Mind Renewal

Another passage where we have inserted a meaning not intended in the original context is Rom 12:1-2. We have assumed that when Paul spoke of renewing the mind that he was speaking of a long process. We have then associated this with process sanctification. But this was not Paul’s mind.

In Romans 6 Paul asked “shall we sin that grace that abound?”. Again in Rom 9-11 Paul warns the Gentile believers not to be proud. In Romans 12 he has the remedy: we present our bodies in grateful service and be not conformed to the world. We should not copy the attitudes of pride and self-indulgence seen around us.

Paul is speaking about having the right attitudes:

I beseech you therefore…that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (worship). And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove…the will of God. (Rom 12:1-2).

The being transformed simply means live differently. The renewing of the mind simply means do not embrace worldly attitudes. There is nothing said here about a long process. It is a simple exhortation to the Roman believers to prove the will of God by their life style, as an act of gratitude and worship.

We have sometimes said that salvation has two stages:
1. That we were saved in the spirit.
2. And are being saved in our mind and body slowly.

We have used Rom 12:1-2 to teach on the process of mind renewal. Romans 12 was not written with this view. Paul did not mention a process. He simply exhorted the believers on specific attitudes of mind they should have: on kindness, love, service and humility (Rom 12:3-12). So then, this is what we should also exhort from the passage.

Paul exhorted the same in Philippians 2, that we exhibit the same mind with Christ, in humility and obedience. Similarly in Eph 4:23, that we walk in the right attitude concerning living out who we are in Christ. In none of these passages did Paul speak of a process. They are simple exhortations to Christian living. He is saying, “Since this has been done for you by God, live it out in gratitude.”.

Paul’s appeal to this new thinking was not based on training, but on what Christ has done. “If you are risen with Christ, set your mind on things above…lie not to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge…” (Col 3:1, 9-10). So our mind is already renewed! Think according to the Spirit of Christ within you. The new birth affected our mind and our body. The change is there already. He simply says walk in it.

Often there is little emphasis on the new birth and more on training people out of sin. Yet, when we are born again there is a radical change in our whole being. Our mind changes when the Spirit comes in. This is what we need confidence in, not human methods of psychology.