By Staff
We exist in time and space. It is called the world. All we must do to be conformed is nothing. The world system and the world patterns press in on every side.
From our earliest memories, somebody or something was shaping and molding us to be and act in some prescribed manner.
The Christian life is other; it is not of this world. It is from above (James 3:15).
The apostle Paul exhorts us as follows, in Romans, chapter 12, verse 2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Conforming is a natural process; transformation is divinely inspired and energized by the Spirit of God.
The apostle Paul enlarges this thought in the epistle to the Colossians, chapter 2, verses 20-22: "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!' These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings."
Paul continues, in verse 23, telling us that there is an "appearance of wisdom." There is self-imposed worship, false humility, and harsh treatment of the body; but none of those practices based on world patterns have any value in restraining sensual indulgences. The one thing that should set the Christ-follower apart is the fact that through the power of the Living Christ, they can say, "No!" to sensual indulgence.
We can all recognize the overt attitudes and actions of being conformed to the world, but what escapes us, is that religion, that is, man-made rules and regulations can trap us and keep us from the true transformation that only Christ offers.
To be conformed to the world, do nothing; the process will engulf us. Transformation is completely different.
Transformation comes by renewing the mind.
There is only one way to renew the mind; it is by the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God; it is the only divine visible thing we have.
The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews tells us in chapter 4, verse 12, "The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
The Bible is more than ink on paper; it is the means by which we touch and feel the heart of God. The Bible is the grid we must continually pass every thought through to see whether we are following Christ or the world.
Paul said, in Colossians, chapter 2, verse 20, "you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world." The death that Paul is talking about is salvation in Christ, obediently giving our life to Christ according to the gospel.
The gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 12, speaks of the divine process of salvation: "To all who received Him [Jesus], to those who believed in His [Jesus'] name, He gave the right to become children of God."
Salvation in Christ makes us "new creatures" (2 Corinthians 5:17), but the transformation Paul is talking about in Romans is going on to maturity in Christ and becoming fully Christ-centered.
The renewing of the mind, which produces transformation in Christ and counters conforming to the world, is a life-long process and cannot be accomplished apart from the Word of God being ministered by the Spirit of God.
The true test is, how much like Jesus Christ are we?