Do Not Be Conformed To This World
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
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.
1. In our text, we note the
command: "And be not conformed to
this world..."
2. What does the word
"conformed" mean to you...?
a. Is it just a word that we quickly glance
over?
3. We need to be very
familiar with the concept of "conformity"...
a. Not just to understand what Paul is
saying
b. But because this word plays a very
important role in our lives, whether young or old
A. THE DEFINITION MEANS...
1. To conform to another's pattern
2. The desires to be like someone else
a. Do what they do
b. Say what they say
c. Wear what they wear
A conformist has no life changing experience
they are persons who live their lives without individuality.
Whatever the majority
consensus is they adopt and practice.
Never experiencing purpose.
·
A conformist, therefore, is someone who:
a. Is afraid to be different
b. Feels a need to be like everyone
else
There is tremendous pressure to conform to the standards of the group
In the last century we had
communism demanding whole nations of people to conform to the ideas of a
government.
In modern day
Such as African American
A Mail carrier or postal
worker
The whole idea stems from
people needing recognition for equality
The Pharisee and the
Sadducee the religious order of their day demanded the people to conform to
their legalistic religion. We even see that today in Roman Catholicism.
We must be careful of not falling into the trap of
vain deceit and the philosophy of man.
(
C. THERE IS
A DANGER OF CONFORMITY...
1. It can easily lead you to do things
you know are wrong
Once you give in, the next time
conformity is easier
3. Conformity to the things of this world
shows the lack of love for God!
1 Jn 2: 15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
a. By giving in to the lust of the
flesh (immorality)
b. By succumbing to the lust of the eyes
(materialism)
c. By yielding to the pride of life
(arrogance)
It is easy to get caught up
in the trap
It is easy to want to keep
up with Jones’s
It is easy to want the
acceptance of others
A. BE A TRANSFORMIST, NOT A CONFORMIST...
1. A conformist (as used here) is one
who...
a. Undergoes a superficial, shallow
change
b. They are a cheap imitation, letting
others do their thinking for them
My bible says:
(2 Tim 2:15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. A transformist is one who...
a. Undergoes a real change (like a
caterpillar becoming a butterfly)
b. They experiences a true
"renewal"
·
That begins with conversion –
(Titus 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
·
Then continues as we go through life –
(2 Cor 4:16) For which cause we faint not; but though our
outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
·
There are reasons why many conform
1) A feeling of insecurity (but for
the believer we know that God loves us, we are special!
(1 John 3:1) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2) the conformist has the desire to
follow the crowd (yet the believer knows the ultimate end of following the
world
(1 John 2:17) And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
b. The characteristics of a conformist
marks the difference between...
1) Christians who are truly
converted
2) Those who are shallow imitators
of true disciples
B. BE A
LEADER, NOT A FOLLOWER...
1. A transformist is a leader
a. Who "proves" to others
what is good, acceptable and perfect
- Ro 12:2
1) They Present their bodies as
living and holy sacrifices -
Ro 12:1
2) They have the courage to say
"no" to things that are wrong
b. The example of their lives helps
others fight off the pressures to conform
1) Giving others the strength to
say "no"
2) Encouraging others to do what is
right -
Josh 24: 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in
sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the
other side of the flood, and in
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the
LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the
LORD.
2. A conformist is but a simple follower
a. Letting others do their thinking
for them
b. Letting others lead them into
harm's way
1. Everyone experiences the pressure
to conform to the standards and practices of the world...
a. Especially the young who are so
impressionable
b. But even those who older are persuaded by
those in positions of power and influence
2. We can either buckle
under and be led by those destroying their own bodies, minds, and souls
Or look to Jesus, the true nonconformist,
and be transformed by the renewing of our minds
(Rom 8:29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren.