A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

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. 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.

Theme of

Romans (King James Version) C. Paul’s Boldness for Christ: Being Unashamed of the Gospel, 1:16–17

(1:16–17) Introduction: these two verses contain one of the greatest summaries of the gospel ever written. It is a clear declaration of God’s power to save all who believe, no matter their nationality or condition. It is a clear explanation of why Paul was never ashamed of the gospel.

1. It is the good news from God Himself (v. 16).

2. It is the power of God to save (v. 16).

3. It is the revelation of God’s righteousness (v. 17).

(1:16–18) Another Outline: The Power or Urgency of the Gospel.

1. It saves (v. 16).

2. It reveals the righteousness of God (v. 17).

3. It makes possible a life of faith (v. 17).

4. It delivers from the wrath of God (v. 18).

Romans (King James Version) A. God’s Case against All Ungodliness and Wickedness of Men (Part 1): Why God Shows Wrath, 1:18–23

A. God’s Case Against All Ungodliness and Wickedness of Men (Part 1): Why God Shows Wrath, 1:18–23

(1:18–3:20) DIVISION OVERVIEW: the teaching of this whole passage can be summarized into three points.

1. Men who sin bring upon themselves the judgment of God. They need God’s righteousness (Ro. 1:18–2:16).

2. Men without the law, the heathen, are taught by nature and conscience. However, they have sinned by falling short of the standard of righteousness given to them (Ro. 1:18–32). Similarly, the moralist and self-righteous who have the law have sinned by falling short of their standard of righteousness: the law (Ro. 2:1–3:8).

3. Therefore, all the world becomes guilty before God (Ro. 3:19) and needs God’s righteousness (Ro. 3:9–20).

(1:18–23) Introduction: the message of this passage is perfectly clear: why God reveals and executes wrath upon men.

1. Men are subjects of God’s wrath (v. 18).

2. Men reject that within them: conscience and thoughts (v. 19).

3. Men reject that without them: the signs of creation (v. 20).

4. Men do not honor God nor give thanks (v. 21).

5. Men become prideful and turn away from God (vv. 22–23).

Romans 2 KJV 1900

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Theme of

To the Jews

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Theme of

Speaks to them both. Levels the playing field.

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans (King James Version) A. The Believer and God, 12:1–2

A. The Believer and God, 12:1–2

(12:1–2) Introduction: the believer is to be devoted to God. Everything he is and has is to be dedicated to the worship and service of God. Anything less than total devotion is short of God’s glory: it is sin. Therefore, when discussing the believer’s relationship to God, Scripture is strong in its exhortation. Without equivocation, Scripture urges total devotion.

1. Give your devotion, your energy, your thoughts to God (v. 1).

2. Present your bodies to God (v. 1).

3. Do not be conformed to this world (v. 2).

4. Be cleansed, transformed (v. 2).

1 (12:1) Dedication—Commitment: the believer is to give his devotion, energy, and thoughts to God. The word therefore launches a new subject for discussion. It connects what is about to be said to what has been said. What has been said is this:

⇒ The world desperately needs to get right with God (Ro. 1:18–3:20).

⇒ The way for the world to get right with God is now clearly revealed through God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The way is justification: believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and having God count one’s faith as righteousness (Ro. 3:21–5:21).

⇒ The believer in Christ can now be sanctified, that is, set apart to God and set free from sin to life eternal by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit (Ro. 6:1–8:39).

⇒ The believer or the church, not Israel, is now God’s choice to carry the gospel of His Son to the whole world (Ro. 9:1–11:36).

This is the glorious message of how much God loves us and of what God has done for us. This is what is meant by “the mercies of God.” The mercies of God are overflowing; they are beyond anything any person could ever desire. Just think about what God has done for us. God has …

• met our desperate need to get right with Him

• provided the power to be set free from the terrible bondages of this life and to live eternally

• given the most glorious purpose to life: that of proclaiming the news of God’s Son, of how to be set free from sin and death and to live eternally

Therefore, in light of the mercies of God, of all this that God has done for us, we must devote ourselves to God. We must dedicate and commit ourselves to Him.

Note the words I beseech you (parakaleo)—implore you, urge you, beg you—devote yourselves to God. Note a significant point: what is about to be said is not being said to the world, that is, to the lost. It is being directed to brothers in Christ: “I beseech you therefore, brethren.” Devotion to God is strongly urged. The believer is to do the things covered in the next three points of the outline.

