Prove What the Will of God Is

	"Be not conformed to this world," Paul urges in Romans 12:2.
	We must work hard to not be conformed to the world in our appearance, our talk and our activities.  We must put out every effort to not be conformed to the world in our attitudes, our values and our priorities.
	"...But be transformed by the renewing of your mind," the Apostle continues.  We must undergo a metamorphosis.  This requires that we die to self and die to sin, and then be made alive to Christ.  This must be accomplished through a renewal of the mind.
	"...That you may prove what the will of God is," Paul concludes, "that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
	We must prove what the will of God is through that which is good.  The first thing we should notice is that, contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as "good."  All too often we hear that there are no absolutes.  There is no such thing as "good." If it works for you, then it is O.K.  God disagrees.
	"For this reason also," Paul writes in Colossians 1:9-10, "since the day we heard {of it}, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please {Him} in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
	There are certain actions, certain works, which God classifies as "good."
	"See that no one repays another with evil for evil," we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:15, "but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men." 
	Certain activities are good for one another and for all men.
	"How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?" Romans 10:14-15 wonders.  "And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"
	This passage says that certain people carry glad tidings of good things.  The context explains that this is referring to the Gospel message.  The Gospel is good.
	"For the Law," Hebrews 10:1 notes, "since it has {only} a shadow of the good things to come {and} not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.
	The Old Law was to be replaced with something good.  Christ's kingdom is good.
	"But when Christ appeared {as} a high priest of the good things to come," Hebrews 9:11-12 confirms, "{He entered} through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."
	There are good works and good activities.  The Gospel is good.  Christ's kingdom is good.  The existence of good implies that there are some things which are bad.
	"{There will be} tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil," Paul points out in Romans 2:9-10, "of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
	There is such a thing as "good."  There is such a thing as "bad."  But how can we tell the difference?
	"Why are you asking Me about what is good?" Jesus says in Matthew 19:17, "There is {only} One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 
	How can we decide what is good and what is bad?  Should each person make a decision based on personal experiences and preferences?  Should we ask a preacher to decide for us?  No, only God can provide the correct yardstick.  Only He can furnish the proper measure.  We are to prove what the will of God is through that which is good.
	Romans 12:2 also instructs us to prove what the will of God is through that which is acceptable.  Again, this implies that certain things are acceptable.  One thing which the New Testament classifies as potentially acceptable is service.  In fact, the verse we are using as our text is preceded by an admonition to offer acceptable service.
	"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God," Paul states in Romans 12:1, "to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship."
	There is a service which is acceptable to God.
	"Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;" we find in Romans 14:16-19, "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For he who in this {way} serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." 
	There is a service to Christ which is acceptable to God.
	"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken," Hebrews 12:28-29 says, "let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire."
	In order to be acceptable, our service must involve respect for the will of God.

	We must prove what the will of God is through that which is good.  If there is good, then there is bad.  We must prove what the will of God is through that which is acceptable.  This suggests that there must also be that which is not acceptable.  In fact, the New Testament contains many lists of things which are not acceptable.
	"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident," Paul writes in Galatians 5:19-21 of one such list, "which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
	Some things are acceptable.  Some things are not acceptable.  How can we tell the difference?
	"Now the God of peace," Hebrews 13:20-21 responds, "who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, { even} Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom {be} the glory forever and ever. Amen."
	How can we decide what is acceptable and what is not?  Should each person make a decision based on personal experiences and preferences?  Should we ask a preacher to decide for us?  No, only God can be the judge.
	We are to prove what the will of God is through that which is acceptable.
	And Romans 12:2 suggests that we must prove what the will of God is through that which is perfect.  But no one is perfect.  Is God making an unreasonable demand?  We should understand that, in the Bible, the word perfect often does not imply something which is flawless.  It frequently refers to something which is complete or mature.  God does require that we be complete and mature.
	"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials," James 1:2-4 instructs, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have {its} perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
	Yes, we must prove what the will of God is through that which is perfect.  How can we do this?  We can do it by following a perfect pattern.
	"And we proclaim Him," Colossians 1:28 says of Jesus, "admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ."
	We must not be conformed to this world.  We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  And we must prove what the will of God is through that which is good, acceptable and perfect.  By the way, the form of our worship to God changed from the Old Law to the New.  But God's expectation did not.  Under the Old Law He did not accept a sacrifice which was not good and perfect.  He expects no less quality in our devotion to Him today.  Paul sums up this lesson in Ephesians 5:3-17.
	"But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints;" he teaches, "and {there must be no} filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light {consists} in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.  For this reason it says, 'Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'  Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
	Some things are good, and some are bad.  Some things are acceptable and some are not.  Some things contribute to our maturity and some do not.  As the last passage indicates, those who follow the wrong pathway are foolish.  They are foolish because they do not understand what the will of God is.
	This leads to one final conclusion.  There is truth.  And there is falsehood.  But only the truth will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."