I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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. Romans 12:1-2.
Worldliness is a spiritual problem and sin to overcome in your personal life. Many shepherd don’t preach it lest they lose their perceived followers – to please the worshippers, to increase the attendants of the church by their indoctrination of the scriptures, and not to scare the worshippers away, thus they become flattering teachers of itching ear believers – the damnation of the deceived and deceiver is sure.
Just come as you are and be yourself, God loves you unconditional – you’ve done nothing to be saved, you needed not to do anything to get to heaven. Please, don’t be religious and don’t bring yourself into the bondage and commandments of men – don’t do this and don’t do that – don’t wear this, don’t go there. You are free to live in the fullness of life in Christ Jesus, and your best life is now. Enjoy parties and dancing clubs, free your mind, go to the beach and cinemas, enjoy operas and the carnivals, please life is short.
The church is in the world, but the world should be in the heart of the inhabitants of Zion, hence, they were charged to set the affection on things above, not to mind earthly things, lest they become the enemy of the cross by which they were saved – commanded not to comply with, abide by, keep to, hold by the custom or follow tradition of the world, lest they make themselves an enemy of God. James 4; 4.
It is the greatest error of lifestyle which remain with the individual who have chosen to live, either by his ignorant or willingness, a pattern of worldly lifestyle which works against the sanctification of the saints by which we are called out and saved from the world – I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:14-17.
The Holy Spirit we received is not the spirit of the world (1 Corinthians 2:12), therefore, any pattern of conformity with the world jealous and grieves him. Believer’s socializing, mingling and entanglement with the world is a defilement that will make her unworthy to get married to the bridegroom.
Be not conform to the world, speaks of the responsibility of anyone who has come to Christ to be separated from the mentality, perception, copying, alignment or identification with the world in any form or way. First, there is a demand of the Lord for his bride to present her body as a living sacrifice, holy in an acceptable way. If she failed to present her body as a living sacrifice, she will not be holy, pleasing and acceptable to her Lord. No any other ministry or service to the world or in the church from the bride will be pleasing to the bridegroom and his Father than this very particular reasonable service to present her body as a living sacrifice. While present in the body, her lifestyle is a seed for future harvest, except she sow to the spirit and not to the flesh or body, she shall definitely reap corruption – God is not mocked. Galatians 6:7-8.
She must fight to put her body under subjection against the fleshly and worldly lusts. She can no more allow herself to be mastered or controlled by any of her past ungodly and worldly bodily desires, practices and lusts. Has she not, by the divine power residing in her, made to partake of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Why should she then be conformed to the world to nullify the effect and purpose of the cross that saved her?
First, the call here is on her physical body which she may thinks to use anyhow around in the world as wishes without the understanding that she is now limited on what she can now do with her body which has been bought by the Lord Jesus who has died to save her. 1 Corinthians 6:20.
Second, if she should continue to conform to the world, her professed faith and religion, love and devotion to Christ and God shall be considered as false for her living contrary to the purpose to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts – for if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15-17.
Third, the place where Christ was slain (Golgotha) is a spiritual symbolic place for anyone saved by his death on the cross to separate themselves from the world unto the Lord – wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Hebrews 13:12.
The believer is called to bear the reproach of Christ, meaning he should free himself from the ways of the world, their practices, commonness of lifestyles, and not equally yoked with the men and women of the world, otherwise, such he is despising the sacrifice of Christ and blood of his atonement, betraying Christ love for his practices, lifestyles, mentality, ways, perception, adaption to the world, against the call to bear the reproach of Christ in the world that rejected and crucified the Lord of glory. Hebrews 13:14.
Abraham and his wife Sarah were called to come out of the idols, customs and traditions their father’s house and of the land of nativity. As they obeyed God, you must also be separated from the idols, customs and fashions and traditions of your father’s house, their mode of appearance or dressing, if it is contrary to the word and will of God.
Now that you are a new creature in Christ Jesus, from now on we do not think of anyone from a human point of view of their old culture, traditions, customs and the ways of life from any parts of the world you are coming out from, which should not be conformed anymore into, but to renounce as it is required for your new identity in Christ Jesus – not to live, speak, thinks, dress etc after the patterns of the lifestyles of the North or south American, Oceania, Antarctica, African, Asia or of the Europeans – remember, you are not of the world, even as Christ is not of the world. 2 Corinthians 5:16 -17.
If you are now in God’s Kingdom in Christ Jesus, your own kingdom is not also of this world anymore. Before your conversion and salvation, there are so many things you’ve once used to live for, proud of and defend in the flesh while you were in the world; such as your culture, customs, festivities and celebrations, traditions and values or principles of your father’s house or land of nativity. But now in Christ Jesus, you have to let go of the things which were once pleasant to the eyes and flesh, things you were once proud of but are in conflict against the word and to the new life of the kingdom you are called to live should not be kept with you or introduced into the kingdom.
