Romans 12:2
(KJV) 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.
(GW) Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
(TLB) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.
(MSG) Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
There are two keys to knowing God's will for a given situation:
1) Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing is not something the Bible forbids.
2) Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing will glorify God and help you grow spiritually.
If these two things are true and God still is not giving you what you are asking, then it is likely not God’s will for you to have what you are asking for. Or, perhaps you just need to wait a while longer for it. Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult. People want God to tell them specifically what to do—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, etc. God rarely gives people information that direct and specific. God allows us to make choices regarding those things.
Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will. God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will.
So, how do you know what God’s will is for you? If you are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life, God will place His desires on your heart. The key is wanting God’s will, not your own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). If the Bible does not speak against it and it can genuinely benefit you spiritually, then the Bible gives you the “permission” to make decisions and to follow your heart. If you truly seek God’s will with a humble spirit and an open mind, He will reveal His will to you.
Conformed comes from the Greek: suschematizo (GSN-<G4964>), to conform to another's example. The Lord is asking us not to pattern after this age or to the times (Hebrews 1:2) but to be transformed from the Greek: metamorphoo (GSN-<G3339>), transformed or transfigured by a supernatural change, as in Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2; Romans 12:2; 2Corinthians 3:18. This change is by a renewing of the mind or spirit (Titus 3:5; 2Corinthians 4:16; Colossians 3:10; Hebrews 6:6; Ephesians 4:23).
Six things that constitute the acceptable and perfect will of God, that which has reached its end; nothing more to complete it:
1. Present your bodies a living sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1; 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:20).
2. Make the body holy (Rom. 12:1; 2Cor. 7:1).
3. Make self acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1).
4. Render reasonable service (Rom. 12:1).
5. Be not conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2).
6. Be transformed from the world (Rom. 12:2).
Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.
This part of the verse might be rendered, that ye may investigate the will of God, or ascertain the Will of God, what is good, and perfect, and acceptable. The will of God relates to his commands in regard to our conduct, his doctrines in regard to our belief, his providential dealings in relation to our external circumstances. It means what God demands of us, in whatever way it may be made known. They do not err from his ways who seek his guidance, and who, not confiding in their own wisdom, but in God, commit their way to him. “The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way”. The word “good” here is not an adjective agreeing with “will,” but a noun. “That ye may find the will of God, what is good and acceptable.” It implies that that thing which is good is his will; or that we may find his will by finding what is good and perfect. That is good which promotes the honor of God and the interests of his universe.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 37:4; Psalm 19:7-11, 25:9; 119:47-48, 119:72, 119:97, 119:103, 119:128, 119:174; Proverbs 3:1-4; 3:13-18; Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2; Romans 12:1-2, 7:12, 7:14, 7:22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; ; 4:46; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; Colossians 3:10; 4:12; Hebrews 6:6; Ephesians 4:23; 1Thess 4:3; 2Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 3:5; 1Peter 1:14
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