Yesterday I was lying in my sister's room,
trying to remember a text of the Word of God that had been on my mind in the
morning.
I opened the Bible forcing my mind to remember
the text. A few minutes later, the Holy Spirit (of course he was), reminded me
of the text was 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."
I mistakenly thought that the text spoke
"transformed the" not me I heed that the right is "be ye
transformed." I thought that we were going to change the world when we do
not conform with it! I was wrong! It is we who are transformed in a process
that will last till the end of our lives.
In short: is the process of Sanctification!
"For this is the will of God, namely, your
sanctification ..." 1 Thessalonians 4.3
Similarly, I've heard many people incorrectly
preaching and talking like me (like me until yesterday), this word of the text.
But by the mercy and grace of God, the Holy Spirit teaches us all things!
Whatever the Spirit want to say here is that:
1) We must not be conformed to this world;
2) To be transformed by the renewing of our
minds;
3) Separating the world by God Holiness.
We, as a Church, we have no ability in
ourselves to change the world around us and it is not what the text means. Only
Jesus Christ can save and transform people. He uses the Church, people, yes,
but who becomes, who does the work, who is the Holy Spirit works! I am not
saying here that God uses the Church as a tool to reach the lost, is not it,
the focus here is that only Jesus can transform people!
Going beyond. This text refers to the Church,
which must conform to the way of living the world has and be transformed by the
renewing spiritual (remembering that the renewal process of understanding /
knowledge is only through the Holy Spirit). And speaking of the world as
diabolical system contrary to the teachings of God. It can only be transformed
who is in fact converted to Jesus Christ.
* Note: Read the entire text of Romans 12
speaks of consecration to God, humility and faithfulness in the use of gifts. There
are also a number of references, that among them are: 1 Pero 1:14 / 1 John 2:25
/ Ephesians 4:23 / Ephesians 5:17 / Colossians 3:10 / 1 Thessalonians 4.3,
among others ...
1 ° Do not be conformed to this world ...
Let's see some references to this text.
In 1 Peter 1:14 says: Exhortation to Holiness.
"As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance."
God is holy and we must be like Him. Can not
live according to the sinful ways of the world. Not that we have not sinned,
but we should not sin willfully. Living in the "church" and the world
is inconceivable by the Word of God. Want to win the world and be within the
Church is impossible! We must not confuse be attending a religious temple to
join the Church of God are different things, though, I am not saying that
anyone who belongs to a religious denomination is not of God, is not it! I'm
just reiterating the difference.
We despise and abhor all that is evil. Jesus
said in John 17:16 He is not the world and also we are not. Live according to
the world, shows that the person is here! Every one that is of the world hates
those who are not. If you are not of this world, as I am not, you can be sure
that many will hate, it's fact.
"For whatsoever is born of God overcomes
the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith." 1
John 5:4
2 ° But be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind ...
"And be renewed in the spirit of your
mind, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness." Ephesians 4:23-24
The text of Ephesians 4, between verses 17 to
the 32, shows us that Christian holiness is opposed to the customs of the
heathen. As discussed above in summary, it is not possible that the church has
the same customs sinful world. Put on the new man, speaks of baptism,
symbolizing that our old man was killed and live in the New Covenant by the
blood of Christ.
"And have put on the new man, which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians
3:10-11
Our "old man" was back with his
deeds. An exhortation to holiness is made again in Colossians 3.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2.6-16 regarding the
profound wisdom of God unto his brethren, that they received and relayed to
others. The wisdom of God needs to be renewed in us daily.
Understanding is knowledge. And knowledge is
the Holy Spirit.
3 ° To prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
The will of God is always good and in this
context, the desire of the Lord is our sanctification, a process of transformation
and salvation daily.
"For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." 1 Thessalonians
4:3-4
The Lord tells us not to be foolish below. The
Lord's will is our sanctification:
"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord."
Ephesians 5:17
Look below this text, magnificent promise that
God gave. But only achieve through sanctification.
"And this is what he promised us, even
eternal life." 1 John 2:25-26
Summary
Do not forget that before the process of
sanctification, is the plan of salvation for man. Here things fit:
Believing the man in Jesus Christ as the only
Savior, repenting and turning from sin, being baptized as a public testimony of
faith, the Lord will performing the process of sanctification in person. The
Holy Spirit will teach and the church is being used in various ways to the
building of God (composed of living stones, people), will be completed.
For God so loves this world (people) that he
gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him (one must believe) not perish
but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The transformation process by the renewing of
our minds (sanctification) is definitely something that we should seek every
day. We must present our bodies to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing,
this is the "spiritual worship"!
The word sanctification is hardly preached
today. Instead, many are teaching that the believer can live up to the world,
where everything is "normal", everything is permitted, everything is
licit, where what is wrong, say it is good, and what is good, that speak is
evil! But it is not the Word of God! Sanctification is a serious thing, and is
only for those who want to!
Undoubtedly, this is just a sketch, because the
Word is an inexhaustible and deep. May the Holy Spirit continue to open our
understanding and will transform us daily!
Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, Amen!
