DM#12: Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind

Doctrine of the Mysteries #12

The Roman epistle is the foundation laying epistle for the grace believer. It lays four cornerstones that will stablish the believer in ‘the faith’; and set them up to build upon this foundation with the doctrine presented in the rest of Paul’s letters.

The first cornerstone of the Romans foundation is understanding God’s righteousness opposed to the depravity of men. The second is understanding God’s free justification and grace through faith in Christ. The third is to gain knowledge of God’s dispensational wisdom and His purpose for both Israel’s prophecy program and the mysteries of the Body of Christ. In the fourth and last cornerstone, from chapter 12, Paul lays out the characteristics and outcomes of the application of his doctrine in the grace believer.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind 

Rom 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  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.

It is critical to recognize that the foundation of Romans, and thus, the faith and characteristics of the grace believer, is spiritual. The progressive work of God in the believer, from a babe in Christ, to a son of God, is wrought in the inner man. Thus, the transformation of the believer is from the inside out; from the spirit of man to the natural man; not the other way around. 

The reproof we read of in the Corinthian epistles illustrates what happens when there is a lack of spiritual growth. It’s as if the Word of God fell on the pathway and the rocky soil of their hearts, and it could not take root. The result is that these Corinthian believers remained babes in Christ, and were carnal, not understanding any spiritual content, 1Cor.3:1-3.

We see another pitfall in the Galatian epistle where Paul had to harshly correct these believers for trying to produce fruit by their own efforts. Spiritual fruit cannot be produced by one’s own will and strength. Placing oneself under rules, traditions, or self-works, will never produce fruit that is pleasing to God as it originates in the natural man and results in pride and boasting in the carnal mind.

Spiritual growth does not happen overnight. In a believer, this transformation involves time to study the Word, to obtain spiritual truths, and to grow towards maturity in the mystery doctrine. The Word must first take root in the good soil of the heart, and then it needs constant watering to bring understanding to the mind before any spiritual fruit can be produced.

Paul did not write that we conform to Christianity by transforming our lives, our habits, and our circumstances to meet expectations of performance and acceptance. That’s what the Corinthians and Galatians tried to do, and they failed miserably under their own condemnation. In contrast, Paul wrote that we be not conformed to this world. We achieve this not by our own efforts, but by the renewing of our minds in the written Word of God. The transformation is in our minds, and this will automatically lead to a life progressively conformed by the fruit of the Spirit, and to pleasing God. 

A transformed Christian life is in direct proportion to the written Word renewing the mind. The more the Word is in you, the more it can change and influence your life. The less the Word is in you, the less it can renew your mind and the more you rely on the carnal mind, which is death to the spirit life inside you. Being crucified with Christ, and walking after the Spirit, has nothing to do with self-effort, or even a sincere desire to live for God. You will never be able to live for God by your own efforts. This is only achieved by the Word working effectually within you; when it fills your mind, and influences your life in thought, in speech, and in actions, 1Th 2:13.

Gal 2:20-21  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  (21)  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gal 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.