Is the "renewing of the mind " our responcibility?
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Step 1: Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
If we're not strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, we will be wholly unprepared to stand against the wiles of the devil (much less put on the whole armour of God --- imho).
If we're not strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, we will be wholly unprepared to stand against the wiles of the devil (much less put on the whole armour of God --- imho).
I will try to clarity the problem:
If the command were transform yourself by thinking in a new way; you would be correct.
BUT IT ISN'T
BE TRANSFORMED is passive NOT active. It means that God is going to make the changes. Your responsibility, if you want one, is to submit to and not resist the changes God makes in your thinking.
If we could change ourselves, Jesus died for nothing. He had to suffer and die so that He could take ownership. Only as owner He is able to make the necessary changes. By submitting ourselves to his changes we acknowledge His ownership; and He is Lord indeed. Lord means owner as plainly seen in the word landlord.
If the command were transform yourself by thinking in a new way; you would be correct.
BUT IT ISN'T
BE TRANSFORMED is passive NOT active. It means that God is going to make the changes. Your responsibility, if you want one, is to submit to and not resist the changes God makes in your thinking.
If we could change ourselves, Jesus died for nothing. He had to suffer and die so that He could take ownership. Only as owner He is able to make the necessary changes. By submitting ourselves to his changes we acknowledge His ownership; and He is Lord indeed. Lord means owner as plainly seen in the word landlord.
The New Man and the mind of Christ do not happen instantly. It is a process.
If we were instantly changed into the new man with the mind of Christ, would we be seeing the ugliness and hostility that we see on the forum?
be transformed tells us that God is still working on us and we need to learn to get out of His way so He can work unhindered.
If we were instantly changed into the new man with the mind of Christ, would we be seeing the ugliness and hostility that we see on the forum?
be transformed tells us that God is still working on us and we need to learn to get out of His way so He can work unhindered.
S
love the way you explain it here...agree with you..but like you say we have a part to play in what we watch and feed the mind. when i had to renew my mind and get the world out , i had to stop watching some films,the books i would read, stay away for the internet for a while and put my phone away..and the study the word of God feed my mind with the good stuff...and spending time in the presence of the holy spirit i couldn't have done it without Gods power working in me ..
Is this verse directed to a born again Christian? Is this verse telling us to do something? If it is telling ME to do something then it requires action on MY part.
I beseech YOU therefore, brethren (those in the body of Christ) by the mercies of God, that YOU present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is YOUR reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world (who is not to be conformed? YOU; but be transformed YE BY the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, (YOU be transformed by the renewing of YOUR mind) that YOU may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I beseech YOU therefore, brethren (those in the body of Christ) by the mercies of God, that YOU present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is YOUR reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world (who is not to be conformed? YOU; but be transformed YE BY the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, (YOU be transformed by the renewing of YOUR mind) that YOU may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When we live for God we have the responsibility to want to do right,and live right,before the Spirit will lead us,for the Spirit will not twist our arm to be Christlike.
If we have the possibility to sin after we are saved,then we are not led of the Spirit without our input,for then we would never sin after receiving the Spirit.
When the Bible speaks of how we should be in our lifestyle,it states we should do it,for the actions have to come from us first,and the Spirit will guide us,for we still have a choice after we are saved,because we have the possibility to sin,and can be lazy laboring for the kingdom of God.
We are not forced to live for God,so it is our responsibility to do what is right,but we have the Spirit to make it all the more easier,and possible,if we want to do right.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When we live for God we have the responsibility to want to do right,and live right,before the Spirit will lead us,for the Spirit will not twist our arm to be Christlike.
If we have the possibility to sin after we are saved,then we are not led of the Spirit without our input,for then we would never sin after receiving the Spirit.
When the Bible speaks of how we should be in our lifestyle,it states we should do it,for the actions have to come from us first,and the Spirit will guide us,for we still have a choice after we are saved,because we have the possibility to sin,and can be lazy laboring for the kingdom of God.
We are not forced to live for God,so it is our responsibility to do what is right,but we have the Spirit to make it all the more easier,and possible,if we want to do right.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is YOUR reasonable service.
This is active voice and it is definitely our responsibility
And be not conformed to this world
Resist the values and teachings of society and don't submit to them
This is passive voice negated
but be transformed YE
Be changed Passive voice God does the changing you submit and don't resist
BY the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND
this is the change God wishes to make
that YOU may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
active voice your responsibility
This is how the grammar works both in Greek and in English
Exactly!!!
Old man:
Galatians 5:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
New man:
Galatians 5:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The works of the flesh are inherent in the old man (which is conformed to this world).