2 (12:1) Body—Dedication: the believer is to present his body to God. The importance of the human body cannot be overstated. The one thing upon earth that is abused more than anything else is man’s body. Man abuses, neglects, and ignores his body …

• by overeating

• by becoming inactive

• by being too active

• by cursing, fighting, and killing

• by partaking of harmful substances

• by caring for the external abusing the internal

• by getting too much or too little rest

The list could go on and on, but just the mention of these few sins clearly strikes the point home. If there is an exhortation in Scripture that must be heeded by Christian believers, it is the exhortation of these two verses.

a. The believer is to present his body as a living sacrifice to God. Note three facts.

1) God demands the believer’s body. God is not only interested in man’s spirit; He is vitally interested in man’s body. His interest could not be any stronger nor made any clearer. This is clearly seen by contrasting the world’s view of the body with God’s view (see DEEPER STUDY # 1, Body—Ro. 12:1 for discussion).

2) The believer is to present his body to God. The dedication …

• is not to be made to self: living as one wishes; doing one’s own thing

• is not to be made to others: living for family, wife, husband, child, parent, mistress, companion, sexual partner, or employer

• is not to be to something else: houses, lands, property, money, cars, possessions, profession, recreation, retirement, luxury, power, recognition, fame

The body is to be offered to God and to God alone. God demands the body, demands that it be presented to Him. God wants the body to be sacrificially living for Him.

3) The believer is to present his body to God as a living sacrifice. Note the believer’s offering of his body is to be sacrificial. This is the picture of Old Testament believers taking animals and offering them to God as sacrifices. The believer is to make the same kind of sacrificial offering to God, but note the profound difference. The believer’s offering is not to be the sacrifice of an animal’s flesh and blood. The offering and sacrifice of the believer is to be his body: he is to offer his body as a living sacrifice. A living sacrifice means at least four things.

⇒ A living sacrifice means a constant, continuous sacrifice, not just an occasional dedication of one’s body. A person does not sacrifice his body to God today and then take his body back into his own hands and do his own thing tomorrow. A living sacrifice means that a person dedicates his body to live for God and to keep on living for God.

⇒ A living sacrifice means a sacrifice of a person’s body wherever the body is. A particular place is not needed. The sacrifice of the body is a living sacrifice; it can be made while the body is living right where it is. And the offering of a living sacrifice is to be made right now while the body is living.

⇒ A living sacrifice means that the body sacrifices its own desires and lives for God. The body lives a holy, righteous, pure, clean, and moral life for God. The body does not pollute, dirty, nor contaminate itself with the sins and corruptions of the world: neither the lust of the flesh, nor the lust of the eyes, nor the pride of life. The believer’s body is sacrificed for God and dedicated to live as He commands.

⇒ A living sacrifice means that the body lives for God by serving God. It means that the body sacrifices and gives up its own ambitions and desires, and it serves God while upon this earth. The body gives itself to the work of proclaiming the love of God and of ministering to a world reeling in desperate needs. The body sacrifices itself to serve God and Him alone. The body is dedicated to God as a living sacrifice.

In summary, the believer is to dedicate his body to God as a living sacrifice in the home, church, school, office, plant, field, restaurant, club, plane, car or bus. No matter where the believer’s body is, his body is to be sacrificed for God. Sacrificing to God is not something that is transacted in a church. Sacrificing to God is transacted in every act of the human body. The world, that is, the whole universe, is the sanctuary of God; and the believer’s body is the temple of God. Therefore, every act of the believer’s body is to be an act of service to God.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Co. 6:20).

b. The reasons why the believer is to present his body to God are twofold.

1) The dedication of the body to God is acceptable (euareston) to God. The word means well-pleasing, approving, and extremely satisfying to God. God accepts, joys, and rejoices over a body that is dedicated and living for Him.

Thought 1. This is the very thing for which believers should seek: to be acceptable and well-pleasing to God. We should seek to cause Him to joy and to rejoice in our bodies. Our bodies should be so dedicated—so pure, holy, and clean, so committed, and involved in helping people—that God’s heart is just flooded with joy and rejoicing.

Thought 2. Note: the believer’s body is either causing God’s heart to feel pain and hurt or joy and rejoicing.

“Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him” (2 Co. 5:9).

2) The dedication of the body to God is the believer’s reasonable service.

⇒ The word reasonable (logiken) means rational, intelligent, logical. It is an act of the mind thinking and figuring out what and how to do something.

⇒ the word service (latpeian) means worship, ministry.

The idea is that the believer is to use his mind in dedicating his body to the service of God. He is to study the Scriptures, and intelligently think about how to best serve God as he walks through life day by day.

