Good morning, Bereans. We had an amazing time last week at the Arkansas Eschatology Conference. It was so good to meet so many of you. Let me ask you to do us a favor. Please text or email me a picture of you with your name so that we can remember everyone we meet. Thanks to Zack and Travis for an awesome conference.
This is a message that I think would work well as an introduction to Preterism.
Let's start with Romans 12:1.
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. Romans 12:1 ESV
After eleven chapters of doctrine, Paul urges the believers to present themselves to Yahweh. The dedication of the Christian to holiness is urged because of the mercies of God described in previous chapters. This presentation of ourselves is not in order to win God's favor but, rathe, to express our deep gratitude because of His favor.
Bodies here is soma. To the Jews, this was a term that embraced the whole of the person—mind, emotions, will, and physical being. The Complete Jewish Bible captures the Hebraic flavor translating it as follows:
I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical "Temple worship" for you. Romans 12:1 CJB
Notice that it says, "offer yourselves," and not "offer your bodies" because the Jews thought of soma as the whole person. And it says that "it is the logical 'Temple worship' for you." Paul does here with Temple worship as he did with circumcision in 2:25-29.
Look at the words Paul uses here. In verse 1, we have the words, present (paristemi), sacrifice (thusia), and worship (latreia). All are Cultic terms used in the Levitical offerings of the Old Cove… Paul is again declaring that it is no longer physical and no longer confined to a place and people; it is now spiritual. It has no ethnicity and no boundaries. All believers are priests who are to offer up spiritual sacrifices to Yahweh.
So, in 12:1, Paul is calling the believers in Rome, and I believe all believers, to present their lives for service to God. Our dedication to God is a response to the mercy of God that we receive in salvation. Believers, this verse is very applicable to us today. We have received the mercies of Yahweh, and we are to serve Him by offering up spiritual sacrifices.
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 12:2 ESV
With the exception of John Gill (at least he was the only exception that I could find), all commentators interpret this verse something like this: "Twenty-first century Christians are not to be conformed to the world's thought patterns and practices, but they are to be transformed and be different from the world around them by renewing their mind through a study of the Word of God." Does that sound like what you have heard taught on this verse?
Commenting on this verse, John MacArthur writes that it is "Inconceivable that a Christian who is a new creation in Jesus Christ would want to wear the mask of the world. But, boy, we get sucked into it. We want to wear the clothes they wear. We run down to buy every new thing that comes along." So, is he saying that this transformation involves wearing different clothes than the world wears? Different how? Modesty! Different style, fabric, or color? I guess the Amish have this nailed. Does this mean that I can't buy the latest smart phone because it will make me worldly? What is he saying???
Dr. Phil Newton, a Baptist pastor writes, "We face a dilemma. 'Do not be conformed to this world,' we're commanded. But we live in it. We face 'this present age' every present day! We live in the present not the past or future. How do we live in the world but not be shaped by it?"
What is wrong with these interpretations? They don't understand what time it is! The first phrase gives us the interpretive clue to this verse: "Do not be conformed to this world." Let's look at the Complete Jewish Bible again.
In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the 'olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. Romans 12:1-2 CJB
The word "world" in our translation is from the Greek word aion, which means "this age"—the Old Covenant Jewish age. The CJB captures this by translating it as the "olam hazeh." The "olam" appears with the Jewish ages of the Second Temple period, and they distinguish between two types of olam: olam hazeh (this world) and Olam Haba ("the world to come"). The "olam hazeh" or "this world" is characterized by darkness, wickedness, sin, and death. It is called "night." The "Olam Haba," or "the world to come," as it was called by the rabbis, was known as a time of joy, peace, light, eternity—in other words, "day." The rabbis connected the olam haba with the resurrection.
Jewish theology maintains that olam hazeh was formed a few thousands of years ago—the time between Adam's fall and the coming of Jewish Messiah. It is bound to pass and to be replaced by olam haba (the world to come).
