Saturday, April 1, 2017

Transformed Not Conformed.

Rom_12:2  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.

Be NOT conformed.

When you conform to something, what are you doing exactly?

Conform- dictionary definition-

con·form

comply with rules, standards, or laws.
(of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards.
be similar in form or type; agree.

From <https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=conform&*>

We are to be NOT conformed to what? The world.  We are not being told to break rules, but maybe in a way we could be told that. If the world's rules are contrary to God's will we surely shouldn't conform to those rules. The same goes for worldly standards and laws, right? If a law were enacted that we must burn our Bibles, should we conform to that law? God doesn't want us to conform to the worldly socially acceptable conventions if they contradict Him and His ways. We are NOT to be similar in form or type, or even agree with the worldly ways because the world is not God's.

I'll say that again.  The world is NOT God's.

Joh_15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Joh_17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh_17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh_17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

If the world were God's would our Savior say- 'They are NOT of the world, even as I am not of the world.' ?

If the world was under God's rule then being part of the world would be acceptable. The world however is under another's leadership.

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 
Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 
Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

Satan tells Jesus that he will give Him what?  All the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them.

Did Jesus tell Satan that they weren't his to give? No, He did not. The fact that ALL the kingdoms of the world belonged to Satan was not in dispute. So, is it any wonder we should NOT be conformed to the world, the world is under Satan's power.  We can be IN the world and not be OF the world. Just like you can be in a group of people who all love the color red and you love the color yellow. You're still in the group but your preferred color does not conform to the others. You are in but not of, and we must be in and not of this world. If we long to fit in, if this standard is the one we hold up for ourselves then we are purposefully choosing not to follow God's will. 

We will be conformed to this world if we are not being transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ.

We must be TRANSFORMED not CONFORMED.

By the grace and will of God may this be our choice- to be transformed, to be renewed in our minds towards God's will- not the world's will, not our own will, but God's.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

No comments: