Sermon, October 4, 2009 - Do not be conformed to this world
Romans 12.2 Do not be conformed to this world
Give yourself to God…all that you are!
How? Undergo an extreme makeover so that you experience the fullness of God’s will.
How do I begin to do that? Do not be conformed to this world.
A. Do NOT BE CONFORMED to this world
1. An imperative: something for you to DO
2. An imperative addressed to the Christian: something for YOU to do
3. An imperative expressed in the negative: do NOT do something
4. A present tense imperative: always be doing this
5. A passive imperative: resist; don’t LET the world squeeze you
6. An imperative given in the context of grace [12.1, 3]
B. Do not be conformed to THIS WORLD
1. This world is temporal
1 Cor 2.6-8; 2 Cor 4.16-18; 1 John 2.15-17
2. This world is permeated with evil
Rev 12-13; 2 Cor 4.3-4; Gal 1.3-4
3. This world is the place where we were once comfortable
Eph 2.1-3
4. This world is the world of self [”a ME-o-centric universe” John Cook]
Rom 12.3-21
C. HOW DO I BEGIN TO DO THIS?
1. Cultivate humility [12.3; 1 Pet 5.5-9]
2. Be an active part of a local fellowship of believers [12.4-8]
3. Look for ways to be a blessing to others [12.9-21]
4. Believe that God is at work in you [1 John 4.4; 5.4-5; Phil 1.6]
John Olson
