“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.”
This verse continues Paul’s exhortation from Romans 12:1, where he urges believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices. In verse 2, Paul moves into the process of how believers become holy and pleasing to God—not through external conformity, but through internal transformation. This is a foundational verse on Christian sanctification, calling believers to reject worldly values and embrace God’s will through mind-renewal.
1. “Be not conformed to this world” — Resist Pressure to Imitate the Age
The word conformed (Greek: syschēmatizō) refers to being shaped by external pressures or adopting a mold.
- 1 John 2:15 – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…”
- James 4:4 – “…whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Subpoints:- Worldly conformity dilutes spiritual identity.
- The “world” represents a system of values opposed to God.
2. “But be ye transformed” — Embrace Inner Metamorphosis
The Greek word for transformed is metamorphoō, meaning a fundamental change from within, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “But we all… are changed into the same image from glory to glory…”
- Philippians 2:5 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
3. “By the renewing of your mind” — The Mind is the Battleground for Change
The transformation happens through a renewed mind, not mere behavior modification.
- Ephesians 4:23 – “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
- Colossians 3:10 – “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
Subpoints:- The Spirit renews the mind through God’s Word.
- Renewing the mind aligns our thoughts with God’s truth.
4. “That ye may prove” — Discernment Through Transformation
Prove (Greek: dokimazō) means to test, examine, and approve—transformed minds can distinguish what truly pleases God.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
- Hebrews 5:14 – “But strong meat belongeth to them… who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
5. “What is that good, and acceptable, and perfect” — The Nature of God’s Will
The will of God is good (morally right), acceptable (pleasing to Him), and perfect (complete, lacking nothing).
- Psalm 19:7-8 – “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul… the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.”
- Micah 6:8 – “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good… to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”
6. “Will of God” — The Supreme Goal of the Renewed Life
Understanding and living out God’s will is the result and purpose of transformation.
- Ephesians 5:17 – “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
- Romans 8:27 – “…he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
How This Impacts a Christian’s Daily Life
- We resist culture-driven patterns, testing every trend and value by Scripture.
- We pursue inward renewal rather than external performance.
- We allow God’s Word to reshape our thinking, replacing lies with truth.
- We gain clarity in confusing situations, able to discern what God desires.
- We shift from pleasing self to pleasing God, aligning life with His perfect will.
- We live purposefully, with God’s will as our daily target, not mere survival or worldly success.
How We Can Develop Ourselves to Live This Daily
- Meditate on Scripture Daily
- Psalm 1:2 – “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
- Immersion in God’s Word cleanses and reorients the mind.
- Practice Discernment
- Hebrews 5:14 – “…senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
- Actively test what we see, hear, and desire against God’s standards.
- Guard the Inputs to Your Mind
- Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
- Avoid mental pollution. Choose inputs that feed transformation, not conformity.
- Pursue a Mindset of Christ
- Romans 8:6 – “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
- Choose humility, service, love, and truth over pride, greed, and bitterness.
What We Will Do to Aspire to This Mindset
- We will daily choose not to conform, rejecting cultural idols and toxic habits that defy God’s holiness.
- We will immerse ourselves in God’s truth, committing to Scripture, prayer, and Spirit-led thinking.
- We will let the Holy Spirit renew our mind, trusting Him to gradually form Christ within us.
- We will test every desire, decision, and direction, asking if it matches God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.
- We will live as sacrifices, not for the approval of man, but for the glory of God.
May this verse be the daily anthem of every believer who longs not to blend in with the world, but to be remade into the image of Christ—mind, will, and heart.
Made New Inside
The world pulls me,
wanting me to fit in its model.
I do not belong there,
not in its noise and pride,
not in its fading dreams.
I listen to HIS voice,
quiet and strong like wind,
calling me to change,
not the cultural norms,
but in the way I think.
He sifts my thoughts each day,
pulling out the false,
inserting His truth,
and slowly I begin to see
what pleases God.
It is kind and gentle,
this way of becoming,
it is steady, and full,
like light at the edge of morning,
rising without being pushed.
I give Him my mind,
moment by moment,
and I am reshaped,
not by what fades,
but by what is true and eternal.