People change their minds all of the time. What to wear, when to eat, where to live, how to provide for themselves and their family, and more. But those changes are all superficial. The Lord calls us to have our minds changed at a much more fundamental as His Spirit renews our minds, making it possible for us to not just change our clothes or our hair, but to change who we are; to become the people God has called us to be.
I cannot recall exactly who I was listening to on the radio, but it was when they were discussing this passage (Romans 12:1-2) that I first learned how much we can gain from looking at the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek) when studying God's Word.
When I read the words, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind," the words are so familiar to me that I nearly breeze past them. When I study the Greek, though, I get a better understanding of how powerful Paul's words were:
In the Greek, the word written as "transformed" is "metamorphoó." This is the same Greek root as "metamorphosis," which means "transformation from an immature form to an adult form."
Also, the original Greek word for "renewing" is "anakainósis," which means "a change of heart and life."
Paul's call, then, was that believers "be brought from immaturity to maturity by the changing of our hearts and lives."
I find so much encouragement in knowing that I will be made mature in Christ through a change in my heart that is brought about by willfully living a holy (separated for God) life!
"Metamorphoó" is also the word used to describe the transfiguration of Jesus. What Paul has in mind here, then, is just the first of many steps which will lead us to the complete transformation which we will undergo when we dwell with God eternally. We are being made mature in Christ, and we are also being prepared for the time when we will be made whole and complete in heaven.
"Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, 'This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.'” (Exodus 19:3-6, NASB)
The people of Israel had been through tremendous changes. They had been captives in Egypt for 400 years, and now they were free. They had been leaderless, and now they were being led by Moses, who had been appointed by the Lord to guide them to the Promised Land. They had not heard from God for year upon year, and now He had done many wonders on their behalf.
But even here we see God calling them to a deeper change. The command to obey the Lord fully and keep His covenant would require more than being set free or having a capable leader or witnessing miracles. It would require them to become, in essence, a new people, with new hearts and new minds. Throughout their history God's people would struggle with that, and it would require a new covenant in order to bring God's plan to save a people for Himself to fruition. It is that new covenant, secured through the cross, which makes it possible for God's people to receive the new hearts and the new minds they will need to keep God's covenant. It is that new mind Paul calls us to in Romans 12 which enables us to obey God fully and keep His covenant.
Here's another word study. The word "prove" or "test and approve" used here is dokimazo. It means a range of things, including "test," "learn," or even "discern." Which makes sense, because Paul is talking here about discerning God's will, and he points out that we are equipped to do that when we present our bodies, separate ourselves from this world, and allow God to transform our minds. And when we do that, we in essence "prove" God's will, demonstrating that it is good, acceptable and perfect as we are transformed by His power. You can "test and approve" God's will today as you demonstrate that it is good, acceptable and perfect through obedient, sacrificial living.
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. (Psalm 119:45)
Here is an interesting juxtaposition: freedom and precepts (rules or laws which governs how we live and think). Many people think that God's commands are limiting; that they prevent us from living our lives as we choose. That is certainly true at first blush, but if we stop for a moment to think about it, the Lord's commands are not given to prevent us from having our own way; they are given to prevent us from being harmed and, ultimately, from being enslaved to our own appetites. The child who can't eat a package of cookies for supper may feel limited and in a sense he or she is, but they are also being protected from all sorts of bad outcomes, from a bellyache to malnutrition to obesity to diabetes. God's laws limit the damage we can do to ourselves, but they do not limit the good that can come to us. Keeping them is a blessing, not a curse, and in fact our obedience to them prevents us from living under a curse. If we wish to be truly free, then, the best route to that freedom is obedience. And yet that choice is never coerced. We are free to eat the package of cookies, so to speak, if we wish, but God offers a better way as an alternative for those who would be truly free, for when the truth has set you free, you are free indeed. Enjoy your freedom in Christ today!
It's hard to put into words what it feels like to walk in the freedom of Christ--the freedom from sin.
It seems simplistic to state, "I have true peace," or "I have true hope," when what my spirit is experiencing is the fruition of Jesus' words, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33), and "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” . . . You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -Psalm 16 2, 11
"...we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16, NASB) Ultimately, this is where the renewal of our minds leads us. It conforms our thoughts to God's thoughts, such that we can say we have the mind of Christ, or are of one mind with Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and by reading, studying and meditating on scripture, we are equipped to think God's thoughts after Him and, eventually, to come to the place where all that we say, do, and even think are patterned after Jesus. That is a process, of course, and we can make progress in that and we can slip back a bit as we go along. But the goal is to reach that point where we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. If we would do that, however, we must begin by knowing God's word.
