Remember the TV show for kids called, "The Transformers"? In this show, large robots would transfrom into different things so that they could do battle with their enemies. They became something totally different than what they started out as.
The Bible tells is that we should be "transformed." We must become something totally different. The original Greek word usually interpreted as "transform" is the same word as "metamorphosis." It means changed totally. We get the word "morphing" from this, too. If you've seen a morph on TV or on a computer, you see something gradually change from one thing into another thing totally different.
So the Bible tells us to be transformed from what
we are into something totally different. In the verse cited above, Paul
admonishes us not to be conformed any longer to the pattern of the world.
"Conform" means "to cause to be of the same form." So we are NOT to be of
the same form as the world's pattern; we're not to be like the rest of the
world. We should be TRANSformed, not CONformed!
But, how do we do this? Paul writes, "by the renewing of your mind." Note, he said "renewing." That means making it new all over again. Our minds must be made new all over again each and every day. Why? Because we live in the world, and see and hear things of the world every day. Another definition of renew is "transform," so we must be transformed by having our minds transformed. There is only one way in which our mind is to be transformed or renewed.
Our minds must be renewed by and according to the Word of God. Psalm 19:7 says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul." Soul is not the same thing as spirit. The Hebrew word is not as exact as the Greek word. The Greek word is "pseuche" or "psyche", the same word from which we dreive words such as psychology and psychiatry. Psychology, of course, has to do with the study of the mind, and psychiatry has to do with the study or treatment of emotions. So, psyche means mind and feelings or mind and emotions. The mind is more than the source of thought. It encompasses the will, emotions, and thinking. That's why when people have problems with their mind, we say thay have "emotional problems," although in most cases the true problem is not of the mind at all, but is spiritual! So, "soul" ("psyche") means mind, with its thoughts and emotions. It is the law of the Lord that revives our mind and emotions, according to Psalm 19:7.
Revive, of course, means ro bring back to life again, to recover vigor, or to refresh. The law (or word) of God brings our minds back to life again, makes our minds recover, and refreshes our minds. In other words, it renews our minds! It transforms (changes) our mind, and when our minds are transformed (changed), we are transformed (changed) as well.
How does the Word of God change our mind? II Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired by God], and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness." (NIV) So the Bible teached us, rebukes us, corrects us, and trains us. The Word of God:
But, what does the Word of God change our thinking to? Colossians 3:10 says, ". . . have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him." We become new people, renewed in knowledge (renewed in mind) after the image of Jesus the Christ. Our minds must be changed to become like Jesus' mind!
In Philippians 2:1-2 we read, "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one spirit and purpose." And in verse 5 is says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (NIV). The KJV says, "Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus." Our mind must be transformed to be like Christ's mind. We should have the mind of the Anointed One and His Anointing!
We must take time to read and study God's Word and allow it to transform our old way of thinking into Christ's way of thinking. The Word of God transforms our thinking into the thinking of the Anointed One -- and His Anointing. We are to have anointed thinking.
"22)That in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted with the lusts of deceit, 23) and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24) and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been called in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25) Therefore laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26) Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. 27) And do not give the devil an opportunity. 28) Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. 29) Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the needs of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30) And do not greive the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redmption. 31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32) And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:22-32 - NASB)
In the above passage, we learn several things about how we can put on the new self and be renewed in the spirit of our minds. We must be real (vs 25), we must be forgiving (vs 26), we must resist the devil (vs 27), we must be diligent [hard-working] (vs 28), we must speak the Word (vs 29), we must be sensitive to the Spirit (vs 30), and we must let love rule (vss 31-32). In other words, we must submit to (obey) God's Word, letting our thinking be changed by God's Word, and then our lives will be changed into the image of Christ and we will have the mind of Christ!
It also shows us that this change in mind should be reflected in our speech as well as our behavior. Our speaking and our doing must be in acordance with the Word of God. This is the mind of Christ. Christ never spoke or acted in a manner not consistent with God's Word.
But, notice also that there is not just a putting off, but a putting on required. Dr. Jay Adams, Christian counselor, refers to this as "dehabituation" and "rehabituation." We must STOP one kind of behavior and attitude. But that's not enough! We must replace it with ANOTHER kind of behavior or attitude.
God's Word has the power to transform us. But it will not be effective for us if we are not reading, studying, and (most importantly) hearing and speaking the Word! The Holy Spirit renewed our spirits when we were born again. But it is the Word of God that renews our minds and truly changes our lives. And this renewal or transformation is a gradual process. Therefore, it must be a daily thing. We must be transformed daily in our thinking and our emotions.
When our minds are changed by the Word of God to match the spirit, which has been revived (regenerated, renewed, transformed) by the Holy Spirit, then we are transformed, not conformed.
We must have the mind of Christ -- the Anointed One and His Anointing -- to have the victory and the abundant life that Jesus promised!
Last Updated 13-Jul-97
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Copyright © 1997 Rev. Eugene J. Bolton.
Faith Word/NotloB Ministries. All rights reserved.