Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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. 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.”
In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God. Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God. This first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.” The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.” Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world. We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks. We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the same activities that this world has. Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does. We are to “be not conformed to this world.”
Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world”? God’s Holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question. Already in the first part of the message, we have considered three of these answers. We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, and (3) because this world is willfully without God.
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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. 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.”
In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God. Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God. This first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.” The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.” Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world. We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks. We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the same activities that this world has. Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does. We are to “be not conformed to this world.”
Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world”? God’s Holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question. Already in the first part of the message, we have considered three of these answers. We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, and (3) because this world is willfully without God.
Answer #4: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world is under Satan’s deception.
Speaking of a future time, Revelation 12:9 states, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Brethren, there is coming a time when the devil will be cast out of heaven, never to return. At the time of His rebellion against God, he was cast out of his position in heaven. Yet now, according to Revelation 12:10, the devil is accusing the children of God “before our God day and night.” Yet a time is coming when the devil will be cast out of heaven, never to accuse us before our God again. Praise the Lord! However, Revelation 12:9 reveals another activity of the devil. There we find that he “deceiveth the whole world.” To this 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 adds, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world [that is – the devil] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” In heaven the devil is accusing the brethren. On the earth the devil is deceiving the world and is keeping the world from coming unto Christ. Certainly then, we should not be conformed to a world that is under the deception of the devil. Certainly then, we should not be like and be in agreement with such a world; lest we ourselves also be overcome by the deceptive influence of our adversary the devil.
Answer #5: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world is following Satan’s direction.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 the devil is called “the god of this world.” The devil is not the Lord God of the heaven and the earth. Yet the devil is the god of this world’s evil system. In like manner, three times in the gospel of John (12:31; 14:30; 16:11) our Lord Jesus Christ called the devil “the prince of this world.” All of ungodliness, unrighteousness, wickedness, and evil that is to found in this world’s system are directed by the devil himself. In fact, Ephesians 6:12 speaks of the spiritual “rulers of the darkness of this world.” Now, this verse is not speaking of human rulers. It specifically says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This verse is speaking of the evil angelic forces that have followed the devil’s leadership in rebellion against God. Even so, the devil himself is the ruler over these “rulers of the darkness of this world.” The devil himself is the chief ruler over all of the darkness of this present evil world. Finally, in Ephesians 2:2 the devil is called “the prince of the power of the air.” There we read, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Brethren, right now the devil is working in the hearts and lives of the children of disobedience. Right now the course of this world’s system is directed by the devil himself. Certainly then, we who are the God’s own children should not be like and be in agreement with this Satan-directed world. Certainly then, we should not be “conformed to this world.”
Answer #6: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world is evil and wicked by nature.
In Mark 8:38 our Lord Jesus Christ referred to this world’s system as “this adulterous and sinful generation.” In Galatians 1:4 this world’s system is called as “this present evil world.” 1 John 5:19 declares, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” The whole world’s system is immersed in the wickedness of the devil, the wicked one. Describing the Satan-directed course of this world’s system and the activities of the Satan-directed children of disobedience, Ephesians 2:2-3 states, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” This Satan-directed system is a system that is completely given over to “the lusts of our flesh.” It is a system that is completely given over to our own way, instead of God’s own way. It is a system that is completely given over to fulfilling the desires of our own flesh and our own mind, instead of obeying the will of God. Even so, 1 John 2:15-17 gives the instruction, “Love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Here we learn that the system of this world stands in direct contrast to the will of our God. Here we learn also that the system of this world is completely bound up in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Yea, here we learn that a love for this world and its system is in direct opposition to a love for the Lord our God. Brethren, if we have love for this world and its system, we do not have love for God our heavenly Father. On the other hand, if we truly have love for God our heavenly Father, we will not have love for this world and its system. Indeed, if we truly walk in love for the Lord our God and heavenly Father, we will not be “conformed to this world.”
Speaking of a future time, Revelation 12:9 states, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Brethren, there is coming a time when the devil will be cast out of heaven, never to return. At the time of His rebellion against God, he was cast out of his position in heaven. Yet now, according to Revelation 12:10, the devil is accusing the children of God “before our God day and night.” Yet a time is coming when the devil will be cast out of heaven, never to accuse us before our God again. Praise the Lord! However, Revelation 12:9 reveals another activity of the devil. There we find that he “deceiveth the whole world.” To this 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 adds, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world [that is – the devil] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” In heaven the devil is accusing the brethren. On the earth the devil is deceiving the world and is keeping the world from coming unto Christ. Certainly then, we should not be conformed to a world that is under the deception of the devil. Certainly then, we should not be like and be in agreement with such a world; lest we ourselves also be overcome by the deceptive influence of our adversary the devil.
Answer #5: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world is following Satan’s direction.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 the devil is called “the god of this world.” The devil is not the Lord God of the heaven and the earth. Yet the devil is the god of this world’s evil system. In like manner, three times in the gospel of John (12:31; 14:30; 16:11) our Lord Jesus Christ called the devil “the prince of this world.” All of ungodliness, unrighteousness, wickedness, and evil that is to found in this world’s system are directed by the devil himself. In fact, Ephesians 6:12 speaks of the spiritual “rulers of the darkness of this world.” Now, this verse is not speaking of human rulers. It specifically says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This verse is speaking of the evil angelic forces that have followed the devil’s leadership in rebellion against God. Even so, the devil himself is the ruler over these “rulers of the darkness of this world.” The devil himself is the chief ruler over all of the darkness of this present evil world. Finally, in Ephesians 2:2 the devil is called “the prince of the power of the air.” There we read, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Brethren, right now the devil is working in the hearts and lives of the children of disobedience. Right now the course of this world’s system is directed by the devil himself. Certainly then, we who are the God’s own children should not be like and be in agreement with this Satan-directed world. Certainly then, we should not be “conformed to this world.”
Answer #6: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world is evil and wicked by nature.
In Mark 8:38 our Lord Jesus Christ referred to this world’s system as “this adulterous and sinful generation.” In Galatians 1:4 this world’s system is called as “this present evil world.” 1 John 5:19 declares, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” The whole world’s system is immersed in the wickedness of the devil, the wicked one. Describing the Satan-directed course of this world’s system and the activities of the Satan-directed children of disobedience, Ephesians 2:2-3 states, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” This Satan-directed system is a system that is completely given over to “the lusts of our flesh.” It is a system that is completely given over to our own way, instead of God’s own way. It is a system that is completely given over to fulfilling the desires of our own flesh and our own mind, instead of obeying the will of God. Even so, 1 John 2:15-17 gives the instruction, “Love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Here we learn that the system of this world stands in direct contrast to the will of our God. Here we learn also that the system of this world is completely bound up in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Yea, here we learn that a love for this world and its system is in direct opposition to a love for the Lord our God. Brethren, if we have love for this world and its system, we do not have love for God our heavenly Father. On the other hand, if we truly have love for God our heavenly Father, we will not have love for this world and its system. Indeed, if we truly walk in love for the Lord our God and heavenly Father, we will not be “conformed to this world.”
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