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
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues and proves various doctrines which are practically applied, here urges important duties from gospel principles. He entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.
It is not those sitting in heavenly places, imitators of God as dear children, but men on earth set free by the delivering power of redemption and grace, yielding themselves up to God to do His will. The exhortation follows the character we have seen to be that of the epistle.
Thus the christian walk was characterised by devotedness and obedience. It was a life subjected to the will of another, namely, to the will of God; and therefore stamped with humility and dependence. But there was absolute devotedness of heart in self-sacrifice. For there was a danger, flowing from the power that acted in it, of the flesh coming in and availing itself of it. With regard to this, every one was to have a spirit of wisdom and moderation, and to act within the limits of the gift which God had dispensed to him, occupying himself with it according to the will of God; even as each member has its own place in the body, and should accomplish the function which God has ascribed to it. The apostle passes on insensibly to all the forms which duty assumes in the Christian, according to the various positions in which he stands, and to the spirit in which he ought to walk in every relationship.
1. Transformation starts on the inside
-Rom. 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”-Like a butterfly’s metamorphosis, change starts from within. For us, change starts within the mind.
2. Transformation moves from inside-out
-Rom. 12:2 “…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”-Change starts from within, but works it’s way outside for others to see. This is the proof or the evidence that God is at work in you.–Without real transformation, you have stagnation. Stagnation can breed “Transformation Imitation”–Outward-only, superficial religious changes that have no real transforming power, because God is not the One doing it.
3. Two great examples of genuine,
God-powered wide-spreading transformations were in the lives of Martin Luther (1519) and John Wesley (1738), both of which directly came through the “Gospel” of the book of Romans.
4. How can God begin a transformation in me?
A. By winning us over with his mercies -Rom. 12:1a, “…therefore brethern, by the mercies of God -Eleven previous chapters of God’s mercies in the book of Romans woo us into the molding hands of God.
B. By accepting us as holy sacrifices -Rom. 12:1b, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God -Through the love and sacrifice of Christ, we who are unholy, dead in sin are considered now living and acceptable sacrifices in Him who now present ourselves as crucified and freed from sin (see Rom. 6.6).
C. By renewing our minds -Rom. 12:2, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind -Wiersbe says, “If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer; if God controls your thinking, you are a transformer.”
