The World Is Crucified Unto Me - Bible Witness Media Ministry

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Christian and Worldlinessservice. And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by the renewing ofyour mind, that ye may prove what is thatgood, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”The key word (suschematizo) in this passage istranslated as “conformed”. The literal meaningof this word is “to fashion alike”. It is translatedin 1 Peter 1:14 as “fashioning”. “As obedientchildren, not fashioning yourselves accordingto the former lusts in your ignorance.” It comesfrom the root word (schema) from whichwe get the English word “scheme” which istranslated as “fashion” in 1 Corinthians 7:31and Philippians 2:8.The injunction from Romans 12:1-2 is veryclear. The Christian is to go in the oppositedirection of the fashionof the world. He is todo it consciously anddeliberately. To havethis new way of life, i.e.,not to be controlled bythe fashion of the world,it must begin with arenewed mind. Rightthinking will lead to right living! There isonly one way to think correctly. It is throughthe study of the Word of God. The Word ofGod will sanctify our minds and provide uswith a new way of thinking. With the helpand enabling of the indwelling Holy Spirit,the Christian will then have the strength notto allow the fashion of the world to dictatewhat is best for the Christian. The world maysay: have a tattoo on your body because thisis what “cool” people do. The Christian willremember from God’s Word in Leviticus19:28 that it is wrong! Leviticus 19:28, “Yeshall not make any cuttings in your flesh forthe dead, nor print any marks upon you: Iam the LORD.”The Christian is to go inthe opposite direction ofthe fashion of the world.Another example is when the fashion is todress like the world regardless of modestyand decency, the Christian will remember1 Timothy 2:9-10, “In like manner also, thatwomen adorn themselves in modest apparel,with shamefacedness and sobriety; not withbraided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;but (which becometh women professinggodliness) with good works.” When theadvertisement shouts at us to “buy-me!” anddeclares that this is the “in” thing which willlast a lifetime, the Christian will remember1 Corinthians 7:31, “And they that use thisworld, as not abusing it: for the fashion ofthis world passeth away.”This “renewed” thinking is not an option ifthe Christian is to pleaseGod! This is the basisfor living a life that isacceptable and pleasingin the sight of God asRomans 12:1 declares.The fashion of this worldhas only one agenda - it isto make money out of you. From the spiritualperspective, it is to cause us to lose ourChristian witness and become like the world.Do not forget that this world is controlledby the Prince of this world, i.e., Satan himself.Take counsel from the inerrant, infallible andperfect Word of God when it warns us in 1John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither thethings that are in the world. If any man lovethe world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,is not of the Father, but is of the world. Andthe world passeth away, and the lust thereof:but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”•10Bible Witness
Christian and WorldlinessPut FleshlyLusts to DeathPrabhudas koshyTherefore, brethren, we are debtors, not tothe flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye liveafter the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye throughthe Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,ye shall live. For as many as are led by theSpirit of God, they are the sons of God. Forye have not received the spirit of bondageagain to fear; but ye have received the Spiritof adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with ourspirit, that we are the children of God: And ifchildren, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirswith Christ; if so be that we suffer withhim, that we may be also glorified together.Romans 8:12-17We Owe the FleshNo Sympathy (Fightagainst the flesh)Some Christians seem to take a very gentleattitude towards sin as though they owetheir own fleshly desires some sympathy andtolerance. They think that since they are stillin their corrupt body and prone to the lust ofthe flesh, they must be tolerant and permitsome space for sin to exist. But Paul says inverse 12 that Christians do not owe the fleshanything. You have to understand that fleshlylusts must be hated. It’s been trying to killyou. Peter warned us in 1 Peter 2:11 that wemust “abstain from fleshly lusts, which waragainst the soul.” Giving in to the flesh is likejoining forces with your enemy and pay foryour own destruction. You are not a debtorto the flesh.Until you believe that your Christian life is anactive warfare against fleshly lusts that laywait for your soul, you will probably take aneasy approach to your Christian life with noearnestness and vigilance. You got to havea wartime mindset; if not, your life is veryprecarious. The enemy has lulled you intosleep or into a peacetime mentality, as ifnothing serious is at stake. And God, in HisBible Witness 11
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The World Is Crucified Unto Me - Bible Witness Media Ministry

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