Rom 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”.
To conform is to give the same shape, outline, or contour to; bring into harmony or accord.
The world has a shape, and we are not to be conformed to it. Fads, opinions, rudiments, philosophies, lusts and pride, etc. are all worldly things to which we conform.
To transform is to change in composition or structure, to change the outward form or appearance of.
According to our text, your transformation as a Christian takes place by the renewing of your mind. Notice that when “man” was made, God “formed” him of the dust, Gen 2:7. And he was made in God’s image and likeness, Gen 1:26-27. After the fall, we lost our God given form.
That’s why Paul told the Galatians that he travailed “in birth again until Christ be formed in you”, Gal 4:19. As Christians, we are predestinated “to be conformed to the image of his Son”, Rom 8:29. The process of Christ being formed in us and of us being conformed to his image requires a transformation by the renewing of your mind. We must:
Transform from a blind mind to a right mind. Contrast 2 Cor 4:3-4 with Mk 5:15. The devil blinds the minds of those who don’t believe God’s words. To transform to a right mind, we need to believe the gospel and get saved. When we fear God instead of other people or things, this right mind is also the sound mind of 2 Tim 1:7.
Transform from a natural mind to a spiritual mind. 1 Cor 2:4-16. We can’t understand the Bible with a natural mind. The natural mind can only comprehend man’s wisdom. Therefore, when we are saved, God gives us the mind of Christ. As you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth to you, which transforms you by the renewing of your mind. If you don’t read the Bible, your spiritual mind will never mature.
Transform from a proud mind to a humble mind. Contrast Rom 12:3 with Phil 2:4-8. We have a tendency to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. You must be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God wants us to humble ourselves.
Transform from a double mind to a single mind. Contrast Jas 1:8, Jas 4:8 with Is 26:3. This double mind results from now having the old man and new man to deal with, Eph 4:22-24. These are like the carnal mind and the spiritual mind in Rom 8:5-8. Transformation is not something that takes place all at once when we get saved but is something that we must undergo everyday. We put off the old man and put on the new. Thus, your mind becomes more and more conformed to God, or stayed on God.