Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to five 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
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 5) - 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 five parts of this message (see above), we have considered ten 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.
9. Because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.
10. Because this world will corrupt our Christian lives.
This sermon is a companion to five 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
Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 5) - 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 five parts of this message (see above), we have considered ten 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.
9. Because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.
10. Because this world will corrupt our Christian lives.
Answer #11: We are not to be conformed unto this world because “the friendship of the world is enmity with God.”
In James 4:4 we find the warning given, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Brethren, this world does not stand in the place of friendship and fellowship with the Lord our God. Rather, this world stands opposed to our Lord and to the things of our Lord. This world stands in the place of rebellion against our Lord God’s authority and truth. They are ever seeking to put God out of their knowledge. They are ever seeking to cast off God’s rule from their lives. They reject God’s Word of truth and salvation. They refuse to be subject to God’s law and will. Yes, this world stands at “enmity with God.” Even so, when we are “conformed to this world,” when we stand in friendship and fellowship with this world, then we stand with this world at enmity with the Lord our God and Savior. “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Certainly, brethren, this ought not so to be. Certainly, we who are the children of God ought not to stand at enmity with the Lord our God. Certainly, we who are the people of God ought not to join ourselves with the enemies of the Lord our God. Certainly then, we must “be not conformed to this world.”
Answer #12: We are not to be conformed unto this world because “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”
In 1 Corinthians 1:20 God’s Word declares, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” In 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 God’s Word gives the warning, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” In Romans 1:21-22 God’s Word reveals the ways of this world’s wisdom, saying, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Again in Ephesians 4:17-19 God’s Word reveals the ways of the world’s wisdom, saying, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”
What then do we learn from these passages of Scripture? First, we learn that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” Brethren, “the wisdom of this world” will not lead us toward the Lord our God. In fact, “the wisdom of this world” will always lead us away from the Lord our God. It will lead us not to give Him the glory due His name. It will lead us not to rejoice in Him and be thankful unto Him. It will lead us to a spiritual blindness of heart and to a spiritual darkness in understanding. Yea, “the wisdom of this world” will lead us to greater levels of ungodliness and uncleanness; and thereby it will lead us to a place of God’s chastening and judgment. Oh, brethren, if we are conformed to “the wisdom of this world,” it will lead us away from the way of our Lord God’s true wisdom. Yes, this world and “the wisdom of this world” will lead us away from the Lord our God. Certainly then, we who are the people of God should “be not conformed to this world.”
In addition, we learn from these passages of Scripture that “the wisdom of this world” is all vanity by nature. It is not profitable. It is not beneficial. It is not wholesome. It is not healthy. It is not good. It is not helpful. It is empty. It is worthless. It is useless. It is even harmful. That is why our Lord proclaims in 1 Corinthians 3:18, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise [that is – that he may become truly wise in the Lord’s true wisdom].” Certainly then, we should “be not conformed to this world” and to “the wisdom of this world.”
Answer #13: We are not to be conformed unto this world because this world is spiritually fleeting and empty.
In 1 John 2:17 God’s Word declares the truth, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of the Father abideth for ever.” This world and the things of this world do not last. They pass away. They are fleeting. Yet the Lord and the things of the Lord are forever. The things that are done for the Lord are of eternal value, and those who do the will of the Lord will receive eternal reward. Furthermore, in John 14:27 our Lord Jesus Christ promised us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” How does the world give peace? The world gives an empty peace that quickly passes away. Yet the Lord our God gives a peace that “passeth all understanding” (See Philippians 4:7) and that brings “quietness and assurance for ever” (See Isaiah 32:17). Certainly then, we should not waste our affections, energy, and efforts upon the fleeting and empty things of this world. Certainly we who are the children and people of God should set our affection “on things above” (See Colossians 3:2) and should seek first “the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (See Matthew 6:33).
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Romans, Separation, Rebellion against God, Hatred of the Lord, Godly Priorities
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