So, to the Jews, time was divided into two great periods—the Mosaic Age (olam hazeh) and the Messianic Age (olam haba). The Messiah was viewed as one who would bring in a new world. The period of the Messiah was, therefore, correctly characterized by the Synagogue as "olam haba" or "the world to come."
Throughout the New Testament, we see these two ages (i.e., "this age" and the "age to come") in contrast.
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:32 ESV
The CJB says it will be forgiven neither in the "`olam hazeh nor in the `olam haba." The word "come" at the end of the verse is the Greek word mello which means "about to be." We could translate this as "the age about to come" (in the first century). So, the writers of the New Testament saw the "olam haba" as being very near.
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:21 ESV
Here again we see the two ages and again the CJB says:
"Far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion or any other name that can be named either in the 'olam hazeh or in the 'olam haba." Ephesians 1:21 CJB
Clearly, the New Testament speaks of two ages—"this age" and "the age to come." The understanding of these two ages and when they changed is fundamental to interpreting the Bible. The ages didn't change overnight; there was a transition period of forty years. During these forty years, the "this age" was fading away and "the age to come" was developing.
The New Testament writers lived in the age that they called "this age." To the New Testament writers, the "age to come" was future, but it was very near in their day because "this age" was about to end.
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV
Paul said very plainly that the end of the ages was coming upon "them" (the first-century saints). "This age" was about to end.
We now live in what was to the first-century saints the "age to come." When most Christians read the New Testament and see the words "the age to come," they think of a yet future (to us) age. But the New Testament writers were referring to the Christian age. We live in what was to them the "age to come" (i.e., the New Covenant age).
Since the "this age" of the Bible ended in A.D. 70 with the destruction of the Temple and the coming of the Lord, we must be in the "age to come." And since the "this age" ended in A.D. 70, we don't have to be concerned with being conformed to it. So, in Romans 12:2 Paul is talking to the saints in first-century Rome and his words do not directly apply to us today. So, let's move on to verse 3. Just kidding. We need to examine this verse and the transformation that was taking place.
"Do not be conformed to this world"—the word "conformed" is from the Greek word suschematizo. It is a compound word from sun and schematizo. Schematizo refers to the act of assuming an outward expression that does not come from within (putting on an act).
Several manuscripts have an aorist tense here, rendering it as "Do not conform any longer" and, thus, indicating that Paul's hearers have been conforming to the present age up to now. Literally it says, "Stop allowing yourselves to be fashioned to the olam hazeh." Some of Paul's listeners were conforming to the Jewish age.
This word is only used one other place in the New Testament.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 1 Peter 1:13-14 ESV
Peter is comparing two ages—the one coming at the revelation of Yeshua the Christ and the former one. He tells his readers to fix their hope on the Parousia of Christ because this would bring in the olam haba. And don't be conformed to the former lusts.
Paul said in verse one that our sacrifices and Temple worship are spiritual, so we are not to be conformed to the Mosiac age of a worldly sanctuary and its rites and ceremonies and physical sacrifices. When Paul says "Stop being conformed to this age," he is saying the same thing that he said earlier in Romans 8.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. Romans 8:12 ESV
"So then" draws an inference from what has already been set forth. What did Paul explain in the previous paragraph? He said that believers are in the Spirit and not in the flesh, and therefore, they have no obligation to the flesh. By flesh, he means the Old Covenant Law.
Paul is arguing that because the Church is the redeemed community and her ultimate deliverance is certain, she has no reason to live as though she is a part of the body of sin, the kingdom of darkness. She no longer has any obligation to the Old Covenant written code. She doesn't have to keep Sabbath, be circumcised, eat certain foods, and worship on certain days.
In Paul's view, flesh and Spirit fall into redemptive-historical categories, serving to elucidate the contrasting natures of the two covenant ages. Seeking to live by Law really boils down to seeking life independently of God—the basic sin of Adam. To walk after the flesh is to seek life in terms of what man can accomplish of himself.
