In the first century there were basically two views of the human body. One was that it should be worshiped for its beauty and idolized for its strength. The body was something to be proud of and to flaunt.
On the other hand, some believed the body was inherently sinful. That the body didn't matter, only the spirit mattered. In fact, the body was only a shackle and a prison-house. It was something to be despised and even ashamed of.
Christianity presented a third view: that the body is to be consecrated to the Lord. It is not to be worshiped, nor is it to be abased. We should not glory it, but neither should we be ashamed of it. It is given to us by God. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Here's the biblical view stated in Romans 12:1-2. "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."
The word "conform" means to fashion outwardly. But the word "transformed" means to be changed inwardly. From it we get the word "metamorphosis." The idea is a change from one stage to the next. When a person becomes a Christian, he is to undergo a change, a metamorphosis. Just like the ugly caterpillar undergoes the metamorphosis and becomes a beautiful butterfly, so the man in sin is to be changed into a child of God.
There are three ways Christians are to be transformed from world.
1. Our morals must be transformed. The world seeks to conform us to its fashions, attitudes and morals. James L. Standfield wrote: "The world is the Devil's lair for sinners and its lure for saints." Satan still seeks to ensnare us the same way he did Eve and with the same three temptations as he tried to entrap Christ: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
We must be transformed from the desires, deeds, and deceitfulness of the world. There is pressure to conform through ungodly friends, salacious literature, and immoral mass media. Television, internet, facebook and even our iphone can and often do present pictures that appeal to the lewd and the lascivious.
The Bible appeals to our moral senses: "Be not conformed, but be transformed."
2. Our minds must be transformed. This text calls it "the renewing of your mind." J. Oswald wrote, "A well-ordered life is the outcome of a well ordered mind."
If moral change is to occur in our lives, it must begin with a mental transformation. Christians think differently than the world. We discipline our minds to think on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Phil. 4:8).
Since so much in the world appeals to the obscene, off-color, and unclean, we must constantly renew our minds, refresh our spirits and revive our hearts. How do we affect mind-renewal?
It must begin by reading the Bible. By meditating upon the word, we can flush out bad thoughts and replace them with good and godly thoughts. The Psalmist penned, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Ps. 119:11).
We can also replenish our minds with spiritual thoughts by listening to recordings of hymns, sermons and motivational lessons. Attending worship service and enjoying fellowship with like-minded Believers also helps. Reading good books by religious authors will channel our minds in a positive direction.
3. Our motives must be transformed. Romans 12:2 exhorts "that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Our motives should be wrapped up in the will of God. We are focused on Jesus "the author and perfecter of our faith" (Heb. 12:2) Our motivation is beyond this life. It is spiritual, eternal, and heavenward.
slightly edited
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