2011 THEME: MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD – LUKE 1: 19
TOPIC: OUR DUTY TO GOD III
TEXT: ROM 12:1-21. MEMORY VERSE: ROM 12:2

Introduction: The mind must be renewed for him. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind, a change not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. It is the same with making a new heart and a new spirit - new dispositions and inclinations, new sympathies and antipathies; the understanding enlightened, the conscience softened, the thoughts rectified; the will bowed to the will of God, and the affections made spiritual and heavenly: so that the man is not what he was - old things are passed away, all things are become new; he acts from new principles, by new rules, with new designs. The mind is the acting ruling part of us; so that the renewing of the mind is the renewing of the whole man, for out of it are the issues of life, Pro_4:23. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on of this renewing work, till it be perfected in glory. This is called the transforming of us; it is like putting on a new shape and figure. This transformation is here pressed as a duty; not that we can work such a change ourselves: we could as soon make a new world as make a new heart by any power of our own; it is God's work, Eze_11:19; 36:26-27. But be you transformed, that is, “use the means which God hath appointed and ordained for it.” It is God that turns us, and then we are turned; but we must frame our doings to turn, Hos_5:4. “Lay your souls under the changing transforming influences of the blessed Spirit; seek unto God for grace in the use of all the means of grace.” Though the new man be created of God, yet we must put it on (Eph_4:24), and be pressing forward towards perfection. Now we may further observe,

We must avoid conformity to this world: Be not conformed to this world. All the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus must be nonconformists to this world. Do not fashion yourselves according to the world. We must not conform to the things of the world; they are mutable, and the fashion of them is passing away. Do not conform either to the lusts of the flesh or the lusts of the eye. We must not conform to the men of the world, of that world which lies in wickedness, not walk according to the course of this world (Eph_2:2); that is, we must not follow a multitude to do evil, Exo_23:2. If sinners entice us, we must not consent to them, but in our places witness against them. True Christianity consists much in a sober singularity. Yet we must take heed of the extreme of affected rudeness and moroseness, which some run into. In civil things, the light of nature and the custom of nations are intended for our guidance; and the rule of the gospel in those cases is a rule of direction, not a rule of contrariety.