How to Live Godly in an Ungodly World {Be Transformed Bible Study}

Many people think that living a holy life consists of reading your Bible every day, praying without ceasing, abstaining from premarital sex, giving to the poor, and all the spiritual practices you can think of when you hear the word holy. This is not incorrect however, living a holy life goes far beyond our behaviors alone. in today's video, we'll discuss what it really takes to live a Godly life in an evil world, and it might not be what you think, so enjoy! 

When you hear the word holy, you may start to feel intimidated or think that a holy life is impossible to live in this generation. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not the easiest thing to do, however, we have to realize if God calls us to do something, He will make a way for us to do it. Living Godly isn't just for other people to see our good works or so that we can feel good about ourselves. We live holy lives because God called us to live holy lives and if God calls us to do something, we have to understand that God will not call us to do something that we can't do or that He's not going to, then give us the power and the strength to do with Him. In today's scripture, we will see God's call for us to live holy lives unto Him, but also, He gives us a blueprint on how actually to do that because He knows the world we live in and He’s not blind to the struggle. Romans 12:1-2 says:

In today’s video, we’ll look closely at this verse to learn:

• ❤️‍🔥 What it really means to be a living sacrifice. 🔥
• 📲 The subtle ways culture is impacting your faith without you even knowing it.
• 🕊️Why living holy has more to do with this one thing even over your behavior.

But first, a little background on today’s text. The Apostle Paul is writing to believers in Rome, and much of his writing up until we get to chapter 12, which includes today's verses, is his explanation of our desperate need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans Chapter 1 alone outlines the gross depravity and sinfulness of mankind and how far we have fallen from God. Yet when we get to Romans Chapter 12:1, Paul appeals, and some verses say he “urges” the believers in Rome to live holy lives. Not only that but to present their bodies as living sacrifices unto the Lord. So it's here that we see we are called, as believers, to live holy lives no matter how sinful our past is, no matter how dark the culture is that we live in, or no matter what we were taught when we were children. God is calling us to live holy as an act of worship to him. And as I said before, God’s not going to call us to something He will not empower us to do. 

LIVING SACRIFICES

The Apostle Paul uses the term “living sacrifice” to describe our walking out and living holy lives to God. So you might be wondering what that even means because when you think of a sacrifice, you think of something that is dead. You think of something that was killed and given up for a higher purpose. However, using the word “living” here shows that it's not just our physical bodies that we're laying down to give up to God. If God only wanted our bodies, then we could just lay our bodies down and that’s it. But God wants more. He wants us alive, and to live and think for Him. He wants our whole being, our whole life, our heart, it's our mind, and our desires. 

Now here's where I want to talk about what I meant when I said living a holy life is not just about your behaviors alone. It is about your behaviors and why you do what you do. It is possible to do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. So when we live as living sacrifices unto God, it's not just laying down what I do, it's laying down why I do it, it's laying down my desires, it's laying down my dreams, it's laying down my wants and trusting God with the internal work of my heart as well. Now this is important because we know the scripture tells us that what's happening on the inside is what will come through on the outside. So even if for a time we're behaving holy, if our hearts are not holy, eventually the truth will come out. 

When speaking about false teachers, Jesus tells us that we will know them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20) Not what they do. Not what they say, but the end result of the seeds that are planted within their hearts when they come to full maturity. Then it will be clearly evident their true motivation.

So yes, we need to practice reading our Bibles. We need to practice praying. We need to practice fasting and devotional time, but we also need to lay our hearts on the altar of God and let him change us to truly become the women that He's called us to be. This is why the Apostle Paul doesn't say to present your body as a living sacrifice by doing this and that. He says to present your body as a living sacrifice by not conforming to the world, but being transformed by the renewing of your mind. These are internal workings that God is doing within us so that we can then present ourselves as living sacrifices unto God. It's an inside job. It's an inside work that's happening. I'm not saying don't read your Bible. Honestly, I do think that our generation needs to focus more on spiritual practices, but not without the right heart, because we need our actions and our motivations to be in alignment with God's will to be able to live holy lives in a dark world.

CONFORM OR TRANSFORM

What we have to understand is that every single day we are being molded and transformed and shaped by many forces that we probably don't even recognize. This is why Paul says in today's scripture not to conform to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Why do you think he uses two different words here? Why doesn't he say don't be conformed to the world but conform by the renewing of your mind? Or why doesn't he say don't be transformed by the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind? It’s because there are two separate things happening here. We need to understand the difference between  conforming and being transformed.

