Renew your mind

1. Renew your Mind! –1st August 2017
“Do not conformto the pattern of this world,but be transformedby the renewing of your mind.Then
you will be able to test and approvewhat God’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will.”(Romans
12:2).
The phrase “transformedbythe renewingof the mind”isfoundin Romans12:2., Thispassage marks
the transitioninthatepistle fromthe apostle Paul’stheological teachingtohispractical teaching.The
bookof Romans isprobablythe closestthinginthe Bible toa systematictheology.“Systematic”refers
to somethingbeingputintoa system.Systematictheologyis,therefore,the divisionof theologyinto
systemsthatexplainitsvariousareas.Systematictheologyisall about—organizingthe teachingsof the
Bible intocategorical systems. We know thatPaul didnot foundthe church at Rome,buthe hadevery
intentionof visitingthatchurchon hiswayto Spain.Asa result,Paul wrote thisepistle asaway of
introducinghimself tothatcongregationandtogive theman overview of the gospel andwhatitmeans
inthe livesof believers.
Afterteachingthe greatdoctrine regardingthe gospel of God’srighteousnessthatisoursthroughfaith
inChristin Romanschapters1—11, Paul beginstoexhortusto godlyliving.How are we tolive inlightof
the savingpowerof the gospel?Thatis what RomansChapters12—16 aimsto teach.The practical
sectionof Romansbeginswithagreat “therefore…”He tellsall believers,seeingall thatGoddidon our
behalf, Live likethis.The firstof Paul’sgreatexhortationsistobe renewedinourminds aswe learn
fromRomans 12:1–2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers andsisters, inview of God’smercy, to offer your
bodiesas a livingsacrifice,holyandpleasingto God—thisisyourtrue andproper worship. 2
Do not
conformto the pattern ofthis world,but be transformed by the renewing ofyour mind.Then you will
be able to test andapprove whatGod’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will.”
The exhortationthatPaul presentsisthatsince we have been the graciousrecipientsof God’sgreat
mercies,we are to be “livingsacrifices”toGod.How do we do this?We are livingsacrificestoGod by
not conformingtothisworld, steadfastlymovingawayfromsinandsinfulness,and bybeing
transformedbythe renewal of ourminds. “Andwe all,who with unveiledfaces contemplatethe Lord’s
glory,are beingtransformedinto hisimage withever-increasingglory,whichcomes from the Lord,
who isthe Spirit.”(2Corinthians3:18).
Thisexhortationreallyservesas asummarystatementof all that follows. Whatismeantby a living
sacrifice?A livingsacrifice toGodis referringto one whodoesnot conformto the sinof the world,butis
transformed toa newentityalwaysbettingclosertoGodspresence.We are not to be conformedtothis
world,because the worldinsocorrupt,if one doesnotlooksharp he or she may fall preytoSatan’s
sinful ways. Paul isusingthe word worldhere torefertothe spiritof the age.In otherwords, world
referstothe popularworldview thatrejectsGodandHisrevelation. We canlearnfrom 1 Thessalonians
4:8, “Therefore, anyonewho rejects thisinstructiondoesnot reject a humanbeing but God,the very
Godwho givesyou his HolySpirit.”

2. As unbelievers, one caneasilybe conformedtothe worldlythings.Before comingtoGodforHis
protection infaithand salvation,all of uswere deadtoour transgressionsandsins.Yeswe livedamong
themgratifyingthe sinful cravingsandtherefore fullydeservingGod’swrath. Itis Christ’s sacrifice that
saysus. We can learnfrom Ephesians2:1–3, “Asfor you,you were dead inyour transgressionsand
sins,2
in whichyou usedto livewhen you followedthe waysof this worldand ofthe ruler of the
kingdomofthe air,the spiritwho isnow at work inthose who are disobedient. 3
All of usalso lived
amongthem at one time, gratifyingthe cravingsof ourflesh andfollowingitsdesires andthoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving ofwrath.” Asbelievers,we are nolongerconformedtothis
worldbecause we nolongerbelongtothe spiritof thisage.We have beentranslatedfromthe kingdom
of darknessintothe kingdomof God’sbelovedSon aswe can learnfromColossians1:13, “For he has
rescued us from the dominionofdarknessand broughtus intothe kingdomofthe Sonhe loves…”
Therefore,ratherthancontinuingtoconformtothisworld,we are to be transformedbyhavingour
mindsrenewed. BecominganewentitywithGodasone’spriorityandeverythingelsefallsshorts!
It isinterestingtonote thatPaul saysthat we must be transformedbythe renewingof our“minds.” All
of usknowthat our mindisthe keyto the Christianlife. If we are notmindful inthe actionsand
decisionsthatwe make inour dayto day lives,we fail andbecome sinners.Butthe believerhasthe
strengthof the indwellingHolySpirittoovercome Satanandhisways.The reasonwhynon-Christiansdo
not respondtoChristiantruthisthat theycannot discernspiritual truth.We canlearnwhenwe read 1
Corinthians2:14, “The person withoutthe Spiritdoes not accept the thingsthat come from the Spirit
of Godbut considersthem foolishness,andcannotunderstandthem becausethey are discerned only
throughthe Spirit.” The gospel isa call for the unbelievertorepentof hissinand embrace Christby
faith.The Greekwordtranslated“repentance”carriesthe notionof achange of mind.Ourthinkingmust
be changed(transformed) fromold,ungodlywaysof thinkingintonew,godlywaysof thinking.Whatwe
knowinour mindsto be true forms a convictioninourheartsof that truth,and that convictioninour
heartstranslatesintoaction.Therefore,we mustfirstrenew ourminds.
The onlyway to replace the sinfulwaysof the worlddwellinginone’sheart istoreplace itwith God’s
truth,and the onlyinfallible source of God’struthisHisrevealedWord,the Bible.Transformation
throughrenewedmindscomesasbelieversexpose themselvestoGod’sWordthroughthe faithful
expositionof iteachweekinchurch,personal Bible study,andgroupBible study. We needtoreadlearn
and meditate onGod’sword.One can receive assistance bybeinginvolvedwitha solidchurchthat
believesinpreachingthe Word,readingthe Word,andsingingthe Wordisinvaluable inhelpingus
renewourminds. AsChristianswe needtoknow thatthere are no shortcuts.There isno magical
formulaforrenewingourminds.We mustfill ourmindswithGod’sWord.AsJesusprayedto the Father,
“Sanctifythemin the truth; yourword is truth” (John17:17).