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
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 flesh | The mind of Christ |
Not autonomous – blown about | Taken captive to make it obedient to Christ |
Futile | Filled with the Holy Spirit |
Darkened | Clear and prepared |
Alienated | Reconciled |
Ignorant | Set for maturity |
Blind | Sincere |
Apathetic | Armed for suffering |
Uncontrolled | Disciplined |
Distorted | Realistic |
Selfish | Humble |
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