When you think about the word “conformity,” it usually brings thought to someone forcing you into a standard or a way of life that you really don’t like. When the country was in lock-down mode due to Covid there were many negative comments regarding those who did not want to conform because there was a constant cry to resist conforming to the call.
The Bible is clear about the world seeking to bring us into conformity, but God’s plan is to transform us from the plan of the world. In fact, we are told that His purpose is that we would be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the world.
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 8:29–30 (ESV) — 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The world is constantly on our case unless we conform to the standard of the world. The standard of the world is anti-Christ and against all that is good. No wonder the examples we see in the scriptures is that of non-conformity to the world and a pressing forward to the conformity of Christ. Case in point: the apostle Paul.
Philippians 3:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Paul goes on to tell us of another conformity coming our way, the conformity to immortality upon the resurrection when Jesus returns for us. Then we shall be changed, or conformed, and we are told that change will take place rather suddenly, in a moment, even the twinkling of an eye.
Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
1 Corinthians 15:51–57 (ESV) — 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For that very reason, the reason that we shall be changed when we see Him in the resurrection, John tells us that we should even now resist the conformity to the world and seek to be conformed to the pure standard to which God is calling us and transforming us.
1 John 3:1–3 (ESV) — 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
