International School of The Bible

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How would you like to know for sure that each day of your life will be lived out in a way that is leading to the perfect will of God for your life?  Read on.

When we are born again our spirit was renewed with God's Spirit.  Our body will be renewed when we pass from this world.  In the meantime, we need salvation for our souls, which includes our mind. “receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).

Transforming our mind.

Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible) says,

APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Some definitions. Renewal – Greek. 342 anakainosiv anakainosis {an-ak-ah'-ee-no-sis}) a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better. Transformed - Greek 3339 metamorfow metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o} transfigure 2, transform 1, change to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. Christ appearance was changed and was resplendent with  divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration Metamorphosis –English a total change caused by supernatural powers.

When Paul says in this passage of Scripture that "in view of the mercies of God," he is referring to all the mercies he just wrote about in the first eight chapters of the Book of Romans (chapters 9-11) being parenthetical.  Therefore, now that we know the magnificent mercies of God and how He saved us by grace, justified us and made us righteous, that we now need to do something in response. 

What is our response to be?

We are commanded to make all of our members a living sacrifice.  Then in verse 12:2 Paul writes about that member called our mind, which is the primary member, along of course with the tongue. 

He then goes on to say that if we can perform this living sacrifice which will then supernaturally transform our mind, then the promise is that we will live out God's perfect will for our lives.  He actually uses the word prove the perfect will.  That word prove is the same word used when silver and gold is refined in the furnace to remove its imperfections, therefore inferring that this living sacrifice would be painful.

Death and resurrection is always painful.  Our paths in life are painful.  The "death and resurrection" of the mind, that transformation, is painful.

Our soul.

Paul demonstrates in this passage and others that he understood the workings of the human soul as we should.  The three functions are the will, the mind and the emotions.  The will is our first concern.  We must make a willful decision before we can move forward with any endeavor.  The emotions are the by-product of our will and our mind.

Our mind.

Each time we are faced with a challenge that tests our character or our faith, we need to make a decision from our will that we will only react in godliness.  The battlefield is then in the mind.  Our mind needs to be renewed.  Our mind is the steering wheel of our lives. 

Science has shown that what you think upon actually changes the brain.  Also, what you give attention to changes the brain.  In order for the brain to grow and not shrink in old age, one must exercise the brain through strain and discipline.  The exercise we mention below will help in that process.

Renewing our mind.  It really means the resurrection of our mind.

It has been said that habits are formed from those things that we do daily, and that habits form our lifestyle, which in turn determines our destiny.

Meditating, memorizing, studying and speaking the Word of God is a needed element in renewing our mind.  Several Scriptures connect meditating upon the Word with peace and prosperity.  The Word of God will take the old junk from our minds and fill it with truth.

However Romans 12:1-2 goes deeper.  It is speaking about a death and resurrection of our mind to complete the renewal of it by a living sacrifice.  How do we do that?  How does that work?  How can we insure that we will inherit God's perfect will for our lives as is stated in Romans 12:2?

Romans 12:1-2 is the dividing line.

Notice in the Book of Romans that prior to this issue of mind renewing, Paul talks about the finished work of Christ, and how by faith we are justified and made righteous.  Then after Romans 12:1-2 he speaks almost entirely about our responsibility about how to treat other people in love, even our enemies and our civil authorities. 

Therefore I submit that the living sacrifice that renews our minds works like this.

A. Looking back at who we are in Christ.

1.  We are tempted to have our minds meditate on a negative aspect of our lives, or even about our character.  Perhaps we think we are not worthy to be righteous or feel guilty.

2. We are to take that thought captive and cast it down and not speak it out.

3.  Then we are to go back to Romans chapters 3-8 and quote some verses about the truth of the matter, for instance:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26).

B. Looking forward on how to live out our life in love.

1.  Perhaps our mind begins to think about vengeance against someone who hurt us, or we get angry at someone close to us and we want to display that anger.  For more examples look forward in Romans chapters 12-16.

2.  We are to take that thought captive and not speak it out.

3.  Then we are to take a Scripture in one of the later chapters in Romans and think on it until we do it.  For instance:

“Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  Do not be wise in your own opinion.  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 12:16-13:1).

The above exercises are often painful disciplines.  Death and resurrection is a painful process.

As you walk through these exercises, the Bible says that you are a living sacrifice.  You are putting your old carnal mind to death and allowing the mind of Christ to be resurrected in your mind.  This is exactly the same as when Jesus said, “Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me'” (Luke 9:23).

I think that Jesus was serious when He said, "Love the Lord with all your mind."

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets'” (Matthew 22:36-40).

Ephesians 4:22, 23 says, “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

Free at last!

When you put to death you old carnal mindset, eventually the mind of Christ will be resurrected in an experiential way.  You will experience freedom from old bondages like rejection, which in turn brings so many other bondages with it.  You will experience weights from years gone by fall off and addictions be healed. 

Looking Back – His Cross.

When our mind wavers about God's work for us. Romans 3-8.

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26

“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” Romans 4:16

 “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:18-25

 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

 “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:9

“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:18, 19

“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20, 21

 “What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:1-11

 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Romans 6:22

“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 7:24-8:2

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4

 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:14-17

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26, 27

 “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:32-39

Looking Ahead - Our Cross. Romans 12-16

When our mind is tempted to not treat others with God's love.

Love.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:9-21

Civil authorities.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” Romans 13:1-4

Love, godly living.

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:8-14

Dealing with a weaker brother/sister.

“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” Romans 14:1-5

“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”” Romans 15:1-3

Prayer.

 “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,” Romans 15:30, 31

Hospitality.

 “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” Romans 16:1, 2