May 26, 2002

RENEWING YOUR MIND

Romans 12:2

   Little wonder that Paul should beseech the Romans to "be not conformed to the world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (12:2). After Babel 's tower and the ensuing idolatry, they did not like to "retain God in their knowledge," so God "gave them over to a reprobate mind" (1:28). Having degraded God from His position of majesty and honor, they found themselves degraded, given over to all manner of wickedness and unspeakable perversion. Only the renewed mind of the believer would be enabled to "prove (or approve) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (12:2)!

   Believers are to "walk not as Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind" (Eph. 4:17); and to "Let no man beguile you of your reward... vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Col. 2:18). Paul wrote of "the perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds...destitute of the truth," and of those who "resist the truth: men utterly corrupted in mind, reprobate as regards the faith" (1 Tim. 6:5, 2 Tim 3:8). To Titus he added, "even their mind and conscience is defiled...unto every good work reprobate (1:15-16). Surely the mind is the seat of trouble.

   How blessed to read of "being renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man...created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:23-24), and the parallel passage, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10). It would appear that the Creator and Satan (in some measure) knew that the mind was the citadel. The members and the body (of which they are part) are "slaves to sin" if the mind is conquered. Only when the mind is renewed and the knowledge of God and the ability to approve His will are regained will there be ability to please God and serve Him "prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21).

   We have studied the body and its members, but all that will be to no avail unless the mind is renewed. God's order, it would seem, is first the mind, followed by the new man, and finally the body glorified in full measure, like unto His own body of glory!

Ivan L. Burgener