The word ‘present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God’ and be not conformed to the world means to let go of everything that has to do with the likeness or appearances of the world in your mortal body or lifestyle – I am speaking in simple terms because of the frailty of your human nature. Just as you once offered the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater disobedience, so now, in the same way, you must offer the parts of your body[n] as slaves to righteousness that leads to sanctification. Romans 6:19.
Follow after Christ example you are called to follow out of the world, but If anyway are found to be conformed to the world – its custom, culture, music, amusements, lifestyles, hairdo, make up, clothing, it means you have what belongs to Satan, the god of this world in you. John 14:30.
One of the kingdom rules of qualification to follow after Christ is self denial. Except you deny yourself, you cannot but keep conforming to the world. But if we don’t deny yourself, you are living for yourself, your lifestyle is not becoming or in conformity to the gospel of Christ you are saved and called to live for. Philippians 1:27.
The word be not conformed to this world means you cannot live socially and morally according to what you see them doing in the world. You should not have sex with dog or any animal. You should not have sex with anyone who is not your wife or husband. You cannot be a gay brother in the Lord. You cannot be a lesbian sister in the Lord. You cannot be a prostitute sister or a gigolo brother in the church. It should not be known that you are in the church but you also seek after them which have familiar spirit – an idolater. You cannot be a drunkard, a swindler, a coveteous and manipulator brother in the Lord. Party and night clubs goers, lovers of pleasure more than God – I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortionist, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 1 Corinthians 5: 9-10. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
The Lord says that believers are not of the world (if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. if you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John15: 18-20), why should they, in any way, be conformed to the world they were asked to come out from?
There are three things from the text before us (a) none conformity to the world (b) renewing of the mind (c) which brings transformation of life to discover the good and perfect will of God.
This is where it gets serious. Believer’s conformity to the world is a direct opposition to the purposes of the cross of Christ which many don’t consider it to be. Conforming to the world is a great obstruction against the discovering of the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Meaning, if you are in any way conformity to the world, though you may be working for God, it is not acceptable to him, and your person will not be accepted by him, God can use anyone only that you are just a vessel of dishonor by your identification of lifestyle with the world and refusal to purge yourself from worldly lusts. 2 Timothy 2:21-26.
You cannot have two incompatible things. Once you are in the Lord, you don’t have the right to conform to the world – you cannot eat you cake and have it. In identity, you are a spiritual fraudster, a cheater when you take little from the world and little from the Lord. When you conform to the world, willfully or not, little or in great measure, you are not following the rules of the kingdom lifestyle – you are not pleasing to God who has called us to be his soldier – No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Timothy 2:4-5.
Everything is not up to God in this matter because God want you to live in conformity to the death of his Son – Christ, but Satan also wants you to live conformity to the world where he is the god and prince. You have to choose either to conform to the image of Christ or conform to the world though you are in Christ – it is up to you, but you cannot be an inhabitant of Zion – children of God but live in appearance like the men and women of Babylon – children of Satan.
The expected transformation is wrought by the indwelling spirit of God in you, but the decision and steps not to be conformed to the world comes from you: without the first, the second won’t take place. There cannot be any transformation without renewing of thoughts to bring changes from worldly pattern of thoughts, lifestyles, mode and attire etc.
The ways and thoughts of God, the spiritual cultures, manners, traditions and lifestyles in the Lord is not the same as the ways and lifestyles of the world; for this reason, the bible commands you not to fashion yourself according to the former lusts in your ignorance while you were in the world – wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1Peter 1: 13-19.
Transformation in Christ Jesus is a progressive work which depends on how much you are serious to renew your thinking pattern in alignment to the word of God for your growth and changes to be seen and known by all. To present your body as a living sacrifice is to be yielding, in obedient, its members as instruments of righteousness unto holiness. You are servant to whom you obey. This is the only way not to be conformed to the world, not doing things or living as the people of the world are living their lives.
Not to be conformed to the world is to walk away from the customs, music, dancing, cultures, lifestyle, mode of dressing and every other thing which can identify the believer with the people of the world. This is what the bible calls the vain conversation received by traditions from your fathers – forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 1 Peter 1:18-21.
When it comes to the question of conformity with the world, the unbroken Christians will always twist the scripture to their defense that God looks into their hearts, but not their outward appearance: but this answer or word from God to Samuel is to warn us not to be deceived by the pomposity, flashiness and flamboyant of the believers who are conformed to the world – they have a faulty heart, it is not upright before God. 1 Samuel 16:7.
