NOT CONFORMED BUT TRANSFORMED

by David Kuykendall

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. " Romans 12:2


In Romans 12:1 Paul writes, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

In Romans 6:13, Paul tells his readers to "make available to God their members as instruments of righteousness." When we understand that with the word "members" Paul is talking about our bodies, we see that Romans 12:1 is the same as Romans 6:13. The 6:13 command is preceded by four other commands. It could very well be that Paul has in mind those other commands also in his statement in 12:1

By beginning Romans 12:2 with "and," the passage indicates that there is a relationship between making our bodies available to God and not being conformed to the world but being transformed.

Believers who talk like people of the world often talk, go where they often go, do what they often do, laugh about what they often laugh about are being conformed to the world. Like the unsaved the believer is walking in the flesh.

In Romans 8.5 Paul writes, "When we walk in the flesh, our minds are on the things of the flesh. When we walk in the Spirit our minds are on the things of the Spirit."

We walk in the Spirit when we are filled with the Spirit by living out our oneness with Christ. When believers walk in the Spirit, their minds are on the things of the Spirit and they are continually being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. And Jesus is increasingly seen in them.

Copyright © 2000-2005 David Kuykendall Ministries. Used with permission
www.livingbygrace.org.