THE RENEWAL OF THE MIND
Part 2
Rom. 12:2
Morning Meditation 2/15/16
Verse 2 says, “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.”
In our last meditation we looked at the dedication of the body which is the outward condition of Christian living. We observed the appeal, motivation, choice, sacrifice and service of the body. Today’s meditation will deal with the renewal of the mind which is the inward condition of christian living. It is interesting to note that there are twenty-seven words in the Textus Receptus from which our KJV is translated, and this is three times nine, three being the number of the Trinity, and nine being the number of the fruit of the Spirit. It takes God by means of the Holy Spirit to renew the mind. Amen. Graham Scroggie says, “In but 27 words a program is presented; a process is unfolded; and a purpose is revealed.” I will borrow this outline and follow it through this verse. First we see,
A PROGRAM PRESENTED
First, the program is presented from a negative standpoint. Paul says, “And be not conformed to this world.” This verse begins with the conjunction “and.” It joins this verse to the presentation of the body in verse one. If we dedicate our bodies to the Lord, we must separate ourselves from the world. The love of the world is opposed to the love of God. So the dedication of the body is tied with the conjunction “and” to our separation from the world.
Next the words, “be not conformed” translate “suschematizo” and means, “to not conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to).” This word is actually made up of two words, “sun” which means, “with,” and, “schema’ which means, “the habits, as comprising everything in a person which strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life etc.” Our word “scheme” comes from this Greek word. It is a present middle imperative verb. The imperative mood is a command expressing urgency. The middle voice is where we make a decision that benefits us. If our lives are going to count, and the presentation of the body is going to be accepted, there must be a decision made on our part to depart from the world’s habits and manner of life, and this choice will personally benefit us in the new life. It is urgent in that there is no walk with God in communion and fellowship as long as we refuse to be “non-conformist.” God makes “non-conformist” out of us.
Next the words, “to this world” identify the area of non-conformity. This world has a fashion of which we were a part until we were saved. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 2:1-2, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” According to Paul this world had a course of which we were a part before we were saved. Thank the Lord he said, “in time past.” It is not the way of our lives now that we are saved. What is the course of this world? There are some things which are common in every age.
In Jude, verse 11, we read of “the way of Cain.” This was pride of intellect. Cain refused to change his thinking and persisted in his stubborn rebellion against God’s way. So, his way is identified in Scripture as “the way of Cain.” Then we read in the same verse of “the error of Balaam.” This is the love of money. Balaam was a hireling. He was for sale. Then finally in this same verse we find the words “the gainsaying of Korah.” This speaks of the contempt for authority. These three things appear in every age: rationalism, mammonism, and anarchism. The first is man putting his mind above the mind of God (the public schools, colleges and universities do this), the second is the lust of the flesh putting its desire for things above the desire for God (this lust of the flesh permeates all the TV shows), the third is the exaltation of self to the throne of authority instead of submitting to the authority of His throne (this is seen in abortion authorized by government and murder in the streets that assume the right to determine whether a man lives or dies). Not only do we see the program presented, but also,
THE PROCESS UNFOLDED
Paul says, “but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind.” Graham Scroggie says, “The true safeguard against a sinful conformation is a spiritual transformation, and this will be a continuous experience.” The word “but” is a word of contrast. It is like the turn in the road. Instead of conforming to the pattern the world sets, there is a process of deliverance, i.e., instead of going on in that direction we are to go in this. The words “be ye transformed” translate “metamorphoo” meaning, “to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure; Christ’s appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration.” It is a present passive imperative verb. First, it is imperative that the believer not continue in the old life of conformity to the world. It is urgent that a change take place. The present tense represents continuous action in the present tense of our lives. It is a continuous process. The passive voice means that the change happens to us through this process. It is like a growing child. He does what is normal, i.e., eats and exercises as a daily process and growth happens to him without personal effort. Spiritual growth will take place when the mind is given the proper food.
The words “by the renewing” translate “anakainosis” and means, “a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.” This word comes from a root word that means, “to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state.” The word “mind” translates “nous” and means, “the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining.” The believers whole thinking and the way he reasons is to be changed. This changed thinking is the process that transforms us into something altogether different. If we want outward change the Bible way, it is to be done through this process of teaching a new way of thinking.
Let me illustrate. The way we live can be changed by threats and intimidation. If we join a church and really believe that we are saved, and have an obligation to change from the world’s standards to that described in the Bible, and we do not know the Biblical process by which this is to take place as described here, and we have a pastor who has not learned this either, and he authoritatively imposes upon us rules to follow, we may live differently but it is not transformation, it is cultish obedience. It produces bondage not joyful service. God does not only tell us that we are not to be like the world but He also gives the process that transforms. If this process is not followed, there is only one other way to obtain it, i.e, law or rules which only produce self-righteousness.
Change from the ways of the world is called “being transformed” and it’s process is “the renewing of the mind.” The question I used to ask myself is, “If church members do not respond to the teaching of grace, and come to church and continue to conform to the world, shouldn’t I take a ‘prophets authority’ and demand obedience to rules?” So I did, and what this produced in the churches I pastored was legal obedience, and a self-righteousness that was much worse than their conformity to the world. It turned them all into judges. One day I woke up through the study of God’s word and realized, if I taught the Word of God, I had to trust God to take it and transform those who heard. If they refused transformation, God had no other way to do it, and therefore, I was not to help Him out of this situation by trying to produce godliness through rules. If we submit to the process, the people who are transformed will remain that way without someone standing over them with a whip. They have had a change of mind and that change of mind is with them whether we are watching or not. This is the reason many children cease to live for Jesus once they are out of the home. They have conformed to their parents convictions through fear and intimidation. The parents never took the time to get the children to agree with what God said. The transformation takes place through a process of new values received through the teaching of God’s word. Then finally we see,
THE PURPOSE IS REVEALED
The purpose is revealed in the words, “That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” The words “ye may prove” translate “dokimazo” and means, “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals; to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy.” It is a present active infinitive. The present tense means that we are to continually prove the will of God to be good, and acceptable, and perfect. It is not that God is proving Himself to us, but we are proving to those who watch that God’s will is good, and acceptable and perfect. We are proving by our continual transformation that they can also trust Him. The words “good” and “acceptable” and “perfect” cover the whole range of thought.
God has a reason for leaving us here after we are saved. We are not just saved to give us a home in heaven some day. God has a purpose for us after we are saved. That purpose is declared in Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Our predestination is “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” This process begins in this life. Ephesians 4:13 says, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” This is a process going on now and happens though the “renewing of the mind.” This is also stated in Ephesians 4:23: “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
We have in this verse the program, the process and the purpose of the renewal of the mind. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
