Now we will look at the next sentence of Romans 12:2 – “THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS-HIS GOOD, PLEASING, PERFECT WILL.”
There is a lot of depth in this second sentence which I think is important for us to evaluate before we break it down into parts. Paul’s message in the first sentence of Romans 12:2 is that we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind, then by doing so, we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.
Pastor and Christian author John Piper has written a commentary on this verse: “The term ‘the will of God’ has at least two or possibly three biblical meanings. First, there is the sovereign will of God, that always comes to pass without fail. Second, there is the revealed will of God in the Bible – do not steal, do not lie, do not kill, do not covet – and this will of God often does not come to pass. And third, there is [ ] wisdom where we consciously apply the word of God with our renewed minds to complex moral circumstances…” Piper continues, “We are perfectly useless as Christ-exalting Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us. And the key to not wasting our lives with this kind of [worldly] success and prosperity, Paul says, is being transformed.”
It is important to understanding this verse, but even more important to understanding as it relates to your own walk, that transformation is more than just switching from a “worldly to-do list” to a “to-do list of good behavior”. Simply changing our behavior is not the kind of transformation God is looking for from us. True transformation is a Holy Spirit transformation through our faith in Jesus Christ. When we make this transformation of the spirit, we find freedom; freedom from the limitations of living for self and the limitations of focusing our lives on the pattern of this world. This transformation occurs through a daily “RENEWING OF THE MIND” as we learn more about God, understand the depth of His love for us, and that He has a purpose for our lives beyond what we see in the world. The evidence of this transformation is by living our daily lives in the fruit of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (we will study this verse from Galatians later). If we embrace the fruit of the Spirit, our spiritual character is transformed, and we “WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS” for our lives.
I hope you are still tracking with me. I know this is a deep summary, but it is fundamentally important to our understanding of how God is revealing His perfect will in our lives. Today, let’s spend time on the first part of the verse – “THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS”.
I hope you will take time today and prayerfully reflect on these words. Let the Spirit of the Lord speak to you about your own transformation and the revelation of God’s will in your life. Here’s a youtube link to listen to while you pray over these words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFmQEqDLP2k
God's Word for Fuel 