Renewing Our Minds

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1f, NASB)

Paul’s words here are paramount in our lives, or should be. He urges (McCord translates “begs”) us to not be conformed to this world, but transformed. His plea is that we are not shaped as the world would shape, but that we change our shape to that of something else. He writes in Romans 8:29 that we are to conform to the image of Christ.

Isn’t that the summation of the process of becoming Christ like? Isn’t that the summation of the process of our becoming a new creature? Isn’t that the summation of the process of our becoming born again, of water and Spirit?

As cited above, we are to be the image of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4 states clearly that Christ is the image of God. And Colossians 3:1-17 makes the circle of scripture complete in stating that we are to “lay aside the old self” and put on “the new self, who is being renewed to a true knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him…”

What does “conform” mean? To be shaped like something else. What does “transform” mean? To change one’s shape. So, we are not to be shaped like the world, or by the world, but we are to change our shape to become the image of Christ, the image of God. That’s easy to say, and easy to follow the rationale, but it is difficult to apply in our lives. It is a process that begins at repentance and is only complete in heaven. Our time on earth is the transforming period of our existence. It is a conversion process with a distinct beginning, which evolves over a lifetime.

As much as we grasp the need to not conform to the world, the world is a powerful and effective former. We are shaped by life experiences, by relationships, by events, and by attitudes. By their nature, not all of those shape us into the image of Christ. But some can. We can cultivate relationships with people that shape us in the image of Christ, and we can be shaped by the Word of God, from which nothing is hidden.

We can be encouraged, though we see our outward self decaying, our inner man is “renewed day by day”. (2 Corinthians 4:16) We can use the decay of our “outward self” as a reminder that our “old self” is decaying, and that we are being transformed into a new creature in the image of Christ. We are becoming less the “natural man” and more the “spiritual man” of 1 Corinthians 2.

Paul’s writings reflect his life experience. His shape changed. Not just on the road to Damascus, but throughout his life of service. The theme of renewal, new creature, inner man renewal, outer man decay, I believe, are all reflective of his expression, from experience, of his understanding of the changes that were taking place in him.

He sums this theme up in Titus 3. He speaks of the foolishness of sin that we all experience, and the glory of renewal that is ours in Christ Jesus.

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:1-7, NASB)

Shouldn’t we spend a little time every day, putting the old self away, cultivating the new creature, and conforming to the image of Christ? Are we new creatures, regenerated by water and Spirit? Does the Spirit renew our minds day by day?

Remember Paul’s reminder in 1 Corinthians 2:16 ---- “But, we have the mind of Christ.”