Transformed to Prove – Resisting Reprobation (Part 5)
Our journey so far has traced the spiritual tension between proving and reprobation. Part 1 introduced the scale of the mind—where every believer is called to prove what is acceptable to God, lest they drift toward reprobation. Part 2 explored the Greek roots of dokimazō and adokimos, showing how approval and rejection hinge on spiritual testing. Part 3 reminded us that we live in a season of probation—a time to respond to truth before the test ends. Part 4 revealed that love is the key to discernment, enabling us to approve what is excellent. Now, in Part 5, we turn to the believer’s response: to be renewed in mind and disciplined in life. These two are not just spiritual goals—they are the very means by which proving is made possible and reprobation is avoided.
Renewal: The Mind’s Defence Against Reprobation
Paul’s charge in Romans 12:2 is clear:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Renewal is the spiritual antidote to conformity. The world presses in with patterns that dull discernment and suppress truth—exactly the conditions that lead to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). But the renewed mind resists that drift. It is reshaped by truth, refined by Scripture, and realigned with God’s will. This renewal is not optional—it is essential. Without it, the mind remains vulnerable to deception, unable to prove what is “good, and acceptable, and perfect.”
The reprobate mind, by contrast, is one that has rejected renewal. It has refused to retain God in its knowledge and is given over to moral blindness. Renewal is the dividing line. It is the process by which the believer moves from testing to approval—being found acceptable through sincere response to truth—while the absence of renewal leaves the soul exposed to rejection, where continued resistance to God's Word renders a person spiritually unfit, unable to discern or respond rightly.
Discipline: The Life That Proves or Drifts
In Romans 12:1, Paul writes:
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Discipline is the outward expression of a renewed mind. It is the daily offering of self—time, choices, habits—to God. It is the structure that supports spiritual growth. Without discipline, renewal remains theoretical. And without both, proving becomes impossible.
The reprobate life, as described in Titus 1:16, is one that “professeth that they know God; but in works they deny him… reprobate unto every good work.” This is the danger: a life undisciplined, unyielded, and ultimately unfit for approval. Discipline is not legalism—it is love in action. It is the believer’s response to grace, the proof of sincerity, and the safeguard against spiritual drift.
Proving Requires Both
Renewal and discipline are not separate paths—they are two sides of the same response. The renewed mind discerns rightly, and the disciplined life proves faithfully. Together, they form the rhythm of transformation. Without them, the believer risks falling into the very condition Paul warns against—a mind that cannot discern, a life that cannot prove, and a heart that drifts toward rejection.
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul urges:
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…”
This proving is not possible without renewal. It is not sustainable without discipline. And it is not optional in a season of probation.
Summary: The Path That Leads to Approval
God’s call is urgent: be renewed, be disciplined. These are not just spiritual practices—they are the means by which we prove what pleases Him and avoid the tragedy of reprobation. The believer who embraces both will not only discern what is excellent—they will live it.
