John Lillie and J Vernon McGee emphasize the importance of believers not conforming to the patterns of this world but allowing God to transform their minds from within. Peter exhorts believers to reject their former evil practices and not be molded by the corrupting influences of society, urging them to live holy lives in obedience to God. The verb 'conformed' in Romans 12:2 conveys the idea of ceasing an action already in progress, emphasizing the need for believers to continually resist being shaped by worldly influences. Believers are called to make a conscious choice daily to refuse to be squeezed into the mold of a corrupt society and instead be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

The mystery of man's free will is far too great for us! God said to Adam and Eve: "Thou shalt not eat from this tree." Here was a divine requirement calling for obedience on the part of those who had the power of choice and will. When they disobeyed they usurped the right that was not theirs! The poet Tennyson must have thought about this for he wrote in his In Memoriam: "our wills are ours, we know not how; our wills are ours to make them Thine!" "We know not how;" then Tennyson girds himself and continues, "Yes, our wills are ours to make them Thine." As created beings, that is our only right-to make our wills the will of God, to make the will of God our will! God is sovereign, and we are the creatures. He is the Creator and therefore His is the right to command us with the obligation that we should obey. It is a happy obligation, I might say, for "His yoke is easy and His burden is light!" It is important to agree that true salvation restores the right of a Creator-creature relationship, acknowledging God's right to our fellowship and communion!