A Renewed Mind, A Transformed Life

* The sanctifying work by the Holy Spirit comes through renewal of our mind.

* Without being renewed in our mind, we can only be religious-minded, but we cannot be Christ-minded.

<Romans 12:1-2>

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. <Ro 11:36>.

<Romans 12:1>: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

* The grace and mercy of God calls us into a response. i.e. to offer our bodies as living sacrifice.

* A living sacrifice thinks and feels like Christ.

What is it about a renewed mind?

* A mind that has been informed by scriptural truths.

* <Luke 24:25,45>: 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!… 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

* <Ro 1:18-21> – A godless and wicked mind. A mind that supresses the truth. A mind which is dark and confused. A mind that denies God’s existence. A mind of moral fallenness.

* <Ro 12:2> – A renewed mind. A mind that is able to test the good, pleasing, perfect will of God.

* “God gives us the revelation of sacred Scripture in order for us to have our minds changed so we begin to think like Jesus. Sanctification and spiritual growth are all about this. Of course, if you just have it in your mind and you don’t have it in your heart, you don’t have it. But you can’t have it in your heart without first having it in your mind. We want to have a mind informed by the Word of God. – RC Sproul on a renewed mind.

* Beware of preachers who seek to motivate or provoke their hearers to live a changed life without renewing their mind.

The obstacle to us having a renewed mind – Pattern of the World.

* The World – A fallen sphere of influence in this planet which is anti-God and man-centered.

* <1 John 2:15-16>: Do not love the world or ANYTHING in the world…. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For EVERYTHING in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

* A renewed mind knows and embrace the reason why we are living in this world – Great commission.

* A renewed mind knows the world that he is living in, and he does not live according to its pattern.

Two critical words in <Ro 12:2>.

1) Conform;

2) Transformed.

* Do not conformed…, but be transformed…

* Same root word: “form” – system and structure.

* There is an existing, leading and acceptable system and structure in this world.

1) Conform – to be with the existing, leading and acceptable structure of this world.

* We, being fallen, have been conforming since we came into existence.

* From our pursuit, we see our conformity.

* Yet, Christians are not instructed to be non-conformist either.  

2) Transformed – To go over, above, beyond the existing structure of the present world.

* A call to excellence – To imitate Christ and do the Father’s will.

* Doesn’t take its cue from the world, but from the scripture (Christ).

* Yet, a renewed mind is one that test the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.

* One cannot merely be contented with a renewed mind, but also a transformed life that is lived out.

Reflection:

• Give some examples about believers/churches succumbing to conformity or otherwise living with non-conformity?
• What in your experience, tells you that the world is such a powerful entity that you find it hard not to conform?
• Can you give an example of a transformed life (remember: Trans – to go above, beyond).