THE RENEWED MIND

Sitting here writing this, I'm thinking on the long and meticulous efforts of the Word of God to bring me and others in this ministry, Bible Teachers International, to a point of not warring with our renewed mind. Sometimes, when I look back on all the messages, books, tapes, conferences, schools and discipleship sessions, the focal point of them all is the renewal of the mind. Please don’t be deceived. The renewal of the mind is something the Father did at salvation. For all intent and purposes, every time we see the term renew, renewing or renewal in the scriptures, we need to think on its definition; new, fresh, strengthened and regenerated. We have been and in most cases are still working in the aftermath of the deceitfulness of sin in the lives of the sons of God. God’s Word is backing us up. In essence, it is pushing us back to the beginning. If the Body of Christ is to understand the eternal purpose of God for their lives, then they must be brought back to the very day of their new birth. Here they must be taught the truth and continuously given a sure word to grow by.

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. ·

Those who do not know God are sinners and already conformed to the world. Therefore, it becomes clear Paul is speaking to the saints of God. To those who have come out of the world, he is admonishing and encouraging not to go back into the world; but to be steadfast in the transformation that took place at salvation. It is then and only then that we are able to reveal the power of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:15-17

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (The inner man is new, fresh and strengthened every day.)

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Listen to me carefully right here. I thought I was finished with this book and was looking forward to just sitting down and proofreading it. But the Lord spoke to me in the midst of my anticipation and told me the book was not finished. He wanted to add some things that were very important for us to understand at this time. Salvation is the work I have done in you. I finished the work and gave you all things pertaining to the life of Christ and the godliness it produces. Godliness is not practiced behavior; it is the fruit of your life.

1. I am your Savior. Therefore, you are secure regarding the wiles of satanic powers.

2. The faith you walk in is mine. I gave you the measure of Faith. I am the author and the finisher of it.

3. The Spirit you have is mine. I gave it to you. In my Spirit you live and move and have your being.

4. The mind you have is mine. I gave you the mind of Christ.

5. You are my workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which I ordained that you should walk in them.

And now, concerning the renewal of your mind; you are constantly looking for scriptures you think will complicate the simple nature of the things I have told you. When my Word is not rightly divided, the very scriptures themselves can become a stumbling block and rock of offense to you. So it is with the renewal of your mind. I gave you the mind of Christ. It is the mind of the Spirit. But you have made the renewal of your mind a long drawn out process. This is not so. I renewed you at your birth into the Kingdom. In fact, all things are new and all things are of God.

Ephesians 4:17-24

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

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;

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

Herein is the controversy. Other Gentiles are alienated from God and walk in the vanity of their mind. They are blind and walk in darkness. Therefore, they have given themselves over to all manner of uncleanness. But that is not true of you, seeing as how these are not the things you learned concerning the Christ in you. That is if you have heard Him, assuming you were taught by Him, and not by one having not the revelation of the mystery of Christ. For the truth is in Christ and only those who are given the revelation of Christ can successfully teach the word that will cause you to grow up into the fullness of the man Jesus Christ. This is the mystery of Christ revealed. This is what we were taught or should have been taught from the beginning. This is the explanation of the work the Father has done. At salvation we put off the old man. He is crucified with Christ. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind… (be new, fresh and strengthened). Now we are new, fresh, regenerated in our inner man. We have put on the new man who is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:25

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

I am not asking you to put away lying. I am acknowledging the fact that all the former things are passed away, and now you are able to speak the truth to every man. Likewise, the body of sin was destroyed at salvation and your soul was made new by the regeneration of the Holy Ghost. Now you are able to fulfill the righteousness in the verses below.

Ephesians 4:26-32

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.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Yes, all of this is necessary simply because we were not taught by Christ. In many cases we were taught just the opposite. But that day is gone. We know and love the truth now. We have accepted who we are in God and are now moving from faith to faith.