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When a person realizes his need of God and decides to repent of his sins
and asks the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and live there, that
person is saved from hell by the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for
us on the Cross at Calvary. After this happens the Lord begins to do a
work in us and the Bible says we become a new creation.
Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
All
of your old ways are passed away and we begin to live a new life in
Christ. One of the the "new" things is our minds. Our minds must
be renewed to live a good Christian life. What exactly does it mean to
"renew our