Not Conformed to This World Romans 12:2

Paul the apostle told the believing people in Rome, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”, and in chapter twelve and verse two of Romans, Paul told his believing readers, “be not conformed to this world” where we read:

And 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.

The verse begins, “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ...” Paul began with the words, “and be not conformed” which means “do not be fashioned in one's mind and character to another's pattern” “to this world” which refers to “this certain unbroken age and perpetuity of time”: “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “be transformed” which means “be changed into another form and transfigured” “by the renewing” which means “through and by means of the renovation and complete change for the better” “of your mind” or “pertaining to the believing people in Rome's faculties of perceiving and understanding those feelings, judging and determining”. Paul exhorted the believing people in Rome's fashioning themselves to the “current age”, and they should rather be “completely changed” in their “faculties of perceiving and understanding”.

The verse goes on to say, “... that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Paul continued with the words, “that you may prove” or “so the believers in Rome could test, examine, scrutinize, approve and recognize as genuine” “what is that good” which means “that which is of good constitution or nature, useful, salutary, pleasant and agreeable” “acceptable” which means “well pleasing”, “and perfect” or “that which is brought to its end, finished and wanting nothing necessary to completeness”, “will of God” which refers to “the wish, choice, purpose, inclination, desire and pleasure pertaining to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. The believers in Rome were not to be “conformed to the world” and “transformed by the renewing” of their “minds” so they would know God's “complete and well pleasing” “purpose, inclination and desire”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see his desire to have the believers in Rome kept away from the “world's way” and “transformed” to the ways of God. By complying, these believers would “know” God's “perfect will” for their lives. When Jesus Christ comes into a person's life, their entire outlook is altered, and the ways of “this world” are not to be their desire. They are to search for and live after God's ways, and when they do, they shall discover His desire for their lives. There is no better way to live than after the ways of God, and those who are wise shall not only submit to Him, but also seek after His “will” for their lives.

Next time we see Paul tell his believing readers in Rome, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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