The verse Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This verse is calling Christians to not conform to the sinful ways and patterns of thinking that are common in the world, but instead to be transformed by renewing our minds according to God’s truth. Here is an explanation of what this verse means in around 9000 words:
The “pattern of this world” refers to the dominant mindsets, values, and lifestyles that are opposed to God and his standards. The world’s pattern is driven by human sinfulness and does not acknowledge God as sovereign. The world’s pattern manifests itself in things like greed, lust, immorality, idolatry, deception, injustice, pride, self-centeredness, and godlessness (1 John 2:15-17). The world’s pattern stems from a lack of knowledge and fear of the Lord (Romans 1:28, Proverbs 1:7). It involves conformity to cultural norms that often conflict with biblical values and obedience to God.
Paul warns Christians not to be conformed to this worldly pattern, but to be transformed spiritually and mentally. The renewal of the mind is a fundamental part of Christian discipleship. The tendency of human nature is to absorb the perspectives, values, and habits of the surrounding culture without discerning if they align with God’s will. However, the believer is called to reshape their thinking based on the truth of God’s Word (Psalm 119:11, Philippians 4:8). Our minds are transformed as we faithfully read, study, and meditate on the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible renews our minds by revealing the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), enlightening our understanding of God’s truth and reorienting our values and priorities to align with His Kingdom rather than the fallen world system.
As our minds are renewed according to biblical truth, we gain discernment to test what conforms to God’s will and what reflects the corrupt pattern of the world. We are able to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong. We will desire purity instead of sin, eternity instead of fleeting pleasures, selflessness rather than self-centeredness. A mind renewed by God’s truth will produce reasoning, choices, affections, and a lifestyle that increasingly models Christ rather than conforming to the world.
Practical ways our minds are transformed include:
– Reading the Bible daily to familiarize ourselves with God’s perspective and truth rather than uncritically absorbing the world’s philosophy and values (Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:15-16).
– Studying the Bible in-depth to gain thorough knowledge of God’s revelation that renews our minds on issues the world distorts such as ethics, meaning, identity, morality, wisdom, human nature, truth, etc. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
– Memorizing Scripture to have it readily available to inform and remind us of God’s principles for opposing worldly thinking and behavior (Psalm 119:11).
– Applying the Bible to daily decisions and dilemmas to allow God’s truth to critique our natural inclinations and the world’s input. Letting biblical truth shape how we actually live.
– Receiving biblical teaching and preaching that provides concentrated instruction in God’s Word and perspective (1 Timothy 4:13).
– Changing associations and media intake to reduce worldly influences that erode biblical thinking. Instead pursuing edifying influences that help renew our minds toward godliness (1 Corinthians 15:33).
– Praying for illumination by the Holy Spirit to understand, apply, and live out the wisdom of God’s Word (Psalm 119:18, John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
– Obeying what we learn from Scripture to put it into practice, avoiding deceiving ourselves that we are biblically renewed when our lives do not change (James 1:22, Romans 12:2b).
As we make these choices and habits part of our Christian walk, the “renewing of your mind” takes place. Our thought patterns increasingly conform to reflect God’s mindset and values communicated in the Bible. This mental renewal affects all areas of life:
OUR VIEW OF GOD – A renewed mind grasps more fully the majesty, wisdom, sovereignty, holiness, justice, grace, mercy and might of God. Meditating on who He is guards against worldly views of God as either non-existent, distant, uninvolved, indifferent, permissive of sin, unjust or weak.
OUR VIEW OF CREATION – We recognize God’s works in creation as awe-inspiring demonstrations of His existence, attributes and care for life. This contrasts with worldly views of origins that reject God and His purposes.
OUR VIEW OF HUMANITY – We grasp that human beings are made in God’s image yet fallen in sin, needing redemption by Christ. This contrasts sharply with worldly views of humanity as either inherently good or just complex animals without spiritual value or moral responsibility.
OUR VIEW OF MORALITY – We adopt God’s moral absolutes revealed in Scripture rather than subjective preferences and cultural trends. Biblical morality contrasts starkly with worldly moral relativism.
OUR VIEW OF SIN – Sin becomes what God calls sin rather than what culture labels ‘taboo’. The Bible confronts us with the seriousness of sin, whereas worldly thinking minimizes, rationalizes, or even glamorizes sin.
OUR VIEW OF TRUTH/KNOWLEDGE – We grasp that absolute truth exists as revealed by God, rather than believing truth is relative or unattainable as the world claims. Wisdom starts with fear of the Lord and knowledge of Him.
OUR VIEW OF PURPOSE – Our purpose shifts from self-fulfillment to glorifying God, knowing Christ, obedience and serving His Kingdom as the Bible defines our mission and reason for existence.
