Worship is more than Sunday Attendance! Part 2.

“Do not be conformed to this world”—Romans 12:2 (a).

As we live in this world, all of us are pressured to conform to the culture & standards of this world. No one is exempt from this temptation.
The term ‘word’ is used in different meanings in the original Greek language in which the NT is written. The first word, ‘kosmos’ itself, is used differently based on the context in which it occurs.

In John 3:16, when Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” the ‘world’ means the ‘mankind or ‘human beings. God so loved you and the people of the world that He gave His Son to save and grant you eternal life with Him in heaven. This is for whoever believes in Jesus Christ. However, He didn’t love the sinful, lustful value system of the world.

The 2nd word, ‘aion’ means the present age, in contrast to the age to come. More specifically, the ways, standards, and customs of this world. Ephesians 2:2 says, “when you followed ‘the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air,’ the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

In the Bible, the present age contrasts the age to come. The Present age is a pretty long period from the garden of Eden and the thought process behind its ways, customs, aspiration, and standards are according to that fallen nature. Ephesians 2 says the present age is under the influence of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, who is the Devil. And his spirit, who is at work in the present age, causes disobedience and rebelliousness. You see, the present age is an antithesis of the kingdom of God.

The Bible says in Galatians 1:4, “Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” You see, you and I needed to be rescued from the present evil age and its ways, and that is why Jesus paid his blood to deliver us from its corruption and bondage.

The Bible says in Colossians 1:13 that “For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves (Jesus Christ), in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The Bible says in Colossians 1:13 that God had already transplanted a believer in Jesus from the Devil’s kingdom to the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ.

When the Bible says in John 2:15 & James 4:4 that you cannot love the world and God simultaneously, it means you cannot love the world’s value system and its offers-practices, norms, thought processes, and goals-and love God at the same time. You see, the value system of God and the value system of the present age are opposite.

Our verse says, “do not be conformed to this world.” TPT translates, “stop imitating the ideas and opinions of the culture around you.” Other translations give a little bit more insight into the concept here. GNT says, “do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world.” NLT says, “don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.” Now I hope you understand the point- it simply means do not allow this world to influence or drag you in its ways, standards, or thought process. Do not allow the value system of this world to shape and mold your thinking process.

Why? Because in Paul’s language in Romans 1:18 onwards, the present age or this fallen age suppresses the truth of God, for they want to enjoy wicked and sinful things without restraints. Due to the heightened ingratitude toward him, God gave the present age to shameful lusts. God gave them over to a depressed mind, and as a result, they do not want to retain the knowledge of God. As a consequence of the depraved mind, they do what they should not have done.

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed & depravity. Without God and His revealed truth in their value system, they become full of envy, murder, strife, deceit & malice. They gossip, slander, hate God, and are arrogant and boastful. They disobey their parents and have no understanding, fidelity, love, or mercy. They know God’s righteous standards and decree in their heart. Stil not only continues to do these things, but they also approve of those who practice them.

Beloved, is this not what we see in the USA and worldwide these days? This is the picture of the ‘aion’-the present, fallen, depraved, sinful, lustful, and shameful age that does not honor and thank God.

They hate the knowledge of God and suppress the truth of God. Every time God is mentioned, even though they know in their hearts God is in existence, they don’t want to hear it and continue suppressing the truth of God.

Did you notice the verse under consideration- do not be conformed to this world (‘aion’-the present sinful and lustful age) is not a recommendation or suggestion? It is a command of God. It is in an imperative mood.

Listen! Many once faithful believers shipwrecked their faith life by conforming to the desires of this present age. Lot, Bible affirms a righteous man (1 peter 2:7) flirted with the attractions of this world and ended up in destruction. Paul says about Demas, a once a fellow worker of Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:10, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” NLT translated he loved the things of this life. The word used here is for ‘new age’ or ‘present age’. Paul earlier wrote in Philemon 24 that Demas was a fellow worker with him. Demas & Luke, together with Paul, sent Christian greetings to the believers in Colossae. However, later when Paul wrote his letter to Timothy, just before his departure to the Lord, he sadly wrote Demas loves this aion (present age)- which means he loved the age and its desires and aspirations- and consequently left him. We don’t know the details of Demas’s situation. However, in short, it appears he decided that what satan offer in this life is better than what God offers because satan is the ruler of this present age (Ephesians 2:2). What a foolish decision. Bible does not say the restoration of Demas.

Beloved, may this never happen to you. When flirting with the aion, the present sinful and lustful age, and its value system, please keep this solemn warning in your hearts.

We see the Bible or the heavenly value system in opposition to the present value system daily. Our verse commands do not to be conformed to this world- the present sinful, lustful value system of the world. We must adhere to the heavenly value system revealed in the pages of the Bible. It is called Bible values.

For this purpose, one must be born again first and born from above. Jesus said to a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” After this, Jesus explained how to be born again. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

By believing in Jesus Christ, the only savior of the whole world, you will be born again to God’s family or household. Upon your faith in Jesus, he grants the Holy Spirit inside you who would help you differentiate the present value system and God’s Kingdom value system revealed in the Bible’s pages.

Are you born again? If not, today is the day you can be born again into God’s family by your profession of faith in Christ Jesus.

“Father in heaven, I know I am born by my parents into this world. However, I want to be born again into your heavenly family. I believe Jesus is my savior; he died, was buried, and rose again for my sins. I accept Him as my Savior and Lord. Please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”