When a person is born again, their mind is not yet renewed. The renewal of our minds is a process that takes place over time under the direction of the Spirit. Someone can gain stature and prominence within the Church but still minister out of an unrenewed mind. This is one reason why there are so many challenges and divisions taking place within the Church. Some who should know better, don’t because they still live and minister with an unrenewed mind. They still think like the world regarding social issues and lifestyle choices. Those whose minds are still in the renewing process are coming forth now in greater measure declaring things that are ajar from the foundational truths of Scripture.
Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). The renewal of our minds requires testing to discern truth from error.
The word “renewal” is different than “conforming.” Conforming to something is letting someone else decide for us what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
Being transformed is different. It describes a life undergoing continual renovation. The only other time the word “renewal” is used in this specific definition is found in Titus 3:5 which describes a “renewing of the Holy Ghost.” The renewal of our minds is something the Spirit does in harmony with our yielded will. When we surrender our understanding to the leading of the Spirit, we will be taken to places of understanding we had not previously understood when we were still under the spell of being conformed to the world’s standard.
This is another powerful insight. Renewal…that’s what happened to me and continues after many decades of misdirection. Thank you for renewal!
Renewing is from a word that can also mean “regeneration.” Either translation offers hope of being made new – not just restored to a previous state. Some of us had NO prior state offering any merit to the plans of God! Be renewed is passive – something done TO us rather than BY us.
But Paul and Peter offer action verbs for our part in this renewal: SET your minds firmly…. TEAR DOWN vain imaginations and arguments….. THINK on these things….. which complement Isaiah’s declaration that PERFECT PEACE is the reward of soaking your IMAGINATION continually in God!
To add to what John said, Habakkuk gave us a picture of what the yielded spirit looks like …
Habakkuk 2:1-3
“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”
I should proactively position myself to stay in conversation with God at all times. I can’t let anything obscure my vision, so I will station myself above the distractions of this world and remain vigilant! By God’s grace 🙏