Thought 1. Note how this indicates a worship time in God’s Word and in prayer every day. The believer must be constantly seeking to know what is allowed and what is not allowed for his body. The believer’s body must know what it can eat, drink, and do; therefore, rational and intelligent study and decisions must be made about what to allow the body to do. (What an enormous difference from the way most of us conduct our lives and treat our bodies in this life!)

Romans (King James Version) A. The Believer and God, 12:1–2

3 (12:2) Conformed—World—Worldliness: the believer is not to be conformed to this world.

a. The word conformed (sunschematizo) comes from the root word schema which means fashion, the outward form, the appearance of a man. It is the appearance of a person that changes from day to day and year to year. A man dresses differently for work than he does for an evening out. A man looks different as a young man than he does as an older man. His schema, his fashion, his outward appearance differs.

b. The word world (aion) in the simplest of terms means the world itself and everything in it, for it is all corruptible. The world, including the heavens and earth and all therein, is aging, deteriorating and dying; and it will pass away. The world is not perfect: not in being, order, morality, or justice.

c. The believer is not to be conformed to this world. Now note something: the world, the very fashion and appearance of the world …

• seems to be lasting, permanent, and unending

• seems to offer the very best of everything: pleasure, enjoyment, happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, completeness

However, the fashion and appearance of the world is a lie, a mask, a masquerade. Even the very spirit of the world has within it the seed of corruption. The seed of corruption is seen in the acts of the world and its nature, in the terrible spirit of …

• selfishness

• greed

• anger

• hatred

• bitterness

• ungodliness

• savagery

• division

• war

• deceitfulness

• suffering

• conflict

• ignorance

• deterioration

• death

• sickness

• disease

• cursing

• pride

• disorder

• decay

Note two significant facts, facts that desperately need to be heeded by the world as well as by believers.

1) The world itself and everything in it shall pass away.

“The fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Co. 7:31).

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Co. 4:18).

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pe. 3:10–14; see vv. 3–14).

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 Jn. 2:17).

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Re. 21:1).

“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish” (Is. 24:4).

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (He. 9:27).

“But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away” (Js. 1:10).

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (Js. 4:14).

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away” (1 Pe. 1:24).

“For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding” (1 Chr. 29:15).

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope” (Jb. 7:6).

“Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good” (Jb. 9:25).

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity” (Ps. 39:5).

“Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish” (Ps. 49:12).

“For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again” (Ps. 78:39).

“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed” (Ps. 102:25–26).

“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Ps. 103:14).

“As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” (Ps. 103:15–16).

“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” (Is. 2:22).

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass” (Is. 40:6–7).

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Is. 64:6).

2) The believer is not to conform, that is, fashion himself after the world …

• not to follow the fellowship of the world

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Co. 6:17–18).

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Js. 4:4).

“And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against” (Lu. 2:34).

• not to follow the fashion and lusts of the world

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 Jn. 2:15–16).

“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance” (1 Pe. 1:14).

• not to follow the course of this world

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ep. 2:2).

• not to follow the god of this world, Satan

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Co. 4:4).

• not to follow the leaders of this world

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Co. 2:6–8).

• not to follow the false security of the world

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24:38–39).

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Th. 5:2–3).

• not to follow after the deceitful riches of this world

“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he become unfruitful” (Mt. 13:22).

• not to live in pleasure on earth

“Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter” (Js. 5:5).

• not to follow the crowd of the world

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Ex. 23:2).

4 (12:2) Transformed—Mind: the believer is to be transformed (metamorphousthe). The Greek root of the word is morphe. Morphe means the real being of a man. It is the very nature and essence, the inseparable part, the unchanging shape of a man. The man in evening clothes looks different than he does in work clothes, but he is still the same man inwardly. The elderly man is the same man inwardly that he was as a young man.

What the Bible is saying is clearly evident: the believer must undergo a radical change within his inner being in order to escape the world and its doom. The believer must be transformed and changed inwardly. His real self—his very nature, essence, personality, inner being, his inner man—must be changed.

a. How is a man transformed within his inner person? The Bible declares as simply as can be stated, “by the renewing of your mind.” The believer’s mind is to be renewed (anakainosis), which means to be made new, readjusted, changed, turned around, regenerated.

1) The mind of man has been affected by sin. It desperately needs to be renewed. The mind is far from perfect. It is basically worldly, that is …

• selfish

• self-centered

• self-seeking

• centered on this world

• centered on the flesh

• centered on this life

Scripture is clear about the corruption of man’s mind. The human mind has been tragically corrupted by man’s selfishness and sin.

⇒ Man’s mind has become vain, empty, and futile in its imaginations.