OUR VIEW OF THE FUTURE – We look beyond this fading world to eternal life in Christ, storing up heavenly rather than earthly treasure. The world focuses on the here and now, but the renewed mind considers the coming judgment and eternity.
In Romans 12:2, this renewal of the mind is directly contrasted with conforming to the world. It demonstrates that Christianity is essentially a way of thinking that informs our worldview and transforms how we interpret reality. Biblical truth renews our thinking which leads to discerning and resisting the twisted mindsets and sinful lifestyles promoted by worldly culture.
Rather than absorbing beliefs and values from the surrounding culture, a Christian is to let their mind be saturated in and transformed by the truth of God’s Word under the Spirit’s illumination. As J.B. Phillips paraphrased Romans 12:2 – “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within…” Our minds are reshaped to align with God’s perspective rather than being conformed to the world’s way of thinking that is corrupted by human sin and folly, suppressed truth, deceptive philosophies, false worldviews, and demonic influence.
The renewal of our minds to see reality accurately from God’s perspective produces radical implications in how we actually live:
1. HOLINESS – A mind transformed by Scripture will desire to please and glorify God, so we will resist temptations, flee immorality, and pursue godly humility, obedience and righteousness. Our lifestyle changes as our thought patterns are altered.
2. DISCERNMENT – We will be discerning of sinful cultural values and philosophical claims that go against revealed truth. With minds renewed by God’s Word, we identify worldly patterns that must be rejected.
3. WISDOM – We will make wise rather than foolish decisions aimed at bringing glory to God, knowing His ways are best. Renewed thinking leads to changed life choices.
4. WORSHIP – A mind awed by the glory and nature of God leads to authentic praise, worship, and love for God rather than empty formalism and distractedness common in the world.
5. KINGDOM FOCUS – Our priorities, time, talents, and resources get redirected from selfish interests toward serving God’s purposes and building His Kingdom. A mind understanding the supremacy and completion of Christ transforms how we live.
6. OBEDIENCE – We will obey God’s moral commands because our transformed thinking acknowledges His right to rule us. The pattern of disobedience found in the world gets supplanted by submission to our Lord.
7. HOPE – Our hope and confidence will rest fully in Christ and His work rather than human solutions, knowing this world is fading and God’s eternal Kingdom is our home. A focus on the eternal over temporary replaces worldly perspectives.
8. LOVE – We will love God first and foremost, and become more loving, patient and kind toward others. Biblical truth renews our minds to heed Christ’s command to love rather than live selfishly.
9. HUMILITY – Pride and arrogance will be replaced by humility and sober self-assessment as our minds grasp our sinfulness and need for God’s mercy. We become servants rather than seeking worldly power, prestige, and self-promotion.
10. UNITY – Knowing our shared identity in Christ supersedes worldly divisions, we pursue unity with other believers across ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic lines. God’s truth unifies whereas worldly thinking divides.
This “pattern of this world” that we must not conform to is the mindset rooted in human sinfulness and independence from God that manifests itself in pointless pursuits, false beliefs, immorality, pride, greed, suspicion of others, injustice, exploitation, rebellion, unbelief, and idolatry of created things. It is the futile way of thinking and behaving that leaves people estranged from their Creator and trapped in cycle of violating His good designs for human flourishing. That worldly pattern will ultimately be judged along with the ruler of this world, Satan.
In contrast, when a mind is renewed according to God’s truth, people receive salvation from sin through Jesus Christ. They begin a process of mental reformation toward wisdom, holiness, hope and obedience. Rather than external conformity to regulations, Christianity is about inward transformation by God’s Spirit through His powerful Word. A renewed mind leads to a transformed life that increasingly models Jesus Christ in moral integrity and service to God.
The call to be transformed by renewing our mind is an ongoing process that lasts throughout the Christian life. Though the pattern of worldly thinking that once enslaved our minds was defeated positionally when we trusted in Christ (Romans 6:2, 6-7), practically we must wage war against unbiblical mindsets that bombard us from culture and our own fleshly desires. The Holy Spirit empowers us to continually reprogram our thought patterns according to biblical truth that renews our minds and transforms our living as disciples of Jesus.
While the renewal of our minds will never be complete in this life, through God’s Word and Spirit we can make significant progress in rejecting worldly thinking and conforming to God’s perspective. As our minds become more thoroughly biblical, our lives will follow. The more we understand God’s truth, the more we will live out that truth and refrain from being squeezed into the world’s mold. The pattern of this world is hostile to God, but He is faithful to renew every believing mind that looks intently into His perfect Word of truth.