Transformed into His likeness

Transformed into likeness of Christ

In old Testament days priests in Israel offered animal sacrifices which were slain.

Now believers - the priests of the New Testament must offer living sacrifice, the own bodies for God to use for His glory.

This is the sort of worship God wants, not mere words.

This kind of sacrifice is “holy” and “acceptable” to Him

Rom 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).

“World” – the New Testament has must to say about the world of men.

The world does know God (John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

It loves spiritual darkness (John3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

It hates Christ and His followers (John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

ITS “rural” and “god “is Satan (John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

It cannot receive God’s spirit (John 14:7 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you).

It wisdom is like foolishness (I cor 1”20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

It is only temporary (I Cor 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

It is without God and without hope ( Eph2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Its friendship is enmity with God (James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

It is corrupt ( I Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

It is filled with pride and lust ( I John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

It is in wickedness ( I John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness).

NO wonder Paul tells believers not to be “conformed” to it.

 There are powerful forces in the world that mold its people and cause them to behave in evil ways.

Believers are to be “ transformed” into the likeness of Christ.

Transformation is an inner work of God’s spirit.

Believers are to do more than outwardly avoid is to be altogether different.

This takes place by the “renewing” of their minds.

Thoughts are extremely important.

To a very large extent thy will govern how believers behave.

The only way to live a transformed life is to keep our thoughts under control and have our minds filled with God’s truth 

(Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord).

We are to love God with all our mind (Matt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind).

This is the “renewal” we need.

Those who will not give themselves to God and who do not cooperate with God’s spirit in the work of inner transformation will not be able to find out what God’s will is for them.

If we wish to know and follow that perfect will, we must do what He tells us here.