”Schematics, Trademarks and Transformation”
Romans 12:1-2
What would it be like if we had to get up and profess what we believed based on how we actually lived our lives? If we were honest, we might say: “I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth”, with whom I communicate around two hours per week.
“And I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son”, but I don’t believe He has the right to tell me how to live my life. I believe that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried” for me, but he shouldn’t expect me to make any kind of similar sacrifice on His behalf. I want to live my life the way I want to.
I believe Jesus “sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from which He shall come to judge the living and the dead”, and I believe He knows my intentions of ONE DAY getting serious about serving Him wholeheartedly, but neither He nor anyone else should judge me in the meanwhile.”
This type of profession would be an impossibility for “believing Christians” because OUR lives IN CHRIST HAVE TO coincide with the faith that we profess IN CHRIST. That just makes good logical and spiritual sense as we saw last week in Romans 12: 1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.”
The Biblical point that Paul has established is that ON ACCOUNT OF THE MERCY OF God revealed to you in Jesus Christ, which YOU have received as a gift, you present your lives as a Living, Holy, and pleasing sacrifice of gratitude to God in such a way that your entire life resembles HOLY WORSHIP to Him. True worship is not in music but true worship comes from the Holy Spirit who resides in your soul. Music is the end of worship, not the catalyst for worship. Christ in you and His Hope of Glory is the catalyst.
A Non-Conforming Command
Today we find a negative and a positive command on HOW TO present our lives as an acceptable offering in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world”. (The NAS accurately says: And do not be conformed to this world” (or age). So HOW DO WE make our profession an accurate description of our very lives? Here Paul gives a clear Non-Conforming Command: “Don’t be conformed to this world.” That’s simple enough, isn’t it? Don’t be worldly. Don’t be like the world.
The word for “conform” is an interesting word in the Greek (syschçma-ti-zô); We get the word “schematic” from it. You know what a schematic diagram is: it represents the elements of an entire system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures, like the one I have on the screen of a smoke detector, I think. It is really a picture or a plan of how a system operates.
1. Paul is saying, “Stop allowing yourself to be “molded” by ungodly ideas: Don’t follow the blueprint or schematic of the world. Do you ever have any ungodly ideas, thoughts or attitudes, those which are contrary to the Perfect Will and Word of God? Stop thinking like the world. The World’s plan doesn’t belong in your schematic plan. 1 Corinthians 7:31 says: “for the FORM (or “pattern”, same root word) of this world is passing away.”
I read an article this week by Marvin Olasky, editor in Chief of World magazine, which actually pounded this idea home, entitled, “Don’t Ignore the Axioms”. For Christians, axioms or truths from God’s Word cannot be compromised. He wrote about how our Declaration of Independence states that “We hold these truths (Axioms) to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” We as a nation certainly don’t believe that God is the Creator of Man and the World. Most of the World which God created REFUTES that primary biblical axiom of Genesis 1.
Do we believe that He created men and women equally and He created male and female to constitute marriage and family? That’s God’s Biblical axiom of Genesis 2. Many Christians even reject that truth.
How about the axiom of Genesis 3, that man SINNED and disobeyed God and caused the nature of man to be totally polluted? As a nation we don’t believe in sin either, as a matter of fact, most so-called Christians don’t even believe it. Do you realize what that means? If you don’t believe that the Sovereign God created the World, and He did NOT institute axioms concerning relationships, and that man is NOT basically sinful and that he is NOT dead in sin, and in DIRE NEED of a Savior, then you don’t need a Savior, and you can discard the rest of the Bible along with the first three chapters of the Bible. God tells us to stop allowing ourselves to be molded by the ungodly ideas of society and of the World and base our thoughts and ideas on the truth of God’s Word, not the falsehoods of the World.
John Piper mentioned another important way of looking at this command of non-conformity. Do not conform to the world’s view on these four very basic Christian views: CREATION, of who CHRIST is, of CONVERSION, and of the Kingdom of God. (I put these in your outline to consider later, because they all begin in Genesis 1-4, and are developed throughout scripture.)
2. Stop “stamping” yourself with worldly Trademarks: You know I’m NOT telling you to boycott Coke, or Nike, or any of the other thousands of things that we consume, drive, or whatever. Trademarks are stamped on the outside of things: They are an outward recognizable sign and stamp of the product rights. As believers and followers of Christ, our behaviors should not be marked by the world’s values, but by God’s values. What God is telling us is to Stop not only thinking like the world, but stop ACTING like the WORLD.
God has marked our hearts and lives with HIS trademark, the Holy Spirit of God. Ephesians 1: 13 tells us: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.”
What begins in the heart and mind will also reveal itself in outward behavior. Whatever we mull around in our minds will reveal itself on the outside. Remember that everything in this world is going to pass away.
