The Renewed Mind

Review

Turn to Ephesians 4:17-24.

The Christians must have a mind that is on guard against the wrong kinds of influences.

Heretical deception

Hypocritical demands

Hopeless diversions

Hindered diligence

Timothy knew that he didn’t have the pedigree of most other Jews. He would be tempted to feel inferior to them, but Paul told him to avoid such thoughts and instead focus on his own spiritual workout and walk with the Lord. Timothy needed to exercise himself unto godliness.

Message

Critics of biblical Christianity have often accused us of having a "flock-like" mentality. We are branded as being cultish and under some kind of "mind-control."

We may be accused of this simply because we point to the Bible as our standard for truth. It’s our authority. We try to avoid letting our personal experiences define what is true or not true.

Many people today allow their own personal experiences to define what is true versus untrue. This is sometimes called “‘existentialism’, that is, each individual creating truth from his own experiences rather than following the absolute Word of God.”

The reality is this: every person is under some kind of “mind control.” Your mind is controlled either by the flesh, or by the Spirit.

Read slowly:

Across the New Testament, we are called to submit to a continual process of renewing. Either we continue to think like we did before we were saved, or we submit to the Holy Spirit, who will renew our minds as we learn and believe the Scriptures.

Read Ephesians 4:17-19.

Next slide here:

A call to reject their old way of thinking - Ephesians 4:17-19.

In verses 17-19, Paul describes the mind of the unsaved. First, it’s empty of anything good and true. It is perverse. It does not receive the truth of God. They cannot comprehend spiritual truth. They are separated from God and from the eternal life that He offers in knowing Him. They are blind and insensitive to God and His ways. The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God.

But notice now what Paul says before he gives this whole description.

Ephesians 4:17 (KJV 1900)

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,

In other words, “Don’t continue thinking like an unsaved person! Don’t think the way that you used to think! Going forward, don’t think that way! That’s not who you are anymore. You’re supposed to think differently because Christ has made you a different person!”

Their mind was no longer empty of the truth. Their mind could receive the truth of God. They could comprehend spiritual truth. They had eternal life now - fellowship with God. They were no longer blind.

So, Paul argues, why would they keep thinking that way?

Application: Christian, has there been a change in your thinking since you’ve been saved? Christ has changed you into a new creature, so it’s time to have a change in your thinking. Your mind is now opened to the truth in a way that it was not when you were unsaved. Therefore, your thinking needs to change. For that to happen, you have to identify the wrong ways that you think and you have to be dissatisfied with it. You must desire a change. Perhaps tonight you need to start paying attention to how you think. Then as you go through your week, be alert for any time that your thinking does not please God.

Next, Paul tells us in this text how the process of change occurs in the Christian. We’ve seen a call to reject their old way of thinking, and secondly…

Next slide here:

A call to submit their thinking to the Spirit’s renewing - Ephesians 4:22-23.

A story is told of the captain of a ship who looked out one night into the darkness and saw a light directly in their path. He instructed his signalman to send a message, "Alter your course ten degrees north." Soon a reply came, "Alter your course ten degrees south." The captain was not happy—his message had been ignored.

He sent a second, "Alter your course ten degrees north. I am a Captain!" The reply came, "Alter your course ten degrees south. I am 3rd Class Seaman Jones." The captain was outraged. He sent a third message knowing the fear it would evoke, "Alter your course ten degrees north. I am a battleship!" The response came, "Alter your course ten degrees south. I am a lighthouse!"

When we are confronted with truth, we can resist and reject it, or we can change our minds. If we choose to reject the truth, that still won’t change the truth. The Holy Spirit desires to take the truth and apply it to renew your mind, but you must be willing to undergo this process.

Read Ephesians 4:22-23.

The english word “renew” is found six times in the New Testament. Here, and most times, it is in the passive voice. Meaning, “renewing” is not something we do to ourselves, it is something done to us.

Next slide here:

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

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.

Next slide here:

2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV 1900

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Next slide here:

Colossians 3:10 KJV 1900

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Next slide here:

Titus 3:5 KJV 1900

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

All of these verses together teach us this truth: we do not renew ourselves. From the instant of salvation, the Holy Spirit renews us day by day as we grow in our personal, intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ. How does that happen? By spending time with Him in the Scriptures.

Application: Christian, do you want a renewed mind? Do you want to think like Christ? The Holy Spirit wants to transform you by the renewing of your mind, but He will not act apart from the Word of God. You must deepen your relationship with Christ. You must saturate your mind with the Scriptures. As you daily discipline yourself to do this, the Holy Spirit will use your growing knowledge of the Lord to work an inner transformation in your life. By His power working in you, you will experience the renewed mind.