Transformed Mind for paper

Paul tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Romans 12: 2

I would like to explain this Transformation. For Christians who are trying to lead a Christ like life there is within us a war, a battle for control of our mind. We have a sinful nature that is wholly corrupted within us that continually resurrects itself and Satan and the world around us that try to influence our thinking and control our mind. And we have the Holy Spirit within us from baptism that at the same time is trying to help us in this battle for control of our mind and lead us live a God pleasing life. Paul called the process by which we learn to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit and not the sinful nature, Satan and the world a transformation of our mind. This transformation is a life-long process by which we become more and more like Jesus. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,” 2 Corinthians 3: 18a

In defining this transformation I like to use: “ The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5: 19 – 22

This transforming of our mind is a process whereby we exhibit less and less acts of the sinful nature and more and more of the fruit of the Spirit. This transformation of our mind does not mature the Holy Spirit within us, rather it puts tools into our lives and minds so the Holy Spirit can communicate with us and lead us. It allows us to better hear his voice. It also teaches us to recognize and ignore our sinful nature. The battle is a battle for control of your mind. As Paul said, the object of being transformed is to become more and more like Jesus. We become more and more like Jesus by being led by his Holy Spirit and not by our sinful nature, Satan and the world. There is no point at which we can say we have completed the journey while we live in our present body. It is a life long journey.

When we speak of salvation, of being saved, we say it is entirely the work of God in our lives; not the result of our desire nor of any action or worthiness on our part. God is also the one who works this transforming of our mind, but we participate with him in it. While God is the one who transforms us to be more and more Christ like, we play a vital role in this transformation. God will not impose his will on us. When you bring a horse to the watering trough the horse has to do the drinking. In the same way God provides the means by which we are transformed, but we have to do the drinking. Those principal means are communion, the bible, and absolution. As we participate in communion, confess our sin and are absolved and read, hear and study God word we are doing the drinking. We do not participate with God in this transformation as equal partners; rather we participate as a weaker partner. In fact we cannot participate without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2: 13

It is very important to understand the role of our own will power in this process. When we want to get rid of anger, rage, malice, etc., etc. in our lives our natural course would be to use our will power. Just like dieting, we think we have to overcome the urges to snack on goodies by our own will power. This is not the case in this transforming of our mind. While we still have to make use of our will power in this battle it is not the source of power in this battle. When we have the Holy Spirit inside us, and we participate with God in this process, we become more and more led by the Spirit. In this process our nature gradually changes (is transformed) so we exhibit more and more fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We become more and more Christ like. Our motivation for doing the right thing changes from will power to a changed nature. We start to do good things because our nature has changed and it becomes the natural thing to do the right thing. The law does not go away, but we obey it naturally, not because we have to, but because we want to. Our sinful nature, Satan and the world are still there, but we listen or follow their direction less and less. We die to our sinful nature and the world by not listening to or obeying their direction.

This transforming of our minds does not involve reforming our sinful nature. Our sinful nature is incorrigible and cannot be reformed. “the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”  Romans 8: 7   Rather than reforming our sinful nature we are to crucify it or die to it.

So as we live our lives as Christians, participating with God in the means he has provided, as a natural course of being a Christian, God is transforming our minds and bit by bit we are becoming more and more like Christ.

Blessings,