People change their minds all of the time. What to wear, when to eat, where to live, how to provide for themselves and their family, and more. But those changes are all superficial. The Lord calls us to have our minds changed at a much more fundamental as His Spirit renews our minds, making it possible for us to not just change our clothes or our hair, but to change who we are; to become the people God has called us to be.
ReplyDeleteedit: at a much more fundamental LEVEL as His Spirit renews our minds...
DeleteI cannot recall exactly who I was listening to on the radio, but it was when they were discussing this passage (Romans 12:1-2) that I first learned how much we can gain from looking at the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek) when studying God's Word.
DeleteWhen I read the words, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind," the words are so familiar to me that I nearly breeze past them. When I study the Greek, though, I get a better understanding of how powerful Paul's words were:
In the Greek, the word written as "transformed" is "metamorphoó." This is the same Greek root as "metamorphosis," which means "transformation from an immature form to an adult form."
Also, the original Greek word for "renewing" is "anakainósis," which means "a change of heart and life."
Paul's call, then, was that believers "be brought from immaturity to maturity by the changing of our hearts and lives."
I find so much encouragement in knowing that I will be made mature in Christ through a change in my heart that is brought about by willfully living a holy (separated for God) life!
"Metamorphoó" is also the word used to describe the transfiguration of Jesus. What Paul has in mind here, then, is just the first of many steps which will lead us to the complete transformation which we will undergo when we dwell with God eternally. We are being made mature in Christ, and we are also being prepared for the time when we will be made whole and complete in heaven.
Delete"Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, 'This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.'” (Exodus 19:3-6, NASB)
ReplyDeleteThe people of Israel had been through tremendous changes. They had been captives in Egypt for 400 years, and now they were free. They had been leaderless, and now they were being led by Moses, who had been appointed by the Lord to guide them to the Promised Land. They had not heard from God for year upon year, and now He had done many wonders on their behalf.
But even here we see God calling them to a deeper change. The command to obey the Lord fully and keep His covenant would require more than being set free or having a capable leader or witnessing miracles. It would require them to become, in essence, a new people, with new hearts and new minds. Throughout their history God's people would struggle with that, and it would require a new covenant in order to bring God's plan to save a people for Himself to fruition. It is that new covenant, secured through the cross, which makes it possible for God's people to receive the new hearts and the new minds they will need to keep God's covenant. It is that new mind Paul calls us to in Romans 12 which enables us to obey God fully and keep His covenant.
Here's another word study. The word "prove" or "test and approve" used here is dokimazo. It means a range of things, including "test," "learn," or even "discern." Which makes sense, because Paul is talking here about discerning God's will, and he points out that we are equipped to do that when we present our bodies, separate ourselves from this world, and allow God to transform our minds. And when we do that, we in essence "prove" God's will, demonstrating that it is good, acceptable and perfect as we are transformed by His power. You can "test and approve" God's will today as you demonstrate that it is good, acceptable and perfect through obedient, sacrificial living.
ReplyDeleteI will walk about in freedom,
ReplyDeletefor I have sought out your precepts. (Psalm 119:45)
Here is an interesting juxtaposition: freedom and precepts (rules or laws which governs how we live and think). Many people think that God's commands are limiting; that they prevent us from living our lives as we choose. That is certainly true at first blush, but if we stop for a moment to think about it, the Lord's commands are not given to prevent us from having our own way; they are given to prevent us from being harmed and, ultimately, from being enslaved to our own appetites. The child who can't eat a package of cookies for supper may feel limited and in a sense he or she is, but they are also being protected from all sorts of bad outcomes, from a bellyache to malnutrition to obesity to diabetes. God's laws limit the damage we can do to ourselves, but they do not limit the good that can come to us. Keeping them is a blessing, not a curse, and in fact our obedience to them prevents us from living under a curse. If we wish to be truly free, then, the best route to that freedom is obedience. And yet that choice is never coerced. We are free to eat the package of cookies, so to speak, if we wish, but God offers a better way as an alternative for those who would be truly free, for when the truth has set you free, you are free indeed. Enjoy your freedom in Christ today!
It's hard to put into words what it feels like to walk in the freedom of Christ--the freedom from sin.
DeleteIt seems simplistic to state, "I have true peace," or "I have true hope," when what my spirit is experiencing is the fruition of Jesus' words, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33), and "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” . . . You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -Psalm 16 2, 11
"...we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16, NASB) Ultimately, this is where the renewal of our minds leads us. It conforms our thoughts to God's thoughts, such that we can say we have the mind of Christ, or are of one mind with Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and by reading, studying and meditating on scripture, we are equipped to think God's thoughts after Him and, eventually, to come to the place where all that we say, do, and even think are patterned after Jesus. That is a process, of course, and we can make progress in that and we can slip back a bit as we go along. But the goal is to reach that point where we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. If we would do that, however, we must begin by knowing God's word.
ReplyDelete