Do not conform to the pattern of this world

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

² Do not conform 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.

Note 6 at Romans 12:2:

Many of us would think that if we fulfill the conditions of Romans 12:1

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Living Sacrifices to God

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

  Then everything else would automatically work out. Yet Paul went on to state that we also have to renew our minds. Many of us who have had made genuine commitments to the Lord but haven’t renewed our minds through God’s Word, have needlessly suffered many problems.

Note 7 at Romans 12:2:

The Greek word that was translated “conformed” here is the word “SUSCHEMATIZO,” and it means “to fashion alike, i.e. conform to the same pattern” (Strong’s Concordance). This scripture is telling us that we should be different than the unbelievers. Most of us as Christians recognize this, but we seem at a loss as to how to accomplish it. This verse goes on to give us the answer. The key is our minds.
 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

If we think on the same things that the world thinks on, we are going to get the same results. If we keep our minds stayed upon God through the study of His Word and fellowship with Him, then we’ll have perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
Song of Trust in God's Provision
…2 "Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful.
3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. 
4 "Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.…

It’s that simple!

Note 8 at Romans 12:2:

The Greek word that was translated “transformed” here is the word “METAMORPHOO” and is the same word that we get our word “metamorphosis” from. It is describing a complete change, like that of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly.
This word is also the same word that was used to describe Jesus’ transformation when His face shone and His garments became white as the light (Matthew 17:2)
² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 

Making our thinking line up with God’s Word will affect this complete transformation in our lives.

Note 9 at Romans 12:2:

When people are born again (see note 2 at John 3:3)

Note 2 at John 3:3:

The new birth is essential for entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, this is not a second physical birth but rather a spiritual birth. Our spiritual man became dead unto (separated from) God through sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 7:9, 11; Ephesians 2:1, and 5). Just as we didn’t accomplish our physical births, we cannot produce this spiritual rebirth.

We are totally incapable of saving ourselves (Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 3:10-12, 8:7-8; and Ephesians 2:3); therefore, we need a Savior (Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:4, and 6). We simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are saved (Acts 16:31).

Faith is the only condition (Romans 3:28 and 10:6-9). Faith alone saves; however, saving faith is never alone. As stated in James 2:17-18, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone...shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” 
 Salvation is not a reformation but rather a regeneration, a new birth, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), that can only be accomplished by a creative miracle of the Holy Spirit (John 1:13 and 3:5), they become totally new creations in their spirits.
 Their spiritual salvation is complete. They don’t need any more faith, joy, or power. 
They are complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10

Note 8 at Colossians 2:9:

This is one more direct reference to the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ (see notes at John 1:1; Luke 1:43; 2:11; 5:19-23; 22:69; Mark 12:29; 14:62; John 8:58; 10:30; 20:28). Jesus wasn’t just God-like in the sense that all mankind was made in the image of God. Jesus had the fullness of God’s nature in Him. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
The French Common Language Translation translates this verse
“For everything that God is has become embodied in Christ, to be completely present in him.”
The word “Godhead” is found three times in the New Testament (Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, and this verse). The false, pantheistic concept of Paul’s day was that divinity is in all things, in nature as well as every man. But Paul used the Greek word “THEOTES,” and this Greek word literally means “‘deity’ i.e. the state of being God” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon).
Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible, p. 280, states, “The word God is used either as a singular or plural word, like sheep. Everything that could be spoken of God collectively applies equally to each member of the Godhead as an individual, but there are some things that are said of each person of the Deity as to position, office, and work that could not be spoken as of the other members of the Godhead.

The Father is the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3); the Son is the only begotten of the Father (2 John 3), and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both the Father and the Son (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7-15)” (emphasis mine).

The plural name for God in the Old Testament is “ELOHIM,” and it was used over 2,600 times.
The plural pronouns used by God Himself are found in Genesis 1:26 - “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (emphasis mine); Genesis 11:7 - “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language” (emphasis mine);
 Isaiah 6:8 - “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (emphasis mine); and Genesis 3:22 - “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us” (emphasis mine).

 see note 3 at Matthew 26:41).

However, it is not God’s will that we only be changed on the inside. He wants to manifest this salvation in our physical lives also. That takes place through the renewing of our minds.
We each have a spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
 As born-again believers, our spirits are as perfect as they will ever be in heaven 
(see note 1 at Romans 8:18).

** Note 1 at Romans 8:18:

This is a very important statement. Paul did not say that this glory would be revealed “to us” but rather “in us.” The complete glory of God that most dream of receiving in eternity is already in us here on this earth!

Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:14, “He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And in 1 Peter 5:1, Peter said he was a partaker of this “glory that shall be revealed.” 

 Paul also prayed for the Ephesians that the Lord would grant them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him so that they would see the glory of His inheritance that was already in the saints (Ephesians 1:17-18).
This leaves no doubt that, as Christians, our spirits are already complete. We don’t need more faith, more power, or more anointing. We simply need to use more of what we have already received. Many Christians will be shocked when they stand before God and realize that all the things they prayed for were inside them from the time they believed (see note 3 at Matthew 26:41).

