A Short Study of Romans 12:2
“That good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
(Romans 12:2)
God’s will is “perfect”. In it, there is no spot, no stain, no weakness, no error, no instability. It is and indeed must necessarily be as perfect as God Himself; for it emanates from Him who is all perfection; and is a discovery of His mind and character. But when God’s perfect will sets itself against our flesh, thwarts our dearest hopes, overturns our fondest schemes, we cannot see that it is a perfect will. But rather, are much disposed to fret, murmur, and rebel against it.
God’s perfect will may snatch a child from your bosom; strike down a dear husband; tear from your arms a beloved wife; strip you of all your worldly goods; put your feet into a path of suffering; lay you upon a bed of pain and languishing; cast you into hot furnaces or overwhelming floods; make your life almost a burden to yourself!
How can you, under circumstances so trying and distressing as these, acknowledge and submit to God’s perfect will; and let it reign and rule in your heart without a murmur of resistance to it? Look back and see how God’s perfect will has, in previous instances, reigned supreme in all points, for your good. It has ordered or overruled all circumstances and all events, amid a complication of difficulties in providence and grace. Nothing has happened to your injury; but all things have worked together for your good.
Whatever we have lost, it was better for us that it was taken away. Whatever property, or comfort, or friends, or health, or earthly happiness we have been deprived of, it was better for us to lose, than to retain them.
Was your dear child taken away? It might be to teach you resignation to God’s sacred will. Has a dear partner been snatched from your embrace? It was that God might be your better Partner and undying Friend.
Was any portion of your worldly substance taken away? It was that you might be taught to live a life of faith in the providence of God. Have your fondest schemes been marred; your youthful hopes blighted; and you pierced in the warmest affections of your heart?
It was to remove an idol, to dethrone a rival to Christ, to crucify the object of earthly love, so that a purer, holier, and more enduring affection might be enshrined in its stead. To tenderly embrace God’s perfect will is the grand object of all gospel discipline.
The ultimatum of gospel obedience is to lie passive in His hand, and know no will but His . . . “That good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
J.C. Philpot
Test All Things 
“And be not conformed to this world.” (Romans 12:2)
The word “world” means the NATURE, CHARACTER, OPINIONS, GOALS, and ATTITUDES of unbelieving people.
1. The worldly man seeks the praise of men; the believer seeks the praise of God (Psalm 103:1-4).
2. The worldly man thinks only of himself; the believer thinks of others (Philippians 2:1-6).
3. The worldly man cares for the body; the believer cares for his soul (Matthew 16:24-26).
4. The worldly man wants people to know and exalt him; the believer wants to know the LORD and glorify Him (1st Corinthians 1:30-31; Galatians 6:14).
5. The worldly man looks upon that which is seen; the believer lives for that which is unseen (2nd Corinthians 4:17-18).
6. The worldly man is concerned first for what he shall eat, drink, and wear; the believer seeks first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).
Henry Mahan – 1993