The Bible in Depth – #9

Study Nine
 
The Renewal of the Mind

​1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, 2 and do not be conformed to this world, but, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1, 2).
 
The will of God—good, acceptable, and perfect—is known in our spirits and then proved in our minds. The Holy Spirit speaks God’s will into our hearts (spirits). We must learn to discern its meaning, its depth, and its application to our lives by reading with our minds and studying it with our intelligence. The following verses pertain to the mind and its process. Study them by meditation and quietly mulling them over in your mind.

​22 …that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22–24).
 
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).
 
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partially and without hypocrisy (James 3:15–17).
 
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ… (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).
 
16 I say to you then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16–18).
 
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So, those that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:5–11).
 
…and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. (Colossians 3:10).
 
Reading the Word of God is the most beneficial thing you can do. Then rehearing these verses about the mind, the intellect, the pondering of such will apply it to your life and the way you live.
 
As the Lord says: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:8).