Renewal of The Mind - Be Transformed with Thoughts and Attitude of Christ
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© 1999 James A. Fowler
You are free to download this outline provided it remains intact without alteration. You are also free to transmit this outline electronically provided that you do so in its entirety with proper citation of authorship included. RENEWING THE MIND I. Representative Biblical references A. Attitudes of mind that need to be renewed Rom. 1:28 - "a depraved mind, to do things which are not proper" Rom. 8:5,7 - "mind set on the flesh" * Rom. 12:16 - "haughty in mind" * II Cor. 4:4 - "blinded the minds of unbelieving" II Cor. 11:3 - "minds led astray from simplicity and purity to Christ" * Eph. 2:3 - "the desires of the flesh and of the mind" Eph. 4:17 - "the futility of their mind" * Phil. 3:19 - "set their minds on earthly things" * Col. 1:21 - "alienated and hostile in mind" Col. 2:18 - "inflated without cause by a fleshly mind" * Titus 1:15 - "their mind and their conscience are defiled" * B. Calls for renewal Rom. 12:2 - "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" * II Cor. 4:16 - "our inner man is being renewed day by day" * Eph. 4:23 - "be renewed in the spirit of your mind" * Col. 3:10 - "the new man is being renewed to a true knowledge..." * Titus 3:5 - "renewing by the Holy Spirit" C. Attitudes of a renewed mind Isa. 26:3 - "the steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace" Jere. 17:10 - "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind" Jere. 20:12 - "The Lord who seest the mind and the heart" Matt. 22:37 - "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" * Rom. 14:5 - "let each man be fully convinced in his own mind" * I Cor. 2:16 - "we have the mind of Christ" Phil. 2:5 - "have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus" * Phil. 4:8 - "whatever is true, right, pure...let your mind dwell on these..." * Col. 3:2 - "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" * Heb. 8:10; 10:16 - "I will put my laws into their minds" I Pet. 1:13 - "gird your minds for action" * Rev. 2:23 - "I am He who searches the minds and hearts" II. Why does the mind need to be renewed? A. The mind has been programmed with natural "established attitudes" 1. These are the beliefs, thoughts, ideas, opinions, convictions, prejudices that we have concerning ourselves, others, objects, activities, God, etc. 2. How were these formed? a. recommendation (1) of parents (2) of educational system (3) of society (books, television, movies, etc.) (4) of religious training b. reflection (1) personal observation (2) personal experience (3) personal compromise 3. These "established attitudes" permeated with fleshly "personal interest" of selfishness and sinfulness. a. Act: personal aspiration, gratification, reputation b. React: fight, fright, flight B. If there was a mental-video device that could record all the thoughts that go through your mind, would you want to play it back for everyone? 1. God knows our every thought Jere. 17:10 - "I, the Lord, search the heart; I test the mind" Jere. 20:12 - "The Lord seest the mind and the heart" Rev. 2:23 - "I am He who searches the minds and hearts" 2. Does this not reveal the necessity of renewing the mind? C. The mind needs to be renewed with Godly "established attitudes" 1. Initial and continual renewal of the mind a. Initial renewal - regenerative renewal Titus 3:5 - "regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" I Cor. 2:16 - "you have the mind of Christ" Heb. 8:10; 10:16 - "I will put my laws in their hearts" b. Continual renewal - sanctifying renewal Phil. 2:5 - "Have this mind in you which was in Christ" Phil. 4:8 - "whatever is true, right, pure...let minds dwell Col. 3:2 - "set your minds on things above" 2. The thoughts and attitudes of the mind serve as the conduits which allow for the mobilization of Godly behavior by divine energizing. Prov. 23:7 - "As a man thinks in his soul, so is he (in behavior) I Pet. 1:13 - "gird your minds for action" D. The combination of our "established attitudes" develop into a "mind-set" 1. Mind-set about ourselves a. false sense of identity b. external orientation - "how do I look?" c. guilt - attitudes of worthlessness, inferiority 2. Mind-set about other people a. people pleasing - self-conscious b. vain imaginations - fears, phobias c. attitudes of anger, impatience, hate, bitterness, resentment, revenge, suspicion, criticism, jealousy, unforgiveness, blame, depression, co-dependency 3. Mind-set about things a. materialism - "what am I going to buy next?" b. love things - use people c. addictions to substances, objects, etc. 4. Mind-set about ideas a. quest for knowledge b. desire to be correct, accurate, right 5. Mind-set about situations a. what might happen; the hypothetical - worry b. panic about inability to cope 6. Mind-set about God a. irrelevant, archaic, out-moded, unnecessary b. external, peripheral safety net; mystical, magical III. How can the mind be renewed to develop Godly "established attitudes"? A. Established attitudes re-formed to coincide with God's attitudes 1. Consistent with His character - purity, righteousness, love, joy 2. "Made new again" a. Greek anakainoo: ana=again; kainos=new b. Greek ananeoo: ana=again; neos=new 3. In accord with the a. newness of life in Jesus Christ - Rom. 6:4 b. newness of the Spirit - Rom. 7:6 c. new covenant - Heb. 8:8,13 d. new and living way - Heb. 10:20 e. new creature - II Cor. 5:17 f. new man - Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10 B. Basis of Godly "established attitudes" is God's revelation of Himself 1. Natural revelation Ps. 19:1,2 - "the heavens declare the glory of God..." Rom. 1:20 - "His attributes have been seen...through what he made" 2. Incarnational revelation Lk. 10:22 - "the Son will reveal Him" Jn. 1:18 - "He has explained Him" 3. Biblical revelation II Tim. 3:16 - "all Scripture is inspired by God" Not just Bible knowledge of Bible data or trivia 4. Personal revelation Phil. 3:15 - "God will reveal it to you" Rom. 14:5 - "let each man be fully convinced in his own mind" C. Requires personal discipline to renew Godly established attitudes. I Tim. 4:7 - "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" 1. Undisciplined minds and thinking retain natural attitudes 2. This is not the self-discipline of self-effort 3. We must discipline (exercise) our minds and thoughts to allow for Godly action mobilized through Godly established attitudes D. A "mind-set" settled on God and His activity. 1. A "steadfast mind" set on the things of God Prov. 16:3 - "your thoughts shall be established" Isa. 26:3 - "the steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace" a. Not an idle mind - daydreaming, procrastinating, wasting time, fantasizing b. Mind set on God's character and His ways Phil. 4:8 - "whatever is true, right, pure...let your mind dwell on these..." Col. 3:2 - "set your mind on things above... 2. A "mind-set" that spontaneously thinks of God and His activity a. "Yes, Lord" (1) temptation (2) worship b. Joy - Phil. 4:4; I Thess. 5:16 c. Laughter - Prov. 15:13; 17:22 d. Song in your heart - Eph. 5:19 e. Love for others - Rom. 5:5; Jn. 13:34 E. Practical necessity of "renewing of mind" for Godly behavior 1. Change in form of thinking and behavior (transformation) comes as an indirect result of renewal of mind - Rom. 12:2 2. Cannot reverse: External nonconformity does not lead to behavioral transformation - Col. 2:20-23 3. Based on spiritual regeneration and becoming a "new man" in Christ, the Christian has the indwelling spiritual sufficiency to engage in the renewing of the mind that allows for divinely empowered Christian behavior - Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:10  |
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