To be transformed means refusing to be poured into the world's mold and being changed by God into a new person.
Les Feldick teaches that the world is Satan's mold and Romans 12:2 is a warning not to be poured into it. Transformation is pictured as a metamorphosis, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, in which the believer's outlook, desires, and walk become new in Christ.
Romans 12:2 — The verse directly answers the question by contrasting conformity to the world with transformation through the renewing of the mind.
Romans 12:2 (KJV) commands, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The preceding verse calls believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is their reasonable service. The Bible describes the result of being in Christ as a new creation: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 6:4 also speaks of walking in newness of life with Christ.
Les Feldick explains “conformed” in Romans 12:2 with the picture of liquid poured into a mold: once it sets, it takes that exact shape. He says Paul's warning is “don't be poured into Satan's mold,” because the world lies in the lap of the wicked one. Transformation, Les says, is a real change from what a person was before. He compares it to the metamorphosis of an ugly cocoon into a beautiful butterfly. Believers go from the old ugly frame of flesh toward something new—not overnight, but as the new divine nature begins to affect the body and the believer grows in grace. The old lifestyle is replaced by new outlook and desires, and one day believers will be transformed physically into a body like Christ's.
Les uses the illustration of a jello mold. Once the liquid is poured in and sets, it is exactly the shape of the mold. Paul's point is that a believer should not be poured into Satan's mold, because the whole world system lies in the lap of the wicked one.
Les says believing makes a person a totally different person in outlook and desires, but it does not happen overnight. A new believer comes into the Christian life as an infant who needs nourishment and protection. He also uses the caterpillar-to-butterfly picture, noting that metamorphosis takes time—though the future change of the body at the Lord's return will be instantaneous.
According to the transcript evidence, a transformed believer is no longer in the old lifestyle. Paul says all things are passed away and all things have become new; the believer is not in the flesh but in the Spirit, under His control instead of old Adam. Les says this begins in the Christian walk as the new divine nature takes effect on the body.
Les connects transformation to a future bodily change. Just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, believers will go from this old ugly body of flesh to a new glorious resurrected body in a split second. He points to Philippians 3, where the Lord will change our bodies to be fashioned after His glorious body, and to Christ's 40 days after resurrection as a glimpse of how we will function in eternity.
Satan's Mold
Les explains that being 'conformed' means being poured into a mold, and Romans 12:2 is a warning not to be poured into Satan's mold in this world system.
Butterfly Metamorphosis
Les uses the metamorphosis of an ugly cocoon into a beautiful butterfly to illustrate transformation, and applies it to the believer's old body of dust becoming a glorious new body.
A Different Person in Outlook and Desires
Les teaches that believing makes a person totally different in outlook and desires, but Christian maturity is not immediate—new believers are infants who need time to grow.
Instantaneous Future Change
Les repeats the caterpillar-and-butterfly picture but notes the future bodily change at the Lord's coming is instantaneous, going from old ugly flesh to a new glorious resurrected body.
No Longer in the Old Lifestyle
Les shows the transformation's flip side: believers are no longer in the old lifestyle because of God's grace, and must identify with Christ's death.
New Creation and Spirit-Controlled Life
Les points to 'old things are passed away; all things are become new' and Romans 8:9—believers are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, under His control.
Bodies Like Christ's
Les teaches that believers will one day be transformed into heavenly bodies like Christ's, using Philippians 3 and Christ's 40 days after resurrection as the example.
Old Sin Nature to New Divine Nature
Les explains that the old sin nature becomes a new divine nature, which gradually affects the body, beginning the believer's walk and growth in grace.
Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This is the key verse being asked about; it directly contrasts worldly conformity with transformation.
Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Les points to this preceding plea as the basis for the transformation command.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Les quotes this to show that transformation makes a person new in Christ.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Les points to this verse to show the believer is under the Spirit's control instead of the old Adamic nature.
Philippians 3:20-21: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Les references this passage when teaching that believers will be transformed into bodies like Christ's.
Conformed means being poured into a mold and taking its shape, and Les says the warning is not to be poured into Satan's mold. Transformed means being changed from the inside out—like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly—so the believer's outlook, desires, and walk become new.
Les says the Christian life is not something that matures overnight; a new believer is like an infant who needs nourishment and protection. The caterpillar-to-butterfly picture takes time. However, the future transformation of the body at the Lord's coming will be instantaneous.
Les teaches that a believer becomes a totally different person in outlook and desires, no longer living in the old lifestyle. As the new divine nature takes effect on the body, the believer begins to walk in newness of life and grow in grace.
Watch the Teaching: Be Not Conformed: What Romans 12:2 Really Means for You