The Word Of The LORD TRANSFORMS

“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}

CONFORMED,”

suschematizo ” Is used only here and in 1 Peter  1:14 where it speaks of conforming to former lusts. Conformed refers to an outward reflection that does not reflect what is true for the believer on the inside. It is not who you are! “The preposition “sun” in this compound verb denotes a personal assimilation to or conformity with the pattern indicated. ”

The word “conformed'”literally means to be molded or stamped according to a pattern! It is to be conformed to the same pattern OUTWARDLY. It is to form, mold one’s behavior outwardly  in accordance to a pattern or a set of standards. The word ‘conform,’  is suschematizo  and it refers to an outward expression that does not  come from within you, or reflect who and what you are. You are playing a part that is not who you are “In Christ.”It is not who you are! Don’t be a chameleon! Chameleon’s adapt to and take it’s color from it’s surroundings. Trying to fit in is to compromise and will lead to denying and rejects Jesus Christ, His work, His will.  

It is a command and the verb is that all the moments, days of your life resist being squeezed, molded, pressured from external pressures by people who are in bondage to this world’s system that is opposed to Jesus Christ and HIS RULE IN THEIR LIVES! Recognize the lie, Reject  and replace with applying His Word and continually renew your mind in accordance with His Word. 

Don’t allow external pressures mold and shape you!

“Stop doing this” they were already allowing the world’s views, standards to mold them and the command is “stop it!” They were to stop allowing themselves to be molded into the thought process and actives of the lost! To allow ourselves to be conformed to the pattern standards of the world and be warned none of us are above this, but when we do know our understanding becomes dull, diluted from the LORD and the priorities and things of God, our affections become cold, lukewarm and displaced by the things the earth places their affections on, materialism, possessions, provenience,  standards of what “success” is, etc. There is not only a drifting from but a displacing of Him and His Will, Word and Ways! Compromise leads to spiritual corruption and decay! Guard your thought life!

It does not mean to come up with a “list” of things to stop doing and equate it with ‘spirituality’ as it only leads to legalism rather let the Spirit of God molding and forming and developing you into the image of Jesus Christ, as the end goal.

Sometimes it is easier for us to live by a list rather than LOVE! For example the list may get down to what we wear, not that there is not be modesty in our apparel but even that can take on a life of it’s own. Like when I was a new Christian I had a beautiful, comfortable pair of beige cotton like material shoes and someone remarked on it and even years later of the color of them! Ooops I Didn’t know that there was a particular type and maybe even color for “Christian shoes!’ Did I need to go to a shoe store and ask if they had “Christian shoes?” They may have thought that was the name of a brand! But that’s how crazy legalism is! Think about it, that the color or shape of my shoes indicates my walk with Jesus Christ!!!

It’s not about “lists” but love for Him and heeding His advice to us as He has what is good acceptable and well pleasing to Him in mind for us. He loves us and warns us so we may not suffer harm also! Don’t focus on lists but on loving HIM. Be being changed in your mind and the Holy Spirit “guides us into all truth” in doing so {Read John 16:13. He uses Truth, His Word, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”-{1 Thess 2;13}, God’s Word WORKS IN BELIEVERS! We can do this practically as we  guard our ears, eyes, what we take in and watch, listen to, where we get our advice from so not to be diverted or dampen our enthusiasm for Him. Do not be conformed, squeezed, molded into what the world’s system, what their value system is,  such as their world view may be political ours is to be one of redemption, their view of “success” may be the achieving of materialistic goals, the “success” of academic, sports, arts, as the fulfilling of selfish gain at any cost be “number one” and not for His glory in doing them. The pursuits of pleasure the end rather than loving God. The pursuits of popularity, fame, in order to be worshiped, adored rather than worshiping and adoring God. It has to do with our motivations, doing all that we do for the glory of God. Don’t allow a system that is opposed to the reign and submission to Jesus Christ as LORD to shape, form your “world view” rather than God’s view of the world!  And this they do and influence us if we are not spiritually alert, to resist living in their bondage. The word “conformed’ literally means to be molded or stamped according to a pattern! “BUT” speaks of a different way a reversal of the way mentioned.

