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QUESTION 12:
What does it mean in Romans 12:2,"And be not conformed to this world . . .?" In what way are we not to be conformed?

ANSWER:
The word for "world" here is "aion" literally "the age" It means the mode or style of life at this present time. Before a person is saved they are said to "...ye walk according to the course of this world," Ephesians 2:2. That is, their pursuits and goal in life was for the things of sense and time. They were living for time and all they could get out of life. To be conformed - means to fashion our life style like the world. The Lord taught His own that they were not of this world. John 17:14. John later writes "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." 1 John 2:15. John describes these things as "the lust of the flesh, (the desire of self gratification), the lust of the eye, (the desire of seeing and having), and the pride of life, (the desire of being)." John said this takes in all that is in the world.

A believer in Christ should not pursue this course of life, but should set their affections on the things above where Christ is sitting of the right hand of God. "Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."Colossians 3:1-2. Their interests should be the souls of men and the work of spreading the gospel as a good guide for not conforming to this world system. "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." 1 John 2:15-16.

If you are living for the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, or pride of life, you are most certainly conforming to this world. We are told to, "USE but NOT abuse this world." 1 Corinthians 7:31. We live here and must use it, but to live for what the world has to offer is conforming. If things possess you, that is conforming. If you possess things, that is not. The Lord warns us of covetousness in Luke 12:15.

Thanks be unto our God He sent Christ "to deliver us from this present evil world" Galatians 1:4. "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:30-31.

Do you know Him?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen