Page 107 - GRACE

GRACE, Exploring Its Riches

the unbeliever may experience these sort of changes
without even divine grace as we now know it.

i. Change by the world (Greek – Suschematizo, which
means ‘to conform’ – as getting on a template or
mould). This is change that is caused by the values in the
world, the template of the world. Even when the
Christian gets into that mould, no matter the tongues-
speaking and word-study, he/she still comes out just as
those who don’t know the Lord Jesus. Such people may
attend church, know all the traditions and practices of
the church and observe them; yet, they are still as
worldly as those who have not embraced Jesus. This is
the context in which Paul, in Romans 12:1-2 writes,

“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. And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Paul was literally saying, do not be conformed to the ways,
values and systems of the world. He made this warning
because conforming to the world in this sense will take the
believer away from the Lord. Many believers find
themselves in this form of change. They go to church, they

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