Although what Paul writes in Romans 12:2 is not written to us today, there may be some application in that most of "churchianity" today doesn't understand that they are not under obligation to the Old Cove… Most Christians live under some bondage to the Old Covenant, whether it be by tithing, by obeying the Sabbath, or by thinking that pastors are prophets who speak for God. They live in bondage.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13 ESV
This is a warning to believers against going back to the Old Cove… Notice what Paul says to the Galatian believers.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! Galatians 4:9-10 ESV
Their observance of special days, months, times, and years was one of the more obvious examples of their departure from the true Gospel. They were adopted sons of God, but they were turning back to the flesh, the Old Covenant written code. This makes me think that in our text in Romans, Paul is issuing a warning to the Jewish believers to not turn back to the fleshly mode of existence. Remember that during the transition period there was always that temptation for the Jewish believers to turn back to the Law. I think this verse is very similar in meaning to Romans 6.
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. Romans 6:13 ESV
Here Paul is telling these believing Jews that they are not to put themselves under the Law now that they are part of the body of Christ. I think that is what he is saying in our text in 12:2, "Don't be conformed to the Jewish system."
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13 ESV
Putting to death the "deeds of the body" is to not live according to Old Covenant rules and to stop walking according to the written code. This text is theological dealing with Jewish believers in the first century who were hanging on to the body of Moses.
How were these first-century Christians allowing sin to reign in the body of Moses? They were doing this as they submitted to Torah. This is what the book of Galatians argues against. They were putting themselves back under the Law. Sin reigns through the Law. To be conformed to the "olam hazeh" is to live "in the flesh."
"But be transformed"—this is the Greek word metamorphoo, which is a compound word from "morphe" ("form") and "meta," (implying change). Simply put, the underlying meaning of the word has to be "to change form," although this concept can be applied to relate to the essential character of something or to its external appearance. Metamorphoo is related to the English word metamorphosis. If you can remember back from 7th-grade science class, you will recall that metamorphosis is the process by which a caterpillar becomes a butterfly and a tadpole becomes a frog.
When Paul says "be transformed," he uses a passive form of the verb. He doesn't say, "Transform yourself," which would be utterly impossible. This verb metamorphoo is used four times in the New Testament, two of which appear in the Gospel accounts of the transfiguration. Mark writes:
And after six days Yeshua took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. Mark 9:2-3 ESV
The word "transfigured" comes from metamorphoo. What is happening here? What is the meaning of this transfiguration? I think that the transfiguration was a vision of the Second Coming of Christ. Peter seems to indicate this.
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Yeshua the Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 2 Peter 1:16-17 ESV
The word "coming" in verse 16 is the word Parousia. So, the transfiguration is a vision of the Second Coming. On the mount of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with Yeshua, and they represent the Law and the Prophets, the Old Covenant system. Then Yahweh says
"This is my beloved Son; listen to him." Mark 9:7 ESV
The transfiguration, then, seems to be a vision of the transformation from the Old Covenant to the New Cove… The word metamorphoo is used of the transformation of the covenants. When Paul tells the Roman believers to be transformed, he is telling them to be transformed to the New Cove…
Outside of the accounts of Christ's transfiguration and Romans 12:2, the only other place in the New Testament where metamorphoo is used is in 2 Corinthians 3.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
This is another one of those verses that so many use to tell us that as we spend time in the Word, we will continually be transformed from glory to glory to glory. I think that this is talking about progressive sanctin, but it does not refer to us. It is talking about the transition saints—those who lived between the first and second advent of Christ. They were being transformed from the Old Covenant glory to the New Covenant glory. The context of this chapter is the two covenants.
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 ESV
Paul here discusses the transformation of the glory of the Old Covenant to the greater glory of the New Cove… These are the two glories, and they were moving from one to the other. We have a contrast of covenants. One is fading away and one remains. They were growing into a living temple of God.
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua the Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 ESV
in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:21-22 ESV
During the transition period, the Old Covenant was fading away. The book of Hebrews was written around A.D. 64-67. At this time, the Old Covenant was still in effect, but 8:13 reveals that even then it was ready to pass away.
