THE

BELIEVER

AND HIS 

BODY

Romans 12:1-2

Part #2

INTRODUCTION:   We now are ready for the next part or the next step.  The first part has to do with the presentation of the body, which is an initial act, which most likely will have to be constantly reaffirmed in the life of the individual.  Are you ready to at least study it with me.  I am in the same boat as you.  This is where IT IS.  When was the last time you understood the teaching on this vital subject of the believer and his body? I think you can be assured that until Romans 12:1,2 are dealt with in the life of the believer, there is little real growth.

The Rejection of this Age:   v. 2

A. NEGATIVE:    “be not conformed to this world.”

1. Scriptures and Comments on THE WORLD:

a. the word for world here has nothing to do with the actual people of the world, but has to do with the NORMS, the STANDARDS, the VALUES of this world.  

b. Let us expand the meaning of the word WORLD.

1. Galatians 1:4  “to rescue us from this present evil world.”

a. The word evil can mean:  “I am evil and I don’t care what you are.”

b.The word evil can mean:  “ I am evil and I want you to be evil like me.” (this is the meaning here...it is a “penetrating” evil...it wants us to be evil like it is.  It is NOT TRUE when the world tells us that it is “fine if we want to live this way.”  The world wants us to be evil, like it is evil.  “ I am evil and I want you to be evil like me” is the philosophy. 

2. II Cor 4:4...teaches that this world is dominated by Satan.  Satan is called the “god of this world.”

3. Eph 2:2....(is where all unbelievers walk)...”walked according to the course of this world.”  (the word “course” is a word which has to do with the AIMS, GOALS, ASPIRATIONS, VIEWPOINT of this world)  Please do not forget that every unbeliever is: DOMINATED BY MANS VIEWPOINT, ASPIRATIONS, and GOALS.

4. Matt 13:22 talks about the “concerns of this age.”  You may not be out on Saturday night whoring, dancing, drinking, cussing, taking dope, but if you and I are taken up with the CONCERNS of this world, taken up with the GRAVITY PULL OF THE WORLD, then we are in a strong sense, “worldly.”  Lesson:  I don’t do or seldom do any of the vices and sins mentioned above, but I constantly am faced with the “gravity pull” of the world via “concerns” of this age.  You can know if you are being conformed to this world, if you are a TIME SERVER.  If all of your plans are determined by what falls within THIS LIFE, then you are are a TIME SERVER, thus, you are being conformed to this age.  (even if you do not take dope, drink wine, live wicked on weekends)  The idea behind the little word “conforming” in our text is a word from which we get our word “scheme.”  You and I are to stop the “process of being involved with the scheme of this world.”  I forgot, but it is in the IMPERATIVE MOOD...thus, The Holy Spirit is asking me to CHOOSE TODAY TO GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE WORLD. 

B. POSITIVE:   “be ye transformed.”  v. 2  [NOTE:  I think it is worthy of noting that the NEGATIVE comes before the POSITIVE.  You cannot “jump” over the negative part of this verse and just think you can get into the positive...No short cuts, which is the American way]

1. two notations about the word “transformed.”

a. it is in PRESENT TENSE.  This means that the work is never completed...you will always be in process of changing spiritually...never ends...right up to the very day that you take your last breath as a believer.  

b. it is in IMPERATIVE MOOD:  thus it is an appeal to the WILL of the believer.  (will you today make a decision of the will that you want Him to transform you?) Now, you may or may not “feel” something when you make the decision of the will that you want Him to begin the transforming work in your mind.  THE FEELING COMES LATER.....as the mind is being transformed, you will begin to get the SUBJECTIVE SIDE OF TRANSFORMATION.  

2. “Transform” can mean one of two things:

a. first, it can be a change that is OUTWARD VISIBLE....as in Matt 17:2 and Mark 9:2...here the change is visible, observable, outwardly known.

b. second, it can mean an INNER CHANGE...something that the physical eye cannot see.  Important that you turn to II Cor 3:18 and Rom 12:2.

3. Six aspects about this INNER CHANGE from II Cor 3:18 

a. first, the SPIRITUAL condition required for this transformation...is found in the little word, “unveiled face.”  (v. 16).  If you go back to II Cor 3:14, the word VEILED is referred to as unbelieving.  The word UNVEILED  is BELIEVING.  

b. second, notice the MENTAL OCCUPATION that is required:  “beholding” in v. 18.  (This will eliminate many believers, for the word “beholding” involves discipline, time, Bible Study, church attendance. This little word is a“mind” word. The mirror is the Word of God.  It is beholding the Word. Do you have the activity of beholding the Word? 

