THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND

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“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

 

The new creations in Christ don’t have two opposing or conflicting natures (holy and sinful natures). Your old, evil, corrupt nature has passed away if you are in Christ. What you have now is a new holy and divine nature (2 Cor. 5:17).

The born-again believers are partakers of the divine nature of God.

2 Peter 1:3-4 – KJV

 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: {to: or, by}

 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The natural birth produces the natural man; however, the spiritual birth produces the spiritual man, the new creation in Christ. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6 NKJV).

The new creation in Christ does not retain his old sinful nature. The new creation has only God’s nature abiding in him.

1 John 3:9 – RSV

9 No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.

What happened to the believer’s old and sinful nature?

It was utterly destroyed!

How and when?

It was crucified with Christ on the cross!

Your old man or self, which had the sinful nature, the natural propensity or inclination to sin, was crucified or destroyed on the cross. That is why your victory over Sin and Satan starts at the cross of Christ!

The new creation in Christ is no longer a slave to Sin and Satan. Walking in the consciousness of this truth is the key to your daily victory over Sin and Satan.

Romans 6:6 – BBE

6 Being conscious that our old man was put to death on the cross with him, so that the body of sin might be put away, and we might no longer be servants to sin.

The old man is the embodiment of sinful nature!

If you are born again, you are no longer a slave or captive of Sin and Satan. Their power and dominion over your life ended at the cross when and where your old man or self was crucified with Christ. Paul testifies, “For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans. 6:7 NKJV).

Having become dead to sin through the body of Christ, you are now free from the dominion of sin. Paul reveals, “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans. 6:18 NKJV).

The new creation in Christ is a slave of righteousness. His nature is righteousness. Therefore, it is natural for born-again believers to manifest, exhibit, or practice righteousness.

Romans 6:22 – NKJV

22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

1 John 3:10 – NKJV

 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Why are many believers living today as though they are still slaves of Sin and Satan?

The mind of the flesh!

While it is true that born-again believers don’t have two conflicting natures, believers have two opposing minds in them (the mind of Christ and the mind of the flesh).

The believer’s regenerated inward man has a new and perfect mind—the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). But the outward man still retains the natural mind (the mind of the flesh), which has been thoroughly educated, trained, programmed, or set by the old man.

Although the old man or self is no longer alive in you, his imprints or remains are still stored in your natural mind. Your natural mind retains the settings, styles, conducts, patterns, or ways of life of the old man who once lived in you before Christ destroyed him on the cross.

The remains or residues of the old man he left behind in your mind is what the Scripture refers to in Romans 6 vs. 6 as “the body of sin” to be done away with.

Romans 6:6 – NKJV

6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

When a man dies, his body or remains must be removed lest it constitute a terrible nuisance. Likewise, it is your responsibility to put off or do away with “the body of sin” the old man left behind in your mind, lest it constitutes a nuisance or hindrance to your daily walk with the Lord Jesus.

The renewing of your mind is the process of getting rid, clearing away, or putting off the remains, residues, imprints, ambitions, desires, or mindsets of the old man (the embodiment of sinful nature), which are still stored in your natural mind after you are born again.

Renewing your mind is the process of re-setting, re-programming, or re-installing your mind with the truths of God’s Word. The renewing of your mind is putting off the old man’s old mindset (self-centered attitude or conduct) and putting on the new mindset (Christ-centered attitude or behavior).

Apostle Paul admonishes us to do this in his epistle.

Ephesians 4:21-24 – NKJV

 21 If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

If a computer is not re-set or re-programmed with new software, it will continue to run and operate according to its old setting or program.

Similarly, if you don’t make a diligent effort to renew your natural mind by prayerfully and constantly reading, studying, listening to, imbibing, meditating in, confessing, and obeying God’s Word, your values, passions, emotions, aspirations, perceptions, mindsets, pursuits or goals in life will remain the same just as when you were a slave of sin.

An unrenewed mind is a primary reason you hardly notice any significant changes or transformation in some believers, even after several years of being born again.

Your natural mind will not get better or be renewed automatically with time. Your responsibility is to sanctify or renew it daily according to the truths of God’s Word.

The degree of transformation into the likeness of Christ that you will experience in your thoughts, speech, emotions, actions, or lifestyle is directly proportional to the degree to which your mind has been renewed according to the truths of God’s Word (Romans. 12:1-2).

You are increasingly transformed into Christlikeness in your speech and conduct as your natural mind is progressively renewed to conform to Christ’s mind in your recreated spirit.

Your natural mind has been set upon the things of the flesh and the world by the old man who once ruled your life (Romans. 8:5, Ephesians. 2:1-3). It has been taught and trained to be self-centered and hostile to God (Romans. 8:7). It has been programmed to doubt, fear, lust, envy, worry, hate, disobey, and produce death (Romans. 8:6).

Therefore, if you fail to re-set or re-program your mind to conform to God’s Word, it will continually frustrate you and hinder you from living and enjoying your Christian life.

Friend, arise today with a resolution to imbibe, infuse, or instill God’s words, ways, values, principles, and mindset into your natural mind.

 Prayer:

Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to continually put off all the remains, residues, imprints, and settings of the old man left behind in my natural mind, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

AWH, Blogs.

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