Tag: What Does a Renewed Mind Look Like? Romans 12

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Tag:  How Do We Know We Have Renewed Our Mind?

In the above text we read that we are to develop a changing mindset ... one quite different than the world.  The believer is to “renew” their mind and make sure it is NOT conformed to this world’s way of thinking!!   Paul outlines how to do that in his letter to the church at Corinth.  He tells them that the arguments and lofty (imaginative) opinions they have may often run contrary to God’s way of thinking.  When that happens we have to use the power God gives us to “destroy” that old mindset and rebuild a new mind, fashioned after the “knowledge” of God.  Note:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

In the above text from Romans, we see what a new mind looks like.  Paul says that if we renew our mind we will be able to “discern” what is “good and acceptable and perfect.”   The mind that is changed by God’s Spirit via God’s Word is a mind that is able to discern and make choices that are:

1). Good - this is the Greek word agathos.  It is something that is produced by Spirit - one of the fruit of the Sprit is “goodness.”  It means that which is gentlemanly or proper conduct.  

2). Acceptable - this is the Greek word euarestos.  Paul just used this word in Romans 12:1.  It states that since we have been justified by God we present our bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable” to God.   In order to present our bodies holy and acceptable we have to know and discern what that is.  It is making choices that please God.   

3). Perfect - this is the Greek word teleios.  It means that we are aiming for “moral excellence.”   We are not willing to accept a knock off brand of our faith.  

When we have a renewed mind we have discernment and that discernment is evident by us making choices that demonstrate proper conduct based upon a desire to be pleasing to God via a walk that is morally excellent.   That is a renewed mind.  This is what is happening inside of us by the work of the Spirit as we yield to Him in our lives.