“2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Paul emphasizes the need to put off and put on. Put off conformity to the world, be transformed by putting on renewal and holiness. The Apostle Peter expounds on this further:
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;” — 1 Peter 1:14-15
Peter says we are to put off our old sinful ways. As believers, we cannot dwell in sin since we are accountable to God for our thoughts, motives, and actions, and are called to be holy. We must put on holiness in all our conduct. Jesus talks about not being conformed to this age in His parable about the sower and the seeds. Jesus describes the seeds thrown on the path as ones who hear but have no understanding. The seeds sown among the rocky ground are those who at first receive the word with joy, but then quickly fall away. About the seeds that are sown among the thorns, Jesus says this:
“Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” — Matthew 13:22
Lord, help us not to be conformed to this age, but to put off the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth! Do not let these things choke out Your Word from our hearts. Jesus tells us what we should put on in its place:
“But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.” — Matthew 13:23
We long to be holy because we want to be Christians who produce good fruit. In fact, we are called to do so. Paul says that in this transformation of the mind, from the things of sin and transgression, to a holiness which produces spiritual fruit, we will be able to discern God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. What is God’s will? If we put off sin and put on righteousness, we will be doing God’s will! God’s will is that we be obedient and full of faith! God’s will is that we will continually confess His name. We must continually confess, “Jesus is Lord.”
Are we tempted by what the world has to offer? Don’t be! It is temporal. It will not last. Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this age…” (v. 2a) What does it mean to be conformed to this age? We must not love the things that the world does or the things that the world produces. We are called to love the world by confessing, “Jesus is Lord” and calling the world to repentance. That is the way we can truly love the world. Partaking in the world’s sin is not loving the world; it is destructive to us, and is not the will of God.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions — is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. — 1 John 2:15-17