What About Renewing The Mind

Chapter Two

I must have fallen asleep about 3:00 a.m. after working on one of the chapters in this book. Suddenly I was face to face with Jesus in a conversation. He said the next chapter is to be about renewing the mind. My people do not understand the principles Paul wrote concerning the mind. The Lord spoke to me in no uncertain terms, “Renewing the mind is not a process. Your mind was renewed by the Holy Ghost at salvation. But for you now, it is a choice to walk in the Spirit I have given you.”

This is the controversy in the church that is intended to supply ammunition to the theory of the impossibility for us to live holy everyday of our lives. It is not the renewing of the mind itself. It is who does the renewing. Many theologians have assigned this task to the individual, whereas the scriptures render it as a work of the Spirit of God.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Once again the script speaks to the lifestyle we should be able to walk in because of the renewing of the mind, which was done at salvation. This is a warning birthed out of our ability to walk in the perfect will of God. Notice the colon at the end of the first phrase. He is about to explain that this non-conformity is a transformation which was brought about by and because of the renewing of the mind. The renewing of the mind is the regeneration of the soul.

Titus 3:3-6

3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Scripture must be interpreted by scripture and in light of all scripture. We must utilize the above passage as a foundational truth and build upon it. We are saved by regeneration. This regeneration is a sanctification of the soul, the purging of the conscience, and the circumcision of the flesh. The entire process is done by

the Holy Ghost. To renew means to renovate, or make new. There is no way we are able to renew or make new, our souls daily, and the work of the Spirit is a completed work. We are saved by the renewing of the Holy Ghost. All washing, purging, circumcising and regeneration is the work of the Spirit.

The scripture clearly points to the fact that salvation was not by any works we did of ourselves. This is the baptism into Christ. This only happens once and if we should fall away from such grace it would be impossible to renew us again unto repentance (Hebrews 6:1-6).

1 Corinthians 2:16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are able to comprehend the will of God because of the indwelling of the Spirit. He is the influence and impression made on the soul or mind. In the act of submission, we become one with the mind of Christ. But on the other hand, we can also choose to draw back from that mind and allow darkness and corruption into our innerman. Is this not the case when we house unforgiveness or malice in our hearts?

2 Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Let us walk through the verses below as we continue to search out the mind of the Father regarding the terminology He allowed His writers to use.

Ephesians 4:21-23

21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Manypeople seem to focus on this verse when trying to confirm renewing the mind as a process. However, it is expedient for us to keep this verse within the context in which it is written. In doing so, we find that the preceding verse is the one that sets the premise or lays the foundation for what the author is about to say. We are told to put off, lay aside, or do away with the former lifestyle of the old man (the body of sin). He is dead to sin and we should now walk in the new life of the Spirit. That life should be manifested in our daily walk. The power of the grace of God is that it has circumcised the flesh and destroyed the Law of Sin and Death which once operated in the flesh. Due to the Law of the Spirit of Life, we are able to choose to whom we will yield our members.

Furthermore, the spirit of the mind is the soul, the heart, or the inner man. We are instructed to set the affections of the soul on things above and to mind or give thought to things pertaining to the Spirit.

Paul promises that if we submit to righteousness, we will be able to resist the devil. However, without the submission of our heart or mind to God, we give place or opportunity to the devil to take us captive at his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-25; And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Ephesians 4:24-30

24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

This act of putting or putting off is not the salvation experience, but rather the act of choice or the exercising of our will. To have put on the new man is rendered in the sense of sinking into a garment. The garment is what is seen. The righteousness of God is the garment we should array ourselves in. Grace is the influence of the heart that is reflected in the life or lifestyle.

25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27. Neither give place to the devil.

28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Yes, even those who are born again can choose to disobey God without the prompting of Satan or the flesh. In the scriptures the flesh is also referred to as our members. Consider the following.

1 Corinthians 6:13-15

13. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

14. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

Consider this verse very carefully. Note Paul asks, shall I take the members of Christ and join them to a harlot. It is not the members or the body that rebels; it is the Son of God himself. He is the one who makes a conscious decision to do that which God has forbidden. Christ does not leave the body during the act of fornication and the Son of God who takes Him there is still a Son. He is dishonorable, but he will remain in the house until the Master comes to judge.

2 Timothy 2:19-22

19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Corinthians 6:16-19

16. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Could it be possible that the Father made us one with Christ Jesus without taking our free will? Is it possible for us to live and move and have our being in the Holy Ghost, yet maintain the ability to choose good or evil? I think the answer to those questions would have to be yes. Jesus was born of the Spirit but was tried and tested throughout His ministry. The trial itself implicates the ability to choose between right and wrong. This ability to choose is not another mind, it is the will. It is the essential part of the soul that must come into submission to God if one is to live holy.

18. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Theologians have searched the scriptures looking for culprits to blame for our sin against God. They have declared that salvation must have left some imperfection in our make-up or design. Or, when all else fails, the flesh is always a good fall guy. Below is one such scripture that is often taken out of context to confirm this error.

James 4:1-8

1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

The spirit that lives in us is the Holy Ghost. It lusteth or craves possession of the flesh. The Holy Ghost is for the body and the body is for the Holy Ghost. It is not for the fulfilling of the lust. This lust was not in the body after salvation. All that is in the world is the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Strangely enough the Lord does not usurp authority over our will. He leaves it to us to choose whether to submit to Him or not. This is where many have experienced great frustration. They have exercised their will against righteousness time and time again. However, they refuse to take complete responsibility for choices they make. Either the devil or the flesh made them do it. The truth is we are master of our own flesh now that the Holy Ghost has initiated the Law of the Spirit of Life in our members.

8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

The term double minded does not suggest the presence of two individual minds, but rather the right and wrong thinking of one. Our inner man is physically clothed in the Holy Ghost. This gives us access to all that God is; His character, His love and His power.

Ephesians 4:30

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

When we reject the leading and counsel of the Holy Ghost, He is grieved. When we lust after the things of this world, He is grieved. When we choose not to love one another or obey the Word of God, He is grieved. He will never force us to obey. But He will crave the exclusive use of our body so that He may glorify the Father with the attributes of Christ.