Apr 12, 2020
Originally Presented: June 22nd, 2008
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2
After urging us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God as our "service of worship," in Romans 12:1, Paul goes on to describe for us the means of obeying that command. The root of a holy life is a holy mind … a mind that has been transformed by the Holy Spirit. To experience such a transformation, we must break away from conformity to this age ("Do not be conformed to this world . . .").
There is a helpful description of the mindset of this world in 1 John 2:16. First, the world is characterized by the “lust of the flesh,” which is a corruption of bodily desires. To misuse God’s gifts of food or drink or sex is to love the world more than Him. Second, the world is characterized by the “lust of the eyes,” which is the greed and envy that always longs for more, rather than to be satisfied with the Lord. Third, the world is characterized by the “pride of life,” which is an arrogant boasting in ourselves and in our accomplishments, instead of humbling ourselves before God in acknowledgement that He is due all honor.
In contrast to the will of God, which is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom 12:2), the worldly perspective seen in 1 John 2:16 is “not from the Father” and thus is neither good nor satisfying (1 Jn 2:16). Furthermore, the world is passing away and therefore is not worthy of our dearest affections (1 Jn 2:17).