Many people don’t understand that coming to God is not only to be receiving from him as the source of unlimited supply, but to give all back unto him from whom all the blessings flow; this includes your entire body, soul and spirit by which you must show how much you love him. The relationship with God is all about sacrifices – they loved not their lives as to shrink from death – to deny yourself and take up your cross, to adjust yourself to any circumstance or situation God allows – to forsake all – give up certain things which are in opposition to the life and principles of the kingdom’s principles, lifestyle and practices of the kingdom that you may abide in his love as you keep his word. Note: God seeks not what belongs to you or what you can give him as offering and gifts, but you – your body. 2 Corinthians 12:14.
Some goes to church to show off in order to make a fair show in the flesh – show up their beautiful body and thighs by wearing short gown or skirt or open cloth, an attire of an harlot as it is called in the bible – to give money – to sing with sweet melodious voice – get involves in different ministries in the house of God but living in their own manners, ways and thoughts in conformity with the world. But, whosoever has not first given his body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, is not yet doing or giving anything reasonable and acceptable unto God – wherefore when he cometh into the world, he says, sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first that he may establish the second. Hebrews 10: 5-7.
It is a sin, either of our direct involvement or of the negative influence we impacted on others when conformed to the world. Those who are in conformity to the world in Christ Jesus are stumbling blocks, an occasion for others to sin, a curse – woe unto them. Those who will no more be conformed to the world in the Lord are said to be evil spoken off because they have chosen to suffer in the flesh, even as Christ suffered for them while he was in the world; Note: as Abraham instructed his servants to wait behind, while he and Isaac went up to the mountain, likewise should we leave them behind us, those probably able to influence our willingness and readiness to obey God’s command not to conform to the world.
Believers must overcome the world by not conforming to it, even as Christ overcame it. John 16:33. Except they come out of it in separation from her mode, culture, custom and other lifestyles, they shall be defiled and defeated by it – depart ye, depart ye, go ye out of from thence: touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. For you shall not go out with haste, not go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward. Isaiah 52:11-12. It is not possible to be showing the appearances of godliness while we are in conformity to world at the same time. This is one of the reason a child of God should never be conformed to the world, otherwise, such are said to have a form of godliness, but denying the power (transforming grace) thereof. 2 Timothy 3:1-7.
Such Christians are said to be going up to heaven but in a wrong direction of a bad the broad way: as the world perishes with all her lusts thereof, these also shall perish, though they are believers, for the end of the broad road and wide gate is eternal destruction.
Today, the devil has invented different types of trousers – normal, tight, large, slim, strech etc for women in contrast to the word of God. As a woman, there is no argument about this if the dress code of your professional life demands to put on trousers, but to put on trousers in the church or street is ungodly and a direct violation of the word of God which says a woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord our God. Deuteronomy 22:5.
Be not conformed to the worldly idea of live as you want and dress as you like as long as it makes you happy and you feel good. The Lord seeks to maintain the sanctity of the distinction between the sexes which was established by the creation of man and woman in the Garden. A woman should dress like a woman and a man should dress like a man.
While some thinks and argues that they can just put on any cloth to walk in the street ot to appear before God because it is not the cloth that matters, but the heart, Christ rebuked such hypocrisy as was also found in the Pharisees that if the inside of the cup is cleaned up, the outside of it shall be cleaned as well. In essence, whatsoever is inside – the world, its custom, its mode, worldly songs and music, theatre and films, its lifestyle etc shall be seen outside through the lifestyle of such believer – woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Matthew 23:25-26.
What a child of God, woman or man does to his body or with his body is of utmost interest and importance to the Lord – you shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks – of the cross of Jesus or bible or God or cat dog or flower or of a living or dead mother or father, wife, husband upon you: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:28.
You cannot be conformed to the world in your dressing and lie that it is for the glory of the Lord. Believer’s clothing and physical appearances matters a lot before the Lord because she is her bride. There is kingdom code of dressing. The world dress sexy and transparent to seduce in attraction the opposite sex, but you must dress simple, neatly, irreproachable, godly and in holiness as to please the Lord – it’s all about the Lord – and God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fled from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: and let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. Genesis 35:1-4.
The broken Christian live by every word coming out from the mouth of God, but the disobedient and rebels twist the scriptures and wrestle against the word of God to their own destruction. Be content with your personality or physicality and creation in the Lord without any worldly hair extension or attachments, additional strange nails apart from your natural nails – do away with red painted lips apart from the natural look of your lips, colored nails and hair apart from their natural looks, avoid the earrings you were not born with – likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be ‘not with’ that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. 1 Peter 3:1-5.