Not Reformed, Transformed
By George Stroh
October 25, 2021
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of most people. Until God, in His love and mercy, opens a person's spiritual eyes, they can't understand or believe God's word; But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Accordingly, it is fruitless to try to convince an unbeliever (a natural man) to stop sinning and accept the truth and wisdom of God's word. Many Christians and churches are wasting precious time, energy and resources trying to reform a world that is spiritually blind and totally rejects the things of God. Yes, of course, we are firmly opposed to all injustice, abortion, homosexuality, abuse, immorality, alcoholism, crime, and every other sin in this world.
But Christians are not called to reform this sinful world. Like the Apostle Paul, we are called to first and foremost boldly proclaim the gospel to any who will listen and pray that God will open their spiritual eyes to see and their spiritual ears to hear and believe; I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:18, 19a)
Those who are spiritually blind cannot be reformed, they must be transformed by the transforming power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... (Romans 12:2a)
Maranatha!