August 28, 2017

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" ....Romans 12:2

"Be renewed in the spirit of your mind" ...Ephesians 4:23

For us to have our intellects renewed we must draw near to the cross. This is plainly called for in Ephesians 4. The Apostle Paul describes the darkness of man's carnal mentality in verses 17 and 18, but in verses 22 and 23 he informs us how the mind can be renewed: "Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind." We know that our 'old man' has been crucified with the Lord already (Rom 6:6). Here we are exhorted to put it off, so that our mind might be renewed.

This brings the cross of Christ into view as the instrument for its removal and renewal. A believer should understand that his old mind is part of that 'old man nature' original creation, which God wants us to cast off entirely. The salvation which God imparts through the cross includes not only a new life but also the renewal of every function of our soul as well, especially the mind. This is what one could call a sort of second salvation.

This 'second' salvation of the soul, which is rooted so deeply in our being, must gradually be worked out from the inside which is our heart to the outside which is our soul. The soul is the area or realm of our mind, emotions and will. This is that salvation which must be worked out with "fear and trembling" ...(Philippians 2:12). This salvation has to do with the deliverance of our will and especially the renewing of our mind. God's way here is not from the outside in but from the inside out, seeing that Jesus has now taken up residency as Lord and Saviour of our lives in the deepest inside part of us, which is our spiritual heart. This must not be confused with the first salvation which is the salvation of our spirit (heart). Here we received instant total forgiveness of all our sins, eternal life and our 'born again' experience. However, we were not changed all that much in our mind and feelings; our experience confirms it. This second salvation has to do with the outworking of the life of Christ from deep within us to this outer area of our very soul and especially our mind and feelings. It is only in this way that we experience the transformation of our outer life due to a new mind that is set and focused on the Life of Christ in our new spirit. The Life and law of our new spirit is that Jesus is our new life. The law of the spirit of righteousness and life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.