**  Note 3 at Matthew 26:41:

Our spirits are not our problem. As born-again Christians, we each received a new spirit at conversion (2 Corinthians 5:17) that is just like Jesus (1 John 4:17) because it is the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9 and Galatians 4:6). Our born-again spirits are always willing to do God’s will. It’s our flesh that is the problem.

The flesh, as Jesus was using it here, not only includes our physical bodies but is also describing our souls too (see note 2 at Matthew 22:37).

Note 2 at Matthew 22:37:

The English word “soul” comes from the Greek word “PSUCHE,” and it has been translated “heart,” “life,” “mind,” and “soul.” The Scripture tells us the soul needs knowledge (Proverbs 2:10, 19:2, and 24:14), it knows (Psalms 139:14), it considers and counsels (Psalms 13:2), remembers (Lamentations 3:20), chooses (Job 7:15), refuses (Job 6:7), it seeks (1 Chronicles 22:19), it binds or makes a decision (Numbers 30), it loves (1 Samuel 18:1, Psalms 42:1, and Song Of Solomon 1:7), hates (2 Samuel 5:8 and Psalms 107:18), has joy (Psalms 86:4 and Isaiah 61:10), grieves (Judges 10:16), and desires (Deuteronomy 14:26 and 1 Samuel 20:4).

These scriptures best reveal the mind to be the principal and leading part of the soul, followed by the will and emotions. The soul could also be described as being the hidden part of all existing beings, or what most people would call the personality. The soul is the center of the feelings and emotions, appetites and desires, as well as sense perception and consciousness (1 Samuel 30:6; 2 Samuel 13:39; 2 Kings 4:27, 23:3; Psalms 107:5, 9, 18, 26; Matthew 26:38; Mark 12:33; John 12:27; Hebrews 4:12, and 10:38).

The soul may also speak of the totality of a person; i.e., the total being or self (Luke 12:19; Acts 2:43, 3:23; and 1 Peter 3:20). The New Testament usage of the Greek word may be analyzed as follows: the natural life of a person’s body (Luke 12:22 and Acts 20:10), the invisible or immaterial part of a person (Matthew 10:28 and Acts 2:27), the disembodied portion of a person (Revelation 6:9), the seat of personality that perceives, reflects, desires, and feels (Matthew 11:29; Luke 1:46, 2:35; and Acts 14:22), the center of the will and purpose (Matthew 22:37 and Acts 4:32), the center of appetite and desire (Revelation 18:14), the totality of a person (Acts 2:41, 43; Romans 2:9; James 5:20; 1 Peter 3:20; and 2 Peter 2:14), and the hidden or inward person (Luke 21:19, 1 Peter 2:11, and
3 John 2).

The soul and the body do not become born again (see note 2 at John 3:3). It is the spirit of a person that becomes totally new at salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17). So although every believer receives the same miraculous spiritual rebirth, the visible results of that inward change will vary from person to person according to how much they renew their minds (Romans 12:1-2).

 God has given every one of us everything that it takes to walk in victory, but “we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7). That is to say that our spirits, where God has deposited all of His power and glory, are locked inside our flesh.

That does not mean that we cannot tap this divine source. As much as we will renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and act on the Word of God (James 2:20), we can experience this divine flow through our physical bodies. However, just as in the physical, muscles have to be used to increase in strength, so our souls and physical parts have to be exercised unto godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

Prayer is one important way of exercising ourselves unto godliness, and this was why Jesus admonished His disciples to watch and pray with Him.

 If we will change our thinking so that we believe what God says in His Word about who we are and what we have, then this agreement between our spirits and souls forms a majority, and our flesh will experience the life of God that has been deposited in our spirits.

If we fail to renew our minds, we can live our entire time on this earth without experiencing the abundant life that Jesus provided for us (John 10:10).

Note 10 at Romans 12:2:

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “prove” as “to establish the truth or validity of by argument or evidence...to be shown to be such; turn out.”
Therefore, this is speaking of how to physically display God’s will in our lives. This is a promise that if we fulfill the requirements of these two verses,
1) we will prove (not might prove, but will prove) the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
2) Finding God’s will for our lives is not hard when we do what these verses instruct us to do. As a matter of fact, it would be impossible to miss God’s will once we commit ourselves to God as living sacrifices and begin to renew our minds. Finding God’s will for our lives only becomes hard if we are not totally committed to God.

Note 11 at Romans 12:2:

There is a difference of opinion among scholars as to whether Paul was using “good, and acceptable, and perfect” to describe the will of God or if he was saying that there are stages in walking in the will of God (i.e., good, then acceptable, then perfect).
 Either of these cases would be doctrinaly correct.

God’s will certainly is good and acceptable and perfect. It is also true that people don’t move immediately into everything that God has for them, but there is always growth into the things of God.

Note 12 at Romans 12:2:

This is a wonderful promise that we can prove God’s will in our lives (see note 10 at this verse). The first step is to make a total commitment of our lives to the Lord (“living sacrifice,” Romans 12:1).
Actually this is the will of God for us all. Our vocation is secondary. God’s will for all of us is to be living sacrifices to Him. Once that is accomplished, more specific direction will come as we renew our minds.
If we try to find God’s vocation for us but don’t present ourselves to God as living sacrifices, then we are frustrating God’s plan. God doesn’t just want our service; He wants us. Once He gets us, He’ll get our service.