The fruit of the spirit is inherent in the new man.
It is in the new man that the transformation by the renewing of the mind takes place.
Our part in the process is be not conformed to this world (i.e. put off the old man). The transformation by the renewing of the mind will automatically take place as we remain steadfast in that new man which God created within.
What is our part in the equation?
Be not conformed to this world. As we walk in the new man, do not be drawn away through the tugging of the old man (the lusts of the flesh) which are contrary to the new man.
Galatians 5:
16 This I say then, Walk in the spirit (new man), and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (old man).
17 For the flesh (old man) lusteth against the spirit (new man), and the spirit (new man) against the flesh (old man): and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Old man:
Galatians 5:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
New man:
Galatians 5:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The works of the flesh are inherent in the old man (which is conformed to this world).
The fruit of the spirit is inherent in the new man.
It is in the new man that the transformation by the renewing of the mind takes place.
Our part in the process is be not conformed to this world (i.e. put off the old man). The transformation by the renewing of the mind will automatically take place as we remain steadfast in that new man which God created within.
What is our part in the equation?
Be not conformed to this world. As we walk in the new man, do not be drawn away through the tugging of the old man (the lusts of the flesh) which are contrary to the new man.
Galatians 5:
16 This I say then, Walk in the spirit (new man), and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (old man).
17 For the flesh (old man) lusteth against the spirit (new man), and the spirit (new man) against the flesh (old man): and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Renewing the mind is basically undoing old belief systems/ old ways of thinking pertaining to the old natural mans way of thinking. It is a practice that has to be done over and over again, but as a person continually does it, they become changed from the inside out. They become rooted deeper in the spirit, stronger in spirit, as different strongholds that might have been there before are taken down. Its not really about it being a responsibility as it is a choice a person has to make, God is sovereign, but wants a person to make that choice, but He will not force it upon them.
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Our outward man = our bodies (the earthen vessel of 2 Cor 4:7). Even those who are born again have bodies that are diminishing in vitality little by little each day. We can live our lives in a manner that is beneficial to our bodies (exercise, eat a proper diet, get enough sleep, etc.). However, no matter how well we treat our bodies, they still deteriorate, decline in vitality, weaken, and fade day by day.
On the other hand, our inward man is renewed day by day. The inward man, that new creation which God creates within each born again one, is renewed. Who does the renewing of this inward man? Please note, the verse does not say that we renew this inward man. God is the One Who renews us in the inward man day by day.
The word "renewed" in this verse is the Greek Word anakainoutai (from anakainoó).
HELPS Word-studies defines anakainoó as follows (bold mine):
Cognate: 341 anakainóō (from 303 /aná, "up, completing a process" and kainoō, "renew," which is derived from 2537 /kainós) – to renew by moving from one stage to a higher (more developed) one; make qualitatively new. See 342 (anakainōsis).
341 /anakainóō ("to renew") only occurs in 2 Cor 4:16 and Col 3:10, both times referring to God ever-transforming the believer – by renewing "the new man" (anthrōpos) in Christ.
[Moulton and Milligan (Vocabulary) do not find any secular occasions of 341 (anakainóō) in the papyri.]
HELPSTM Word-studies
copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon states:
ἀνακαινόω, (ῶ: (present passive ἀνακαινοῦμαι); a word peculiar to the apostle Paul; properly, "to cause to grow up (ἀνά) new, to make new"; passive, new strength and vigor is given to me, 2 Corinthians 4:16; to be changed into a new kind of life, opposed to the former corrupt state, Colossians 3:10. Cf. Winers De verb. comp. Part iii., p. 10 (or Meyer on Colossians, the passage cited; Test. xii. Patr., test. Levi 16, 17ἀνακαινοποιέω. Cf. Köstlin in Herzog edition 2, 1:477f.)
THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database
copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
According to Helps Word-studies: "God ever-transforms the believer by renewing the new man."
According to Thayer's: we are "changed into a new kind of life, opposed to the former corrupt state".
This is the transformed by the renewing of your mind referred to in Rom 12:2. And it is God Who does the transforming as we put off the old man (be not conformed to this world).
As we put on the new man, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds because inherent within that new man (which is renewed day by day by our Father God) is the mind of Christ.
Our part: put off the old man / put on the new man.
God's part: He transforms us. He infuses us with new life.
As we walk (life our lives) in the new man in Christ Jesus, that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God is proved (Greek dokimazō which to test, examine prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not.)
