Ike’s Notes
WARFARE
BRIEFING
Conquering
The Thought Life
(8)
Romans 12:2 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.
This verse contains three important words about changing the way Christians should think.
Conformed: from the Greek word, suschematizo to fashion or shape one thing like another. This verb refers to a thing that is transitory, changeable, unstable. This Greek word cannot be used to mean inward transformation. Be not is a negative present imperative verb that tells us to Stop doing this! Do not let this continue any longer! Go on refusing to be conformed!
Transformed: the Greek word, metamorphoo means to change into another form (meta, implying change, and morphe, form), is used of Christ’s transfiguration (Mt.17:2; Mk.9:2). Here “be ye transformed,” the obligation being to undergo a complete change, which under the power of God, will find expression in character and conduct. The word morphe lays stress on the inward change, and schema lays stress on the outward.
Be: transformed; present imperative verb is a commitment to a long-term way of doing something. A command to keep on doing an action as one’s general habit or life style. Keep on being transformed by the continual renewing of your mind.
Renewing: Gk. anakainosis; The adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, a willing response on the part of the believer.
The world system is evil and under the rule of Satan. We must despise what is evil, love what is righteous, and refuse to yield to various forms of worldliness that constantly surround us.
Prove: to approve or allow; a present tense verb; constantly allowing or continuously approving God’s will. However, we must realize it is not God’s will that we be changed only on the inside. He wants to manifest this salvation in our physical lives also. That takes place through the renewing of our minds.
I will no longer be squeezed into the world’s unstable fashion! But I will continually allow my mind to be completely transformed (changed from within), by the power of God’s Word, so that I may prove in practice that His plan for me is good, it pleases Him, and is perfected in me.
