Be Transformed: By The Renewing Of The Mind

But be transformed by the renewing of the mind, for to prove by you what is the will of God, the good, acceptable, and perfect.1

Transformed comes from metamorphóō  it is from metá  which means change after being with and from morphóō which means changing form in keeping with inner reality – properly it is transformed after being with. Our English word metamorphosis comes from this word. Taken together this means changing form after being with Christ, in keeping with this inner reality or inner being of the Holy Spirit who lives and works in us completing this process or good work that God has began.

This transformation happens by renewing the mind. Metamorphosis is defined as a change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means. The picture to the left of a lunar moth in my hand is the result of transformation. This creature as a child is a worm, but its inner identity was of much more and did not want to stay such, so it created a cocoon around itself and through this supernatural process it became this beautiful adult. This is a good analogy of transformation that occurs in a child of God. We work out our salvation, letting come out this inner reality of who we are.

Renewing the mind is a process. The word renewing comes from anakaínōsis which is from aná meaning upward, completing a process and kainō meaning make fresh, new – properly, a new development; a renewal, achieved by God's power.3 It is a renewed mind, the mind of Christ that I seek, and I can only get it by an upward process of making my mind fresh or new. A process is documented standard operating procedures that give detailed written instructions for designated principles.4 Wow! we have these from our Father, these divine principles and instructions. Reading the word of God is essential in the renewing process of the mind.

Romans 12 gives us instructions for being spiritual. It includes sacrifice, conforming, and transformation, it is a process. First present your body a living sacrifice, this is your divine logical service.5 The process begins with the realization that I can not do this in the flesh I need his help, in the Spirit. I need to set my mind on things above but I do not want to, so I acknowledge this and seek to battle the flesh with the spirit. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.6 Through Jesus I have victory, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.7

This divine service can not be achieved by principles of this world; such commandments as do not touch, do not taste, do not handle and myths and stories that would come from senile old women, these things perish with use according to the commandments and doctrines of men. These basic principles of the world we have died to, they have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, neglect of the body, but have no power against the indulgence of the flesh.8 And such teachings exalts self, boasting in the flesh, the very thing we are trying to sacrifice. Rather we must train for Godliness. The word godliness comes from eusébeia which means someone's inner response to the things of God which shows itself in a godly heart-response.9

We serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.10 But the road to perfection in Christ is through trials. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.11 The Greek word here for endurance means to remain, persevere, or abide under.12 We must remain under his yoke, dying to self, we lose our life in him to gain it. Oh his yoke is easy and his burden light, because he is gentle and good, he transforms us into this beautiful new creature and we have this amazing life in him.

Second I must not be conformed to this world but together with Jesus assume his outward shape or image by following his model.13 Conforming to this world is to assume its qualities or distinctive attributes or character of its people and system. Jesus is our example, he came to show us who God really was and how we could live through the spirit in this fleshly body. To not conform is to conform to Jesus and to assume his model; his qualities or distinctive attributes or character. I need to work out this salvation in me, but my mind is at enmity with God, so I must have the mind of Christ. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.14

Third I must be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Renewing the mind is a process. Jesus is the word of God.15 Such is a powerful statement. If he is the Word of God and he is the bread of life and living water then we eat and drink him; the Word of God. We have this word written down for us. To say we love Jesus is to say we love to eat, read his word. His words are eternal life therefore it gives life, it satisfies the soul. The words of Jesus are Spirit thus it is living and active and it penetrates to the dividing of soul and spirit, joint and marrow, and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.16

As Christ suffered we are to arm ourselves having the same mind, this suffering in the flesh ceases one from sin, no longer to lusts of men but to the will of God we submit the rest of this time we live in the flesh.17 There is something about suffering that brings us closer to Christ, we participate in his suffering.18 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.19 We are being renewed each day, so sanctification is a spiral process of renewal.19  And is done in truth, which is the word, which is Jesus, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.20

Our quite time with God through his spirit and word should be a process of consistent habit forming devotion of transformation, like going into a cocoon. This is especially important as a new Christian, to mature to a young man in Christ I must overcome the evil one. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.21 But it is not a one time process, as your spirit is a new creation but your mind is at enmity with it. Jesus said, that if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and let him take up his cross every day and let him follow me.21 Reading his word and seeking him needs to be developed into a daily habit, so the second nature is in line with the new.

I can have the mind of Christ but I need an upward process of making my mind new. And I do, through the Word of God, and sacrifices of praise, prayer, and fasting. I can deny the flesh and live in the spirit through the mind of Christ. I can get the truth into my mind which sets me free from the law of sin. When we set our mind on things above we are rescripting our brain, reprogramming it to think on the things of God. It takes sacrifice on our part but oh it is worth it, and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.22 By his word we renew our minds and by this we find his will acceptable, perfect and pleasing. Such life and hope and love motivates one to endure, to be perfected through his love, and through this crazy process of transformation.

Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus, who in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being taken in the likeness of men having been made and in appearancre having been found as a man, he humbled himself having become obedieant unto death, even death on a cross.23

Lay Me Down