Our outward man = our bodies (the earthen vessel of 2 Cor 4:7). Even those who are born again have bodies that are diminishing in vitality little by little each day. We can live our lives in a manner that is beneficial to our bodies (exercise, eat a proper diet, get enough sleep, etc.). However, no matter how well we treat our bodies, they still deteriorate, decline in vitality, weaken, and fade day by day.
On the other hand, our inward man is renewed day by day. The inward man, that new creation which God creates within each born again one, is renewed. Who does the renewing of this inward man? Please note, the verse does not say that we renew this inward man. God is the One Who renews us in the inward man day by day.
The word "renewed" in this verse is the Greek Word anakainoutai (from anakainoó).
HELPS Word-studies defines anakainoó as follows (bold mine):
Cognate: 341 anakainóō (from 303 /aná, "up, completing a process" and kainoō, "renew," which is derived from 2537 /kainós) – to renew by moving from one stage to a higher (more developed) one; make qualitatively new. See 342 (anakainōsis).
341 /anakainóō ("to renew") only occurs in 2 Cor 4:16 and Col 3:10, both times referring to God ever-transforming the believer – by renewing "the new man" (anthrōpos) in Christ.
[Moulton and Milligan (Vocabulary) do not find any secular occasions of 341 (anakainóō) in the papyri.]
HELPSTM Word-studies
copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon states:
ἀνακαινόω, (ῶ: (present passive ἀνακαινοῦμαι); a word peculiar to the apostle Paul; properly, "to cause to grow up (ἀνά) new, to make new"; passive, new strength and vigor is given to me, 2 Corinthians 4:16; to be changed into a new kind of life, opposed to the former corrupt state, Colossians 3:10. Cf. Winers De verb. comp. Part iii., p. 10 (or Meyer on Colossians, the passage cited; Test. xii. Patr., test. Levi 16, 17ἀνακαινοποιέω. Cf. Köstlin in Herzog edition 2, 1:477f.)
THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database
copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
According to Helps Word-studies: "God ever-transforms the believer by renewing the new man."
According to Thayer's: we are "changed into a new kind of life, opposed to the former corrupt state".
This is the transformed by the renewing of your mind referred to in Rom 12:2. And it is God Who does the transforming as we put off the old man (be not conformed to this world).
As we put on the new man, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds because inherent within that new man (which is renewed day by day by our Father God) is the mind of Christ.
Our part: put off the old man / put on the new man.
God's part: He transforms us. He infuses us with new life.
As we walk (life our lives) in the new man in Christ Jesus, that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God is proved (Greek dokimazō which to test, examine prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not.)
Yes, we are in view of God's mercy (those things spoken of in Romans 11:33-36) are to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable . . . .
YOU, or WE (subject implied) are not to be conformed to this world, i.e. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:12) I agree that we should resist the values and teachings of society and don't submit to them - Before being born again that is exactly what we did - went along with the crowd, so to speak. Now we are to change and that change comes about by renewing our minds to the knowledge of God in order to be transformed.
but be transformed by the renewing of YOUR mind. This is the change that God desires us to make. How is that transformation acquired? by the renewing of our minds. Since birth we have had a mind controlled by the old man, i.e. walking in the flesh. We now partake of the divine nature, the new man and our thoughts have to be changed to line up with what has been created by God on the inside.
We are becoming transformed (into the image of Christ) HOW? by renewing our minds. Being born again, you are a new creation - Where? inside - God has transformed you on the inside, i.e. heart. Your desire now is to serve God through obedience. That godly desire that has taken root in your heart has to move up to your brain - replacing the thinking of the old man with that of the new man - that is renewing your mind. Have your thought patterns automatically changed? If so, then why are we told to renew our minds in order for transformation to take place?
[SUB][/SUB]I may not be a scholar in English - I am surely not a Greek scholar but I do know a little about sentence structure. As you renew your mind you are proving what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God. What is the will of God? The Word of God - throughout the word of God we find the will of God for our lives. Our thought patterns must align with the Word of God to enable us to walk in the Spirit. As we renew our minds and walk accordingly, we prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God to ourselves and to others - we are transformed.
MarcR - I totally respect you and know from reading your post that you have a great amount of knowledge. All I know that God gave his word to the common man . . . if the common man can't understand what is written . . . what good is it? So, yes, I am a common lay person - I may not have it exactly right - but this is my understanding. I have proved it in my life - I know my thought patterns before I was born again . . . I know my thought patterns now and if I had not renewed my mind to the knowledge of God - I would be a very stunted Christian, probably even a carnal Christian. I am still working on areas in my life that are more "stubborn" but I am progressing - I am transforming from an ugly worm to a beautiful butterfly - my dust is being made into diamonds . . . .