What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of the mind? | GotQuestions.org
The following video came from the YouTube site, Got Questions Ministries
Knowing the answer to this question is foundational to the Christian life.
Video HIGHLIGHTS [bracketed statements; emboldening and underscoring are mine]:
QUESTION: What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind?
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12 is a transition from the apostle Paul’s theological / doctrinal teaching to his practical teaching
- Romans is the closest book in the Bible to a systematic theology
- Therein, one can get a awareness of the gospel and what it means in the lives of believers
- Chapters 1-11 are about the gospel of God’s righteousness, that becomes ours through FAITH in Christ
- In Chapter 12, through chapter 16, Paul begins to exhort us to godly living: how we are to live in light of the saving power of the gospel
- “Therefore, live like this”
- Firstly, we are to be renewed in our minds
- “Mercies of God” is a reference to all that Paul had presented in chapters 1-11
- We are to be living sacrifices to God by NOT being conformed to the world
- Romans 12: 1-2 summarize chapters 12-16
- To be conformed to this world, is to be conformed to the spirit of this age; to the popular worldview that rejects God and His revelation
- Unbelievers are naturally conformed to this world
- They cannot discern spiritual truth
- The gospel message is a call to repent of his / her sin and embrace Christ by faith [God’s word and Spirit may give the new life]
- Believers have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son
- The MIND is the key to the Christian life
- Our thinking must be changed / transformed from the old worldly mindset
- Partaking of God’s word, His truth, causes right thinking
- Believers are exhorted to abide in God’s truth that it and His Spirit might transform one’s thinking
- Ways of being exposed to God’s truth: by biblical preaching; reading of scripture; prayer; fellowship at Bible study…
- Those things which we know in our minds cause convictions
- Convictions move one to actions
- There are no short cuts; no magical formula for renewing the mind
- We must fill our minds with God’s word
- John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
A couple of thoughts he did not touch on, likely due to the shortness of the video:
The heart is the intellect, the affections and the will. These are worked upon during one’s sanctification.
The phrase, “by testing,” which is in pink font above, is covered in Albert Barnes’ comments below:
He is commenting on the KJV version; below the KJV and the ESV are compared for readers:
Rom 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. [KJV]
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [ESV]
That ye may prove –
The word used here δοκιμάζω dokimazō is commonly applied to metals, to the operation of testing, or trying them by the severity of fire, etc. Hence, it also means to explore, investigate, ascertain. This is its meaning here.
The sense is, that such a renewed mind is essential to a successful inquiry after the will of God. Having a disposition to obey him, the mind will be prepared to understand his precepts. There will be a correspondence between the feelings of the heart and his will; a nice tact or taste, which will admit his laws, and see the propriety and beauty of his commands.
A renewed heart is the best preparation for studying Christianity; as a man who is temperate is the best suited to understand the arguments for temperance; the man who is chaste, has most clearly and forcibly the arguments for chastity, etc.
A heart in love with the fashions and follies of the world is ill-suited to appreciate the arguments for humility, prayer, etc.
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God,” Joh_7:17. The reason why the heart is renewed is that we may do the will of God: the heart that is renewed is best suited to appreciate and understand his will.
End comments.
A related point to ponder:
Since the Holy Bible is central to the transformation of the Christian’s mind, what is happening to Christians who don’t read the Bible or hear it faithfully preached?
Weekly, stadiums are filled with professed Christian who are never taught the truth of the Bible, but some man-made philosophies; some CRT friendly twisted preaching; some LGBTQ friendly unbiblical preaching; prosperity preaching, that keeps one seeking the things of the world via the mindset of the world….
Please read through the New Testament and get a real taste of God’s word.
Video-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@gotquestions/videos
Change the way you think, how do we do that? What does, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” mean? In this video, Pastor Nelson answers your question: What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of the mind?
*** Source Article: https://www.gotquestions.org/renewing…
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