Sanctification
"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."
"Sanctification" is the portion of truth with which the Spirit would engage us. If our dedication is to be carried out in conditions suitable to God, the need for sanctification is seen to be imperative. We cannot hope to serve God acceptably except as marked by the features enjoined upon us in this verse.
Two words stand out in contrast to one another, "conformed" and "transformed." The prefix "con" indicates "together with," and the prefix "trans" indicates "apart from." This makes the meaning of the exhortation clear. We are not to be together with this world, but wholly apart from it. It is a scriptural axiom that our three dangers are the world, the flesh, and the devil. Just as clearly it is taught that the world is in opposition to God as Father; the devil is in opposition to Christ, and the flesh is in opposition to the Spirit. We cannot limit these matters in a hard and fast way, but it has often been pointed out that in the main this is how they are presented to us; the first epistle of John makes the truth quite clear. Hence in this verse, where the will of God is in view, the world is seen as the great hindrance to our walking subject to His will. Why should we who are "called from above, and heavenly men by birth," desire to be like the men of this world? Why be anxious to dress like them, talk like them, associate with them, when we belong to God whom they neither know nor desire to serve? Rather ought we to be "like unto men that wait for their Lord," (Luke 12:36). Our greatest hindrance in carrying out our "dedication" is striving to be like this world.
In contrast to this we are exhorted to be "transformed" by the renewing of our minds. To those who desire to look up the meaning of these words it will be found that the word "form" used in the compound word "conformed" means a similitude on the surface; whereas the word "form" in "transformed" means a radical change in the person who is in that form. The other usage of this translated "conformed" is in 1 Peter 1:14 (translated there as "fashioning") and here again it is clearly seen to be an outward, external likeness. We may thank God that we are persons who have been delivered from the world; why then should we be anxious to be like it in appearance?
The word "transformed" is found in three places in the New Testament, and is differently translated each time. In Matthew 17:2 it is translated "changed," while in our verse it is translated "transformed." The first reference shows clearly what the word means. The true glory of our Lord shone out in a way the disciples had not before seen. It was not merely an outward garment which was manifested, but what the Lord was in Himself shining out. Thus it should be with us. As the subjects of the word of God, and with the Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts, what we are as saints of God should be seen shining out. This is the real bearing of "transformed." Truly then, if what we are as the fruit of the work of God in our souls constantly shines out from the vessel in which that work has been accomplished, we shall not, yea we may say, we cannot be "conformed" to this world.
We are to note that this transforming is the result of the "renewing" of our minds. How important then to control the bent of the mind! This would be what the apostle refers to in Romans 8:6, "to be spiritually minded." That is, we think along the lines of the Spirit's promptings, not the line of thought which marked us when self-interest was the governing desire of our lives. Now our desire is to please God, making room for His will, not our own. As we allow these desires to control our thoughts, and consequently our movements, we shall be moving here for the pleasure of God, and we shall certainly "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." There could not be anything good about our wills, nor could they produce anything acceptable to God, and how far short of perfection must any thoughts of ours be? God can accept from us that only which is of Himself, and we have the great privilege of serving Him in this hostile world as we allow Him to control and guide us. This will lead to true "sanctification." One further statement by the Lord Jesus will show again the bearing of this important truth — "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth," John 17:16-17.
If we have made the decision to devote ourselves to God for His service, may we ever keep in mind that this necessitates a separate walk through this world. Trying to serve God whilst consorting with this world will leave us destitute of the power needed to accomplish His will, and will result in the service itself becoming a matter of bondage, instead of being the delight of our souls. Such delight it will indeed be if we sustain our dedication by sanctification, and are thus found pursuing the will of God for His glory and for our present blessing
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