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Ro. 1:21).

⇒ Man’s mind has become reprobate.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Ro. 1:28).

⇒ Man’s mind has become carnal and full of enmity against God.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Ro. 8:7).

⇒ Man’s mind has become blinded by Satan lest it believe the glorious gospel of Christ.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Co. 4:4).

⇒ Man’s mind has become full of vanity, futility, emptiness.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of the mind” (Ep. 4:17).

⇒ Man’s mind has become focused upon earthly things.

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Ph. 3:18–19).

⇒ Man’s mind has become alienated from God and an enemy to God.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Col. 1:21).

⇒ Man’s mind has become fleshly.

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind” (Col. 2:18).

⇒ Man’s mind has become defiled.

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Tit. 1:15).

2) The mind is renewed by the presence and the image of Christ in the life of the believer. When a person receives the Lord Jesus Christ as His Lord, the man is spiritually …

• born again (Jn. 3:3–8; 1 Pe. 1:23)

• made into a new man (Ep. 4:24; Col. 3:10)

• made into a new creature (2 Co. 5:17)

• given the mind of Christ (1 Co. 2:16; see vv. 9–15)

• changed into the image of Christ (2 Co. 3:18; see Ro. 8:29; 1 Co. 15:49; Col. 3:10; 1 Jn. 3:2)

What this means is a most wonderful truth, and it is easily seen. When a person receives Jesus Christ into his life, he receives the mind and the image of Christ as well. Christ places His mind into the believer’s mind; that is, Christ changes the believer’s mind to focus upon God. In addition, He stamps His image upon the person. Whereas the believer’s mind and image used to be centered upon the world, they are now centered upon spiritual matters. The believer’s mind and image are renewed, changed, turned around, and regenerated to focus upon God. However, it is critical to remember that only Christ can renew the human mind and image. Only Christ can implant the mind and image of Christ within a person. Only Christ can give His thoughts and the spirit to live out His thoughts to a person.

3) The believer is to live a transformed life; that is, he is to walk day by day renewing his mind more and more. He is to allow the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) to focus his mind more and more upon God and spiritual things.

⇒ The believer is to love the Lord with all his mind.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Mt. 22:37).

⇒ The believer is to keep his mind upon spiritual things, not carnal things.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Ro. 8:5–6).

⇒ The believer is to cast down imaginations and every thought that interrupts his knowledge of God and to captivate every thought for Christ.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Co. 10:3–5).

⇒ The believer is not to let his mind be corrupted.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Co. 11:3).

⇒ The believer is not to fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind.

“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ep. 2:3).

⇒ The believer is not to walk as the world walks, in the vanity of their mind.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind” (Ep. 4:17).

⇒ The believer is to be renewed in the spirit of his mind.

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ep. 4:23).

⇒ The believer is to let the mind of Christ be in him by walking humbly before God and men.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Ph. 2:5).

⇒ The believer is to think only upon the things of praise and virtue.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Ph. 4:8).

⇒ The believer is to live by the laws of God which God has put into his mind.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (He. 8:10).

⇒ The believer is to arm himself with the same mind as Christ in bearing suffering.

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (1 Pe. 4:1).

b. The reason why the believer is to be transformed is extremely significant. The believer must prove (dokimazo) the will of God. The word prove means both to find and to follow God’s will. This is certainly understandable. If a person’s mind is not renewed and focused upon God …

• How can the person ever find or discover or know the will of God?

• How can the person ever follow or obey or do the will of God?

The only conceivable way a person can ever find and follow God’s will is to focus and keep his mind upon God and upon the things of God.

Note also how the will of God is described. Meditating upon the threefold description stirs a person to crave after God’s will. God’s will is said to be …

• good (agathon): beneficial, rich, bountiful, suitable, moral

• acceptable (euareston): pleasing, satisfactory, welcomed

• perfect (teleion): without error or mistake, flawless, complete, absolute, free from any need, short of nothing, completely fulfilled

In summary, victory over the world is gained by the believer’s renewing his mind more and more. The believer must focus his mind upon God and the things of God. He must …

• focus His mind upon living and moving and having his being in God

• learn to concentrate upon God and the things of God

• mentally practice the presence of God

Very practically, the believer must do exactly what Scripture says. Note the clarity and life-changing instructions in these passages. What an enormous impact is made upon lives when they actually follow the Word of God in these instructions!

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Ph. 4:8).

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Co. 10:5).

“Attend upon the Lord without distraction” (1 Co. 7:35).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Is. 26:3).

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Ro. 8:6).