Renew …The Transformed Mind
One of the great challenges of the Christian life is allowing Christ in to transform our mind. The transformed mind is the mind of Christ. It is the mind of the Spirit.
The renewed mind is a new way of thinking and living. It is a mind that thinks like Christ. What would your life be like if you thought like Jesus? Would it change your joy, peace and hope? Would your faith increase? How would you feel? Would it make any changes in what you said or did? Would you alter your plans if you had the mind of Christ? Would you treat other people differently? Would your priorities change? What would happen if you thought like Jesus?
Ephesians 4:20-22 NKJV But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Ephesians 4:23-24 NKJV and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
God wants this transformation to take place in your life.
The word transform or transformation is found three times in the New Testament.
Two different Greek words are translated transform.
The first word is used two times, (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18). It refers to an inner kind of change that affects our character, moral behavior, and thoughts. The second word refers to a change in appearance or outward change, (Philippians 3:21). God wants both of these to happen in our lives. These texts describe different stages of transformation. There is a beginning, a process, and a finished product.
A dramatic transformation took place when we were first saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
When we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and repented of our sins, we were made a new creation. The transformation began.
Romans 8:10-11 NKJV And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
This is a glorious transformation from the old life to a new life in Christ. The power and guilt of sin was broken, and we were made a new creation in Christ Jesus. Notice how the Holy Spirit working in you is giving life to your “mortal bodies.” His presence within dramatically changes us.
Romans 12:1 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The second stage of this transformation happens as we present our bodies and minds to God.
The text says: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The mind brings about changes in behavior. As soon as we believe and receive Christ into our hearts and lives, we are changed.
Initially, God’s attitude and action toward us changes.
We are changed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. When we are saved, God fully accepts us in Christ Jesus, fully forgives us, and loves us completely. When He accepts us as His own, He gives us new life, the life and victory of Christ. Our spirit, which was dead in sin, is made alive by grace. Our life is set free to have fellowship with God and our spirit is made alive within us.
The transforming of our mind is a process that we must be engaged in daily.
Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
We are to PUT ON our “new nature.” To achieve any success in this, we must first THROW OFF our old sinful nature. We will be totally unsuccessful PUTTING ON our new nature if we do not THROW OFF the old sinful nature. God wants us to have a complete transformation and not a mingling of two natures. You cannot wear robes of righteousness over the ragged and filthy garments of your past sins.
What is your old sinful nature?
That sinful nature was corrupted by the power of sin. It is contrary to the life of the Spirit and the life of Christ. It is grievous to the Holy Spirit for us to have a mind that is out of sync with Him. The old mind of the flesh is open to attitudes and activities that are out of harmony with God.
After telling us to throw off the old sinful nature, the Bible tells us several things that grieve the Holy Spirit.
It mentions lying, anger, and being open to Satan’s deception. It tells us to stop stealing and corrupt speech. It tells us to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, harsh words, and all types of evil behavior. When we start this process of throwing off the old sinful nature, we must replace it with the mind and nature of Christ. You are not stuck with who you were. You are not stuck with the corruption of your old nature. Jesus Christ changes your heart and mind. He wants you to have a heart like His! He wants you to have the mind of Christ and the mind of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 2:20 shows how God renews our heart and mind.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The process goes as fast as you will let it. Give Him all your hang-ups and heart troubles. God will not take anything that you are not willing to throw off. It is amazing to see how quickly victory is gained over the old nature. The world struggles with these areas because it attempts to find love, peace and contentment without getting rid of those things. As a result, there are many break-ups and break-downs because it does not have power to make these changes.
The believer has something that the world does not have.
You have the abiding presence and power of the Holy Spirit working on the inside. As soon as you start moving in the direction the Holy Spirit is working, you will experience the victory that overcomes the world. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes you free from the law of sin and death, (Romans 8:1). The Holy Spirit will generate and energize your renewed spirit and mind.
The ultimate goal of God’s transformation is seen in Philippians 3:21.
Philippians 3:21 NKJV The Lord Jesus Christ “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
This passage refers to the hope of every Christian. One day, Jesus Christ will completely finish what He started and our bodies will be transformed. Right now we are subject to failure and death, but when the Lord is finished, we will be like Him. We will be changed, not only in our spirit and mind but we will be changed in body, mind, and spirit.
What is already true about our spirit will THEN be reflected in our bodies. We are not stuck with these bodies. We are not stuck with our failures. We are not stuck with our nastiness. We are not stuck with our bitterness. We are not stuck with our hurts, our pains, our illnesses, our cancers of the body and mind.
A great day of complete transformation is coming.
God wants to give a change in our minds that will impact our lives here and now. We need to be transformed by renewing our mind, (Romans 12:1-2). This is where the life of victory in Christ is lived. You do not have to fail in this area and be miserable and defeated. You need to see what God has done and will do for you. God wants to change your thoughts and remove fear and doubt. Your troubled and distressed mind can be filled with His peace. If you are going through any of that, you need to take immediate action.
2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 tells us, “Do not be like the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.”
If the old nature starts showing up, stop and throw it off, and conform to the nature of Christ. You have to take decisive action in your life. You have to learn to adapt and line up with Christ. Bring your thoughts, speech, and actions into alignment with Christ.
Romans 12:2 The Philips translation says: “Do not let the world squeeze you into its own mold.”
The Amplified Version says this, “Don’t copy the behaviors and customs of this world.”
Psalm 19:14 NKJV Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Proverbs 2 says… “The Lord grants wisdom… He is your shield… He will guard and protect your pathway. He will cause you to make the right decision every time.”
Start meditating on that.
God, You are guarding and shielding my pathway. You are leading me in the right way. You cause me to make the right decision every time. Get the Word of God out of the pages of the Bible and into your mind. Your mind will start lining up with the Word of God.
Repeat the Word of God to yourself.
1 John 4:4 “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”
You can overcome. God has made a way to escape. God has given you His Word. Get it into your mind. Don’t just read and study it, meditate on it day and night. Speak it out loud and allow God’s word to change your thoughts and behavior. The Word of God has power to bring changes in you.
Joshua 1:8 NKJV This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:3 NKJV He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