The word conform means to pattern after, to fashion, It means to be similar in rules or standards or to behave according to socially acceptable standards. The prefix “con” of the word conform means “with.” So when you conform to the world, you're essentially just going with the flow of the world. If the world believes this, you believe it too. If the world says do this, you do this too. If the world thinks this, you think that way too. Regardless if it aligns with God’s Word or not. We conform to or easily shape or fashion ourselves with the ways of the world because that is what our flesh naturally does. If we don't go against the world, we will naturally go with the flow of the world. That's how we're wired. That's what it means to be born into sin. That’s why not making a decision for God is a decision against God, because you’re already headed in the wrong direction. There’s no neutral. It’s hot or cold. Left alone and we conform to the world. We don't conform to the ways of God because that's actually counter to our nature as sinners and those born in sin. So we can't conform to the ways of God. We have to be transformed into the ways of God and into the likeness of Christ. 

The word transform means to change into another form. The prefix “trans” of the word transform or transformation means “across” or “beyond.” It means you have to do something different. Now today when we hear the word trans referring to a person, we're saying that this person has crossed over from one sex or one gender to another. They've completely changed. They're crossing beyond what was to do or be something new. That is what the Apostle Paul is calling Christians to do: to be trans-worldly, to be trans-cultural, to be new. Conformity we can do on our own, but transformation takes Christ. 

I remember a time when the Lord was really working on my heart and He revealed some sins in my life that I needed to turn from. The Lord was convicting my heart, but my response was to only focus on my behaviors. I made a list of all the things that I would do in order to change and committed my willpower to make it happen until it didn't. Willpower can work for certain things, but when it comes to changing your heart and transforming your soul into the likeness of Christ, that requires the power of God. It was in that season that the Lord revealed to me His grace. His grace not just to forgive our sins, but His grace to empower us to do what we can't do on our own. To live transformed lives unto the glory of God even in a dark world. It's then that our reliance on God, and our faith and trust in Him is what empowers us to live holy. It’s not our willpower, not our lists, not our shoulda woulda couldas. Christ Alone.

Now you still might be thinking, wait a minute Christina, that's not fair. I was born into sin. I was born to conform. This is the way that I am. I can't transform. I’m here to tell you today, yes you can. This is why Jesus says you must be born again. (John 3:1-21) When you give your life to Jesus Christ, you are born again in the spirit, but now with the power to transform. You now have the power to do something new, to cross over from who you once were, and to become the woman of God that He's calling you to be and live the holy life that's against culture, even in a dark world. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

God will empower you to do what you've never done before because that's what it takes to be a living sacrifice. You must die to your old self and become new in Christ.

RENEW YOUR MIND

How do we do that? By the renewing of our minds. Romans 8:5-6 says:

Your thoughts dictate your actions. Your thoughts will lead you to a holy life or a sinful life. Your theology, what you think about God, and your relationship to Him directly impacts how you live. 

What do we need to keep our minds on to live holy lives? Today’s scripture tells us, the mercies of God. The NIV says, “in view of God’s mercy,” we are to then give our bodies as living sacrifices. As we live for God, our focus is not on what we do, but God’s mercy towards us. As we think of His kindness, His goodness, and His sacrifice, we are then compelled to live holy. 1 John 4:19 tells us:

So we’re not living holy to get to God. We’re living holy because by the mercy of God, He came and got us. 

Today’s scripture tells us that when our minds are renewed, we can then test and discern God’s will, so we won’t conform to the world. We’ll be empowered to live holy because you’ll have a mind to know God’s will so you can live it out. And guess what? You’ll want to. We’ll know which way to go and what things to do and we won’t be deceived by the thinking and ideas of this world. 

This is why one of our greatest challenges in this generation is distraction. The enemy wants our thoughts and attention so we’ll conform. But if we give God our thoughts and attention, we’ll transform to become the women He’s called us to be from the beginning. 

So if you want to know how you can renew your mind every single day, check out this video where I share 5 practical steps to renewing your mind. 

For more encouragement, download my free Bible Study called “Worry-Free” to learn the 3 lies feeding your worry and the truth to set you free at belovedwomen.org. Thanks for watching and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and beloved.