Some other  versions translate Romans 12;2 as follows…

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold. (Phillips )

And do not fashion yourselves after this world (EMTV)

Stop being molded by the external and fleeting fashions of this age

The worlds system is summed up in three terms, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the boastful pride of life,” – “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” -{ 1 John 2:16}. Note these three terms describing attitudes, character are not from the Father but from where? “…the world!” Bringing our bodies, thinking under the control of the Holy Spirit in compliance of His WORD is what we continually need to do and walking humbly before Him in a  world where vain, empty arrogant boasting is the pattern for the day, it’s the norm!

” BE TRANSFORMED”

-{Metamorphoo}, the basic meaning is that of changing into a different form. WE GET THE WORD the word metamorphosis,  a biology term explaining the change a worm takes place to transform , change into a beautiful, colorful butterfly. What a change we would agree! How different, so here the change is not superficial but that which reveals a new life, a new creation in Christ! The Word transforms, changes our thinking to align up with what is God’s good, acceptable well pleasing will! His Word reveals His will to us, so we may know what it is, and in submission to His Word we are being changed To “transform”means to change into another form. It was used of Jesus on the Mount of transfiguration, when His appearance was changed into Divine brightness. It begins with our mind as our thinking influences our views and choices we make! His word the key, hear it, submit to it be transformed by the HOLY SPIRIT working Through it as it works in your who believe! It is a call for a change that begins on the inside and is seen on the outside in the ways we live due to the new motivations and truth we hold to.

Look for Jesus when you come to Scripture, “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.“-{Luke 24;27}.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”-{2 Cor 3;18}

His Word working in us.-{ 1 Thess 2;13}

Our beholding Him transforms us -{2 Cor 3;18}

 

“BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND”

‘RENEWING’-{ anakainosis}. Speaks of that which is fresh and new in quality!

“qualitatively new which is derived from a root meaning to turn out fresh and denotes that which is new in its own way) refers to a qualitative renewal or renovation (renovate = from Latin renovatus = past participle of renovare, from re- + novare = to make new, from novus = new) which makes a person different than in the past – new heart, new Lord, new home, new purpose and goal, etc”-{preceptaustin}. In other words you are not who you used to be!

 The basic root meaning of kainos is is the  perfect example of the wholly different and miraculous “spiritual transaction”  which God brings about at the time of regeneration (Titus 3:5note). And it continues all the way through until that day when we see Him face to face. The Holy Spirit uses the word of GOD IN TRANSFORMING BY RENEWING the believers thinking which influences the choices they make as a result. God is at work IN the believers and it is showing as they are being changed displaying a new quality of life! Beginning with presenting our bodies to Him for His glory and not allowing this world to mold our thinking, views as the influence upon our choices in living in this world. The Holy Spirit transform us,by changing our thinking so we can live a way we never could before He saved us. living for Him with HIS value system! This is what it means to have our minds renewed!

Some people may say, “I am FOR The Lord” but what is it that they or we  are CONFORMING AND TRANSMITTING with our lives. Are you being TRANSFORMED? What is the evidence?

The noun anakainosis is used  only here in Romans 12:2 and n Titus 3:5 and it means “to cause something to become new and different with the implication of becoming superior.” What a gift of God from having darkened and ignorant minds outside of Christ in regards Him and His ways…. to having His Spirit to enlighten and illuminate His Word and transform us. We have a new quality of life, mind that is superior than our old when it comes to spiritual knowledge of God, and His Word and will. It is like we have lived in a darkened cave all our lives, groping around unable to see and then the light of the sun breaks in and  all things become new we can see those things that can trip us up and we can see those things that help us! 

Trench says that the renewing of our minds “is the gradual conforming of the man more and more to that new spiritual world into which he has been introduced and in which he now lives and moves…the restoration of the divine image”

The Mind occupied with the LORD Jesus which comes about through hearing, reading, applying His WORD and meditating upon Him and the things from above where He is seated and what He values, the Holy Spirit uses to bring about this transformation. -{Read Luke 24;27; Col 3;1-3}  Fill your mind with JESUS CHRIST. As you have moments free not to have to apply to school, work, as a home maker where you have to give your attention to something, have a verse you are mediating upon and think on it in order to Know Him. For example have you ever thought on how affectionate the LORD Jesus is? How He has displayed it in Scripture and in your life, and how you may do likewise to others. Consider Paul’s words on the subject, ” For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. “-{Phil 1;8}.Jesus Christ is affectionate! Psalm 1;2 says of the “blessed” person that they delight in the Law of the LORD and in it meditate, when? “day and night! “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”- {Psalm 16;8}. “ Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.’ – {Col 3:1-2}. “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,” -{Col 3;16}. ”

