Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to four previous sermons:
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 3) - Romans 12:2
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 4) - 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 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. The 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 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 three parts of this message (see above), we have considered nine 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, (3) because this world is willfully without God, (4) because this world is under Satan’s deception, (5) because this world is following Satan’s direction, (6) because this world is evil and wicked by nature, (7) because we have been delivered out of this world, (8) because we are not of this world, but of the Lord our God, and (9) because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.
This sermon is a companion to four previous sermons:
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 3) - Romans 12:2
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 4) - 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 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. The 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 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 three parts of this message (see above), we have considered nine 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, (3) because this world is willfully without God, (4) because this world is under Satan’s deception, (5) because this world is following Satan’s direction, (6) because this world is evil and wicked by nature, (7) because we have been delivered out of this world, (8) because we are not of this world, but of the Lord our God, and (9) because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.
Answer #10: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world will corrupt our Christian lives.
In Colossians 2:8 the warning is given, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Brethren, let us take serious note of the warnings in God’s Holy Word. Let us “BEWARE!” Let us be on our guard. Let us be awake and alert to the things that will “spoil” us. “Beware lest any man spoil you.” Let us take note that we will be spoiled “through philosophy and vain deceit.” Let us take note that this “philosophy and vain deceit” is “after the tradition of men.” It encompasses the ideas and opinions of men that are “not after Christ.” It is the so-called “wisdom of men” that stands opposed to the wisdom of God as revealed in the Word of God. Let us take note that these philosophies of men, these ideas and opinions of men, this so-called “wisdom of men,” is “vain deceit.” It is not the truth of God. It is the deception of the devil. It is not healthy and wholesome for our Christian lives. It is “vain deceit.” It is empty and worthless deception. It is destructive and damaging to our Christian lives. It will “spoil” our Christian lives. Even so, let us take note that these philosophies of men are “the rudiments of the world.” The so-called “wisdom of men” that is directed by the destructive deception of the devil is the very foundation and first principles of this world’s system. Yea, let us take to heart and take heed to the warning of our Lord God’s Holy Word – that the things of this world will “spoil” us. Again I say – Let us “BEWARE!” Let us flee fast and far from these things. Let us “be not conformed to this world,” for it will spoil and corrupt our Christian lives.
Furthermore, 1 John 2:15 the command is given, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. [Why?] If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Brethren, love for this world and for the things of this world will destroy our love for the Lord our God and heavenly Father. Even so, in Luke 16:13 our Lord Jesus Christ delivered the warning, saying, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [the things of this world].” We cannot love both the world and the Lord our God at the same time. We must choose. If we “love the world, the love of the Father is not” in us. If we choose to be conformed unto this present evil world, if we set our affection upon the things of this present evil world, if we love this present evil world and hold to the things of this present evil world, then we will hate and despise our Lord and the things of the Lord. Indeed, the two words “hate” and “despise” are the very words of contrast that our Lord Jesus Christ presented in Luke 16:13. Is it any wonder that so many professing believers have so little love and respect for the things of the Lord? Is it any wonder that so many professing believers actually hate and despise the things of the Lord? Is it any wonder that so many professing believers do not demonstrate their love for the Lord by keeping His commandments? It is because their love is set upon the world. It is because they are holding to this world. It is because they are being conformed to this world. Yes, to love this world and to be conformed to this world will corrupt our Christian lives. It will destroy our love and obedience to our Lord. In fact, it will turn our hearts to hate and despise our Lord and the things of our Lord. Certainly then, we should “be not conformed to this world.”
Finally, we find from God’s Holy Word that a love for this world and for the things of this world will destroy our service and fruitfulness for our Lord. In Mark 4:3-9 our Lord Jesus Christ told “the parable of the sower,” saying – “Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Then in Mark 4:18-19 our Lord Jesus Christ gave His own explanation concerning the third ground from “the parable of the sower,” saying, “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Brethren, we are the servants of the Lord our God and Savior. Our Lord has chosen us and ordained us that we “should go and bring forth fruit.” (John 15:16) We have been called to be “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) Yet, as our Lord declared in Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters.” We cannot serve both the Lord our God and the things of this world at the same time. By definition, it is spiritually impossible. Is it any wonder then that so many professing believers give themselves so little to serve the Lord their God and Savior? Is it any wonder then that so many professing believers bring forth so little fruit unto the glory of God? Is it any wonder then that so many professing believers bring forth “no fruit to perfection”? It is because their hearts and lives are filled with, and “choked” by “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” It is because their affections are set upon the things of this world. It is because they are holding to, and are entangled by the things of this world.
Certainly then, we should “be not conformed to this world.” This world and the things of this world will “spoil” our Christian lives, destroy our love for the Lord, and “choke out” our service and fruitfulness for our Lord. This world and the things of this world will cause us to forsake our Lord and the things of our Lord, even as they did in the life of Demas. Even so, in 2 Timothy 4:10 the apostle Paul had to give the sad report – “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.” Because he set his love upon this world and upon the things of this world, Demas forsook the man of God and the work of the Lord. The world corrupted his Christian life, and it will do the same to yours.
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Romans, Separation, Godly Priorities, Sin of Materialism, Rebellion against God
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