We LIVE in this world, but we are not OF this world. If our true love and affection is the world or the things IN the world, then we are not True Believers. Believers in Christ are the “CALLED OF God”: We are pilgrims, passing through this world, but as we pass through, we share the news that the Kingdom of God has come and that His Kingdom has arrived IN US. What is the proof? The King has come and lives IN US, that’s why we do not want to conform to the World. One day, the schematic, as well as everything and everyone who are OF THIS WORLD are going to experience the WRATH OF GOD, so WHY WOULD WE WANT TO STRIVE, even for a moment, to become more like the world that is going to pass away?
A Transforming Command
Paul Gives a Transforming Command in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This is God’s command to be changed into another form. It is what happened to Jesus in Matthew 17:2 on the Mount of Transfiguration: “And He was transfigured (transformed) before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.“ Christ’s appearance was changed and dazzled with divine brightness. In His Heavenly environment, Jesus revealed His true essence, His true person; His glory was revealed to those with Him and we have seen His Glory by eyes of faith.
1. Transformation is a metamorphosis (metamorphoô) which begins on the inside by the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.’
Remember we looked at 1 Corinthians 2:16: For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” We have to exercise what God has taught us! We have to put it into action. That’s what the next few chapters of Romans covers. It’s about LIVING OUT your faith while living in this World. If you are CON-forming to the standards or the patterns of this World, then you are not being TRANS-formed to God’s standards, in fact, you are blocking the transformation from the Lord and His Spirit.
2. The transformed mind undergoes a complete renovation by spiritual wisdom and knowledge. The transformed mind is the direct result of God’s Mercy and grace being applied to a dead heart. A dead heart is turned from death to life by the Spirit of God, and causes us a person to repent and turn from the old to the new.
The command is to transform YOUR MIND. If we have a New Heart, we will want a transformed mind. Transformation occurs in the Mind but it affects everything in our lives, not just our thinking, not just our thoughts, but our emotions, as well as our actions. We are not only image bearers of fallen man but we are image bearers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:9: “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Fill your minds with the things of God: Those are the things that will last.
3. A mind that is “renewed” is a mind that is “growing up” spiritually. Your mind directs your actions, but the Greek word for “Mind” is not merely “brain matter”, that complicated organ of the central nervous system. (by the way: Did you know that men with the same body height and body surface area as women have brains that, on the average, weigh 100 grams more than women, although the extra weight does not correlate with increased IQ or other measures of abilities? Evidently, men are just more thick headed and hard headed than women, but not any smarter.)
“Renewed” refers to exhibiting a complete change from a former corrupt and dead spiritual state, into a new kind of life. The root word for “renewed” means “growing up”. If you are spiritually “growing up” in the Spirit and the Word, it will be clearly reflected in your actions and attitudes. That CHANGE begins in the heart, but of course, it does not remain only in the heart. If your heart has been changed and you are “growing up” in Christ, in worship, in knowledge and wisdom, that growth spurt will be evident in all of your life, habits, emotions, relationships, and your love for God and His Kingdom.
Look at Philippians 2:5-11 with me to tie these two commands together: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
1. The Schematic of our life, the blueprint, is to be Conformed to the Cross of Christ, not to the world or self. We die daily to ourselves, we daily deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow Christ. The only way we have life is to submit to God and His Word and die to self.
2. The Trademarks of our lives are opposite of the world’s marks. We are marked with Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. GODLY character shines through the fiber of our lives!
3. Finally, our Transformation as believers is by the Life, Word and Spirit of Christ: Phil. 2:12 says: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Your heart has been changed, and it is inevitable that your life will change too, if you are following Christ, God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and the life He has given to you.
Do you see how this naturally flows from what we have been examining over the past weeks: For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” May all God’s People say, “Amen.”
OUTLINE:
Introduction: On account of the Mercy of God, you present your lives as a Living, Holy, and pleasing sacrifice of gratitude to God.
I. A Non-Conforming Command: Don’t be worldly. (syschçma-ti-zô) (1 Cor. 7:31
A. Stop allowing yourself to be “molded” by ungodly ideas: Stop thinking like the world!
(CREATION, CHRIST, CONVERSION, Kingdom of God)
B. Stop “stamping” yourself with worldly trademarks: Stop acting like the world!
II. A Transforming Command: Be changed into another form!
(Rom. 12:2, Matthew 17:2, 2 Cor 3:18, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Col. 1:9
A. Transformation is a metamorphosis (metamorphoô) which begins on the inside by the Holy Spirit of God.
B. The transformed mind undergoes a complete renovation by spiritual wisdom and knowledge.
C. A mind that is “renewed” is a mind that is spiritually “growing up”.
1. The Schematic: Conformed to the Cross of Christ, not to the world or self. (Phil 2:5-13)
2. The Trademarks of our lives are opposite of the world’s marks.
3. Transformation by the Life, Word and Spirit of Christ: Your heart has been changed, your life will change too if you are following Christ.