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 ESV
During this transition, the church was growing to maturity. Believers were "being built" for a dwelling place of God. During the transition period, the church was being transformed into the image of Christ. This is speaking about position and not practice. This growth was completed in A.D. 70 when the Lord returned and consummated the New Cove…
Commenting on Romans 12:2, one writer states, "For most of us, spiritual transformation happens over a long period of time; a little at a time, a step at a time, a day at a time." This is not what Paul is talking about. He's is talking about covenant transformation that was unique to the transition period.
Remember what Paul said in Romans 8.
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. Romans 8:29 ESV
The word "conformed" is the Greek word summorphos, which comes from morphe ("the essential character of something") and the prefix "sun" (pronounced as "soon") which denotes "union; with or together." This "sun" prefix tells us that this is a positional association. God predestined those He loved to share Christ's righteousness. This is corporate transformation.
"By the renewing of your mind"—most commentators see the transformation as spiritual growth or practical sanctin, and they say that this takes place by renewing your mind by spending time in the Word of God. Well, you can't do anything better with your time than spend it in the Word of God, but that is not what Paul is talking about here.
The "your" is plural while "mind" is singular. Paul continues to speak of their corporate identity. The word "renewing" here is the noun anakainosis. We see the verb form used in 2 Corinthians 4.
So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
As I mentioned earlier, the context of 2 Corinthians 3, concerns the changing of the covenants.
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV
The outer man is the Old Covenant, and the inner man is the New Cove… Again, we find that this renewal is a covenant transformation from the Old to the New Cove…
Notice what Paul tells the Corinthians.
"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV
The renewed mind is the mind of Christ. The renewing of the mind is not something we do today but, rather, is something that was happening to the first-century saints.
Look at what Paul said to the Ephesian believers.
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
The ESV translates anthropos as "old self." The trouble with this translation is that it causes the reader to envision the individual's old life. Anthropos is man, not self.
The figure of the "old man" and "new man" is common in Paul's writings. We are familiar with the terms, but do we know what they mean. The relation of the old self and the new self has been much disputed. Many hold that at salvation believers receive a new self but also keep the old self. Salvation thus becomes something added and not a transformation of what was already there. These proponents argue that the struggle in the Christian life comes from the battle between the two.
The expressions "old man" and "new man" occur in basically four places in Paul's letters: Romans 6:6; Ephesians 2:15; 4:22-24; and Colossians 3:9-11. If you examine these texts, you will find that the "old man" refers to people in solidarity with Adam under the old age of sin, death, and judgment. It is corporate in focus. Thus, the "old man" is not a sinful nature but, rather, a cooperate identity. The "new man" refers to people in solidarity with Christ under the New Cove…
The expression "likeness of God" refers to Christ Himself, so that the renewal involves progressive conformation into the likeness of Christ. The believer, having been decisively removed from that community, is not to live as if he still belonged there. Thus the "old man" must be continually put off.
The renewal that Paul is speaking about is a positional renewal that was happening in the first-century church. During the transition period, the church was moving from infancy to maturity.
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:10 ESV
Now notice what Paul says about the new man: "…which is being renewed in knowledge…" Now, we said that the "new man" refers to the "body of Christ," the corporate community of believers. This is talking about position and not about practice.
John Piper, commenting on Romans 12:2, writes, "Not conformed, transformed. Devote your life as a Christian to being changed. Don't settle in at the level of transformation you now have." He doesn't know what time it is. The transformation ended in A.D.70.
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 12:2 ESV
"That by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect"—what they are testing is what the Tanakh promised. The kingdom was promised and the kingdom had arrived. It was the will of God that Old Covenant Judaism come to an end. It was a type and the anti-type had arrived.
Today believers stand perfect in Christ, so we are not being transformed into His image; we share His righteousness, we are the dwelling place of God. The transition is over, and the church is mature and has become the dwelling place of God.