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”-{Joshua 1;8}

A. W. Tozer when speaking of the Bible once said “Read it much, read it often, brood over it, think over it, meditate over it—meditate on the Word of God day and night. When you are awake at night, think of a helpful verse { Read 2Pe 1:4– on His Promises}. When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day. The Holy Ghost wrote the Word, and if you make much of the Word, He will make much of you. It is through the Word that He reveals Himself. Between those covers is a living Book. God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive. God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book.”

Vance Havner understood this truth about the power of God’s Word to renew our minds writing that “The storehouse of God’s Word was never meant for mere scrutiny, not even primarily for study but for sustenance. It is not simply a collection of fine proverbs and noble teachings for men to admire and quote as they might Shakespeare. It is ration for the soul, resources of and for the spirit, treasure for the inner man. Its goods exhibited upon every page are ours, and we have no business merely moving respectfully amongst them and coming away none the richer.”

Think as aliens, foreigners in a land that is not Home, for that is truly what we are since our  citizenship is in Heaven from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” { Phil 3;20}. We are on Divine assignment {Read Phil 1;16; Matt 6;33; Matt 5;16}. We need to train our thinking, reign it in when we find we are drifting from His assignment for us.

Augustine wrote “Two cities have been formed by two loves; the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God, the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord”

This new mind is revolutionary, the work of God producing something fresh and new, unlike our mind before Christ saved us which was deeply, bound up in self seeking, self serving, selfishness is what was at the core of our thinking. But with His saving us, He gifted a new quality of mind to think differently and it is a continuous change as we submit our mind to the Word of God and meditating upon it in order to know and do helps us in this transformation of the renewing of our mind!

The Spirit of God having brought us into this new realm now begins to change the way we think. Thinking is so important. We are told we are to love God with all of our… MIND{Read Luke 10:27}. Someone might say , “But I have to work.” Yes God has that covered to as you can love God by the way you love. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,”- {Col 3;23}. Our thinking is to be changes the way we view our work. It can be an attitude and act of worship to the LORD!  Think about your job in a whole new way, who you do your work for! This is renewing your mind and transformed in the way you think and the motivation for why you do what you do!

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”-{Phil 2;5}. It is in our mind where we need this change to continually take place. Change in what we THINK of Him, who He says we are ‘In Christ,’ His Word, and the way we think concerning the system of this world and what it promotes, prohibits, to be transformed within so we live differently without because as His new creations in Christ we are … Different!

Be being transformed, changing on the inside as “living sacrifices”  and by “the renewing of your mind,” so that we may know what is the good, acceptable well pleasing will of God for us. We know HIM, HIS Ways we can identify, know and follow…Be being changed so on the outside the way you live is different, because guess what? You are different, on the inside!

Don’t allow external pressures to mold and shape you after its image, but rather be transformed by renewing your mind through submission to the Holy Spirit and application of The Word be renewed in your mind!

The pressures from the world will at times unashamedly other times subtlety seek to control, mold us but as His Word rules in our lives we will be able to discern, recognize and resist the world’s claims and instead have our minds renewed and to be continually changed from the inside out, with the clarity  to discern His will for us.

Thank God that you can see, perceive, understand the things of GOD and do not have to be squeezed into the pattern of the thinking of the world system. You have a fresh new in quality mind that has been supernaturally given you by the LORD Jesus!

There is Power in the WORD to help us change – {Read Heb 4:12}. Change in out attitudes and action in compliance to His Word in order to Honor Him, help others-{Read Heb 6:10}. His Word applied strengthens us, imparts hope{ Read Rom 15:4}. His Word changes us when applied by us. His Spirit empowers us!

Remember he is writing to believers which teach us it is possible as believers to allow themselves to be squeezed into the thinking and system Jesus died to deliver us from!You can be continually transformed in your thinking, because you have a fresh new mind,

“SO THAT”

Gives the reason, the explanation, for the purpose of the transformation through the renewing of our mind as we are being changed from the inside out…

so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” -{Rom 12:2}

The NLT says, ” Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect HIS will really is.”