is present tense. be being transformed. And as long as you and I remain
in this world, believer, as long as we remain in this world, we
are to be being transformed by the renewing of our mind. That's the first thing we should
notice. It's in the present tense. And he doesn't say, here's the
second thing, he doesn't say transform yourself. But be ye
transformed. In other words, this is in the
passive voice. The only other scripture that
uses this word metamorphosis. Look with me in 2 Corinthians
chapter 3. This helps us to understand the
meaning here. Be not conformed to this world,
but be ye transformed. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse
18. But we all, that is all believers,
we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even
as by the Spirit of the Lord. It's our place. Now, the word
glass, of course, here means mirror, mirror. And the mirrors
they had at that time were not anything like the mirrors that
we have. The mirrors were burnished brass. And when you looked into
them, you would see an image and there would be a glow about
it because it was from the metal. But we all with open face beholding
as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. And as we behold the glory
of the Lord, notice, are changed into the same image. from glory
to glory, from glory to glory. This is not something that you
do, you have an experience and then you go on to something else. No, this is to be true of us
as long as we remain in this world as a child of God. We are to continue beholding
as in a glass the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ And as we do,
we are changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ. We would equate this also to
Peter's exhortation to but grow in grace and knowledge of the
Lord. So be not conformed to this world,
but be ye transformed. by the renewing of your mind,
by continuing to behold the glory of Christ. And as you continue
to behold the glory of Christ, then we are changed from glory
to glory, from glory to glory. This is the experience. And here's
the last thing, the promised result. If we will follow this
direction, be not 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. Now this shows us
that God's children, for us to know God's will, we need more
than just our conscience. You know, people sometimes, they
used to at least, I guess people still do, they say, well let
conscience be your guide. For a child of God, we have a
conscience that's been sprinkled with the blood of Christ, there's
no doubt about that. But our conscience, even as children
of God, it must be constantly, as one author said, be sent back
to the school of the scripture, to the word of God, to receive
instruction by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now the will of
God, notice, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God." The will of God which is revealed
to us in the Scripture. If you're seeking God's will,
and I've heard people say this before, they prayed about something
and God led them to do something that was in opposition to the
Word of God. I've heard this be told about
preachers. They want to do something, so
they pray about it, and even though the word of God clearly
tells them, no, they say this is God's will. No, it's not God's
will. It's not God's will. God's will
will never contradict the written word of God. We have the revealed
will of God in the Word of God. And as I said, there are circumstances
that you may find yourself in and needing to know what is God's
will for you in this particular situation. And you may not find
it spelled out in the Word of God to take this job or to move
here, not to do this, not to do that. But what you will find,
you will find principles in the Word of God that will show you
the will of God for you. And it will never be against
the written Word of God. God will never reveal to you
something that's contrary to His Word. You know, if you look
back to Deuteronomy chapter 29, this is a verse I'm sure most
of you are familiar with when we read it. Deuteronomy chapter 29 and verse
29. The secret things belong unto
the Lord our God. We talk about God's secret will. That belongs to God. That belongs
to Him. And we will know it as it is
worked out. But, notice, but those things
which are revealed belong unto us. and to our children forever,
that we may do all the words of this law. The revealed will
of God is the written word of God. The secret will of God,
that's his business. We don't know that. We see it
worked out and we know it, but God will never reveal to you
to do something that is contrary to what he has revealed to us
in the scripture. That which is revealed belong
unto us and to our children that we may do all the words of this
law, of this book. May the Lord, I trust, bless
his word to those of us here tonight. God enable us to present
our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is our reasonable service, and that we be not conformed, that
we do not fashion ourselves according to this world, but that we be
transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what
is that good and perfect, acceptable will of God. Let us sing a verse
or two of a hymn and we'll be dismissed.