c. third, note next the DIRECTION of the change:  v. 18...”transformed into His likeness.” Thus, the direction of the change is CHRISTLIKENESS.  The idea is that you LOOK AT A PERSON SO LONG, YOU THEN BEGIN TO LOOK LIKE THEM.  I tell you that there is nothing like the Christlikeness that comes from observation and study and meditation of HIM FROM THE WORD. I might also mention that the little word in K.J. “changed” in v. 18 is the same word as “transfiguration” in Matt 17:2

d. fourth, the PROGRESSIVE nature of the change.  “from glory to glory.”  (v. 18) It does not all happen at once...it is progressive in nature...WARNING:  Please do not get discouraged because the change is slow.  Do not be discouraged if you personally do not immediately see the change. Warning: If you are the FIRST to see the change, then most likely it has not occurred....it is when your friends see the change...that you can know something is happening. 

e. fifth, it is SUPERNATURAL in nature.  “just as by the Spirit.” (You cannot personally make the change, but He can with your consent, your presentation of the body, then He will begin to renew the mind....and as the mind is being renewed, then the habits are being changed, the talk is changed, the eyes are being changed, the listening is being changed, the speech is being changed.....and the result is that others will see it. Warning: The carnal believer will not like the change, for it reflects on their lack of change....thus be prepared that some of the opposition resulting from the change comes not just from the unsaved world but from the Christian world.   

f. sixth, the MENTAL ATTITUDE aspect of the change.  This is made clear in Rom 12:23...”renewing of the mind.”  It all starts with the presentation of the body, then the renewing of the mind is the changing of the HEAD....When the head is changed, then the habits will be changed.  (by the way, you don’t have to go forward nearly as many times when you get your head changed.  Habits that are changed through a head change will last)

1. Warning:  Be sure as you study and memorize the Word, that you are aware of a subtle approach of the devil.  He will try to get you to merely INTELLECTUALIZE from MEMORIZATION, rather than change you personally.  Be sure as you study the Word, memorize the word, that you are like David when he said, “thy word have I hid in my HEART that I might not sin against thee.” You want your change to be the result of the head, the heart, the will all combining together.  If it is “emotional” change, it will not last; if it is intellectual change, then it will be cold and legalistic, unattractive, but when it is combination of will, head, heart, then it is living, vibrant, real, attractive.  

2. The word “transform” hits at three of our biggest problems:

a. STAGNATION:  The word “transform” is in present tense...thus never completed...no chance for stagnation...for we are always being transformed.

b. COMPLACENCY:  I really do not need to say more...this is one of my greatest problems....just being complacent...status quo.  When was the last time you heard a pastor give an invitation to believers who had become complacent?  (most likely, never)

c. PRIDE:  If you ever say, “look at how mature I am as a believer” then you have pride...for if you keep on being changed, from glory to glory, there will be no pride, no complacency, no stagnation. 

C. Positive Continued:  “through the renewing of the mind.”  v. 2

1. “renewing.”  (this is our faculty for thinking).  This eliminates the “emotional jerk” approach.  The transformation comes through the faculty of THINKING.  Now, this should help some who are always looking for the change to be reflected in HOW YOU FEEL.  When you think right, there will be an emotional change, but just remember, it is the MIND FIRST, then THE EMOTIONS.  (the order is important) I love decisions in churches where people have an EMOTIONAL RESPONSE to a MENTAL TRANSFORMATION being carried on in the life.  

2. what we have done in our churches:  We have divided or split our WORSHIP and our BIBLE STUDY.  Many churches think that when you worship, you do not study and when you study, you do not worship.  They practice in essence that the two are different and nearly imply that they are not compatible.  This is why in most so called “worship services” there is no Bible Study.  They just sing hymns, have praise, hand raising, testimony time, light, frothy, feelings oriented, usually a lot of quiet music to soothe the senses.  What they are saying is that BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP ARE INCOMPATIBLE.....or certainly that they DO NOT BLEND. 

THE RESULTS OF THE RENEWING:    (v. 2)    “prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

1. Results listed:

a. “that”   little word that means “direction toward.”

b. “prove what the will of God is.”

1. prove: means to “put to a test” or the “act of putting to a test.”  It is the same word as in I Cor 16:3...”approve by your letters.”  Same as Phil 1:1O...”approve the things that are excellent.”  The latter part of v. 2 does NOT mean that we will have “precise knowledge of the content of the will of God.”  It DOES mean that we “will appreciate the will of God.” It is the teaching that we may DISCERN the nature of His will, not the CONTENT in every situation.  The nature of His will is described as GOOD, PERFECT, ACCEPTABLE.  

c. good:  means, it is PLEASING.

d. perfect:  means, anything that “reaches its goal.”

2. Conclusion on Romans 12:1,2

a. The Body Presented  (initial act)

b. Plus, the Mind being renewed  (process)

c. Equals an appreciation of the nature of His will

d. And the maturing believer will be saying three things about the will of God...It is good, pleasing and perfect.