The
phrase “transformed by the renewing of the mind” is found in Romans 12:2.
Chapter 12 marks the transition in that epistle from the apostle Paul’s
theological teaching to his practical teaching.
After
teaching the great doctrine regarding the gospel of God’s righteousness that is
ours through faith in Christ in Romans chapters 1—11, Paul begins to exhort us
to godly living. How are we to live in light of the saving power of the gospel?
That is what Romans 12—16 aims to teach. The practical section of Romans begins
with a great “therefore.” Seeing all that God did on our behalf, therefore live
like this. The first of Paul’s great exhortations is to be renewed in our
minds:
“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. 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 12:1–2).
The
phrase “the mercies of God” refers to all of what has preceded in chapters
1—11. The exhortation that Paul presents is that since we have been the
gracious recipients of God’s great mercies, we are to be “living sacrifices” to
God. How do we do this? We are living sacrifices to God by not conforming to
this world, but by being transformed by the renewal of our minds.
This
exhortation really serves as a summary statement of all that follows. A living
sacrifice to God is one who does not conform, but is transformed. We are not to
be conformed to this world. Paul is using the word world here to refer to the
spirit of the age. In other words, world refers to the popular worldview that
rejects God and His revelation. As unbelievers, we are naturally conformed to
the world (Ephesians 2:1–3). As believers, we are no longer conformed to this
world because we no longer belong to the spirit of this age. We have been
translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son
(Colossians 1:13). Therefore, rather than continuing to conform to this world,
we are to be transformed by having our minds renewed.
It
is interesting to note that Paul says that we must be transformed by the
renewing of our “minds.” The mind is the key to the Christian life. The reason
why non-Christians do not respond to Christian truth is that they cannot
discern spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14). The gospel is a call for the
unbeliever to repent of his sin and embrace Christ by faith. The Greek word
translated “repentance” carries the notion of a change of mind. Our thinking
must be changed (transformed) from old, ungodly ways of thinking into new,
godly ways of thinking. What we know in our minds to be true forms a conviction
in our hearts of that truth, and that conviction in our hearts translates into
action. Therefore, we must first renew our minds.
The
only way to replace the error of the world’s way of thinking is to replace it
with God’s truth, and the only infallible source of God’s truth is His revealed
Word, the Bible. Transformation through renewed minds comes as believers expose
themselves to God’s Word through the faithful exposition of it in church and personal
Bible study.
A
solid church that believes in preaching the Word, reading the Word, and singing
the Word is invaluable in helping us renew our minds.
There
are no shortcuts. There is no magical formula for renewing our minds. We must
fill our minds with God’s Word. As Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them
in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).
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. See also Luke 17:21 KJV.
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