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Renewing Our Minds - Rom. 12:2

Godly living requires a radical inward change

Introduction

1. Text: Rom. 12:2.

2. Our quality of life is determined by the quality of our thinking.

3. We can drastically change ourselves by changing our minds.

4. The truth of God is the most powerful force for positive change in the world -- but one must choose to be influenced by it.

5. Christians are described as those "who were once enlightened"(Hb. 6:4).

6. But even after obeying the gospel, we are challenged to "renew" our minds continually - Rom. 12:2.

I. CONFORMED VS. TRANSFORMED

1. "Conformed" to the world is what the Christian will be if he does nothing -- being "transformed" requires conscious action that produces a change.

2. Conformity to the world is the course of least resistance.

3. Most of us are probably more conformed to the world than we realize or are willing to admit.

4. We need to set ourselves the goal of transformation to the Lord's way of thinking!

II. THE CHRISTIAN'S TRANSFORMATION IS THE RESULT
OF A "RENEWED" MIND

1. There must be a radical inward change in a person in order to live godly in this world.

2. The "mind" = intellect + emotions + will. Each of these must be placed under the influence of the truth.

3. "Spiritual-mindedness" (as opposed to "carnal-mindedness") is our goal.

   1. Rom. 8:5-11.

   2. Eph. 4:17-24 (esp. v.23).

   3. 1 Jn. 2:15-17.

4. The Christian no longer views things and appraises them "according to the flesh" (2 Cor. 5:16).

III. THE RESULT: "PROVING" WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND
ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD

1. "Prove" = dokimazo = to scrutinize or test something to see if it is genuine > to approve as genuine upon trial, to judge worthy.

2. The carnal-minded person is a poor judge between right and wrong actions - Eph. 5:8-10,17.

   1. Cf. Jn. 7:17; 1 Cor. 3:1-3; Hb. 5:11-14; 2 Pt. 3:16.

   2. As an analogy, consider a person who dislikes music trying to judge the better of two compositions.

3. The person who has been transformed by the renewing of his mind is not only better able to discern what is God's will, he can more properly appraise the excellence of it, etc. Cf. Rom. 2:18; Phil. 1:10.

4. Theorizing alone will not give one the answers he needs concerning God's will.

   1. The person with the renewed mind learns much by actual experience in the living out of God's truth
      - 1 Pt. 2:3.

   2. Cf. Job. 42:5.

5. The Christian's life is a demonstration of the truth, practicality, and excellence of God's will -- his life is Exhibit A that God's truth "works."

Conclusion

1. The renewal of the Christian's mind is a continual, daily process.

2. Transformations are difficult, and sometimes painful.

   1. The more the world is ingrained in us, the more difficult the change will be.

   2. But to stay in our "comfort zone" is to be lost.

3. What we are after, essentially, is the "mind of Christ." Cf. Phil. 2:5.

4. May our treasures be in heaven, that our hearts may be there also - Mt. 6:21.

5. May we set our affections on things above - Col. 3:2.