Copyright © 1997 Peter Wade.
From the book, The Dynamics of Renewing the Mind, now revised and reprinted as Renewing Your Mind (Positive Principles Book 3).
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The Dynamics of Renewing the Mind
2 The Command is Clear
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). The key verse can be divided into three parts: a negative command, a positive command, and the result of the action.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..." Some
translations throw light on the word "conform", although it is an adequate
translation of the text. "Don't copy...", "Do not imitate...", "Adapt
yourselves no longer...", "Instead of being moulded...", and perhaps the most
expressive of all, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own
mould..." (Phillips). The world is trying to do just this. Every day, through
the media, through advertising, through the influence of family and friends,
the world attempts to squeeze you into its accepted lifestyle. This conformity
goes far beyond keeping up with current trends in clothing fashions or the
latest model cars. There are many subtle ways in which both commerce and
government are trying to get you away from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Any suggestion that is contrary to my completeness in Him, to my being the
righteousness of God in Christ, to my being blessed with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenlies, comes from one source: Satan. God wants the best
for me, He has provided the best for me by sending His Son to Calvary's cross,
and anything contrary to this is to be rejected.
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The Greek word here translated "conform" is used in only one other verse in the
New Testament. "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you
had when you lived in ignorance" (I Peter 1:14). The "evil desires" are
stored in your mind and did not get eradicated when you experienced the new
birth. They are based upon the backlog of sense knowledge collected since
birth. Now that you are a child of God, these desires need to be replaced with
the promises of the Word, and the way to do this is to renew the mind.
Let us also look at the words "the pattern of this world". It is not the
physical world that is mentioned here; there is an entirely different Greek
word to describe the earth. The words would be better translated "this age".
This lengthy but expressive definition by R.C. Trench will clarify the word:
"We speak of `the times', attaching to the word an ethical signification; or,
still more to the point, `the age', `the spirit or genius of the age'... All
that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, maxims, speculations, hopes,
impulses, aims, aspirations, at any time current in the world, which it may be
impossible to seize and accurately define, being the moral, or immoral,
atmosphere which at every moment of our lives we inhale, again inevitably to
exhale, -- all this is included in the [age]" (Synonyms of the New
Testament, page 204).
Luke 20:34, 35 speaks of two ages: "Jesus replied, `The people of this age
marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking
part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor
be given in marriage'" (Luke 20:34-35). We are not to be conformed to
this age, but to thatage which is coming. Galatians 1:4 speaks of
Christ, "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil
age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Galatians 1:4). The Word
of God has much to say about the age in which we live, and very little of what
it says is in its favour. It speaks of its walk (Ephesians 2:1-2), its worries
(Matthew 13:22), its wisdom (I Corinthians 2:6, 3:18), its riches (I Timothy
6:17), its disputers (I Corinthians 1:20), its chief men (I Corinthians 2:8),
its children (Luke 16:8), and finally, this present age has its god (II
Corinthians 4:4). Look up each of these references. The Word of God certainly
does not paint a glowing picture of this present age. No wonder we are
commanded not to conform to it!
There are two reactions that can be taken to this present evil age. The first
is suggested in II Timothy 4:10, "...for Demas, because he loved this world,
has deserted me..." This is conformity to the spirit of the age because of
the outward comforts and pleasures it provides. The other reaction is given in
Titus 2:11, 12, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to
all men. It teaches us to say `No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to
live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." The
second reaction demands non-conforming believers.
The negative command, then, stands out in great clarity and simplicity, for God has never asked us to do anything that is impossible. His command is: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..."
Now revised and reprinted as Renewing Your Mind (Positive Principles Book 3).
Copyright © 1979 Peter Wade. Revised 1996.
The Bible text in this publication, except where otherwise indicated, is from the New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.
This article appears on the site: http://www.peterwade.com/.
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