The Weapons of our Warfare 5 – Renewing the Mind

For background reading on this topic, please see this blog from which some of the following points were extracted

Renewed mind – metamorphosis

The Old Mind is (Eph. 4:14, 17-19):

  • Not autonomous – but subject to influences and inputs – external and internal v.14
  • Futile – depraved, transient – aligned with the curse on the Creation Rom. 8:20
  • Darkened Rom. 1:21
  • Alienated Col. 1:21
  • Ignorant Rom. 1:22; 1 Cor. 2:8
  • Blind 2 Cor. 4:4
  • Apathetic towards the things of God Rom. 1:28
  • Uncontrolled Rom. 1:29
  • Corrupt 2 Cor. 11:3; Gen. 3:6
  • Greedy, selfish Rom. 1:31
  • In a word – INSANE! And this is the mind that you were born with – Einstein defintion of insanity – does this describe church as it is normally practiced?

Disciplines for the Mind.

But you have not so learned Christ Eph. 4:20. Even though we are recreated when we are ‘born from above’ (2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:5-6), the mind has to be retrained and it’s not by osmosis! According to Titus 2:11-14, the mind has to be:

  • Taught –  παιδεύω
    paideuō
    From G3816; to train up a child, that is, educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment): – chasten (-ise), instruct, learn, teach.
  • Restrained – αρνέομαι
    arneomai
    Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the middle of G4483; to contradict, that is, disavow, reject, abnegate: – deny, refuse.
  • Directed to sober, righteous and godly thinking and acting
  • Set on the Blessed Hope of Christ’s return
  • Focused on the Cross and our redemption
  • Redeemed from iniquity
  • Purified
  • Resulting in “a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works”

What does the Renewed Mind look like?

  • In a word – the Mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2:16
  • Continuously filled with the Holy Spirit Eph. 5:18 ff.
  • Prepared for action 1 Pet. 1:13
  • Set for maturity Heb. 6:1
  • Taken captive to make it obedient to Christ 2 Cor. 10:5
  • Disciplined 2 Tim. 1:6-7 – ‘gift’ and ‘shift’ (v. 6)
  • Realistic Rom. 12:3 – not high minded, not false humility, facing reality in our lives – our sin, lack of surrender, disobedience, prayerlessness
  • Sincere 1 Pet. 3:8
  • Humble Phil 2:1-5
  • Armed for suffering 1 Pet. 4:1
  • Clear and prepared for ‘the end of all things’ being at hand 1 Pet. 4:7

Which mind do you think with?

The mind of the fleshThe mind of Christ
Not autonomous – blown aboutTaken captive to make it obedient to Christ
FutileFilled with the Holy Spirit
DarkenedClear and prepared
AlienatedReconciled
IgnorantSet for maturity
BlindSincere
ApatheticArmed for suffering
UncontrolledDisciplined
DistortedRealistic
SelfishHumble
The Mind of the Flesh – INSANE!The Mind of Christ – Sanity restored!

We went on to discuss Romans 8:1-5 which can be heard 39 minutes in to the YouTube recording here

Pastor Ray Choi has en excellent explanation of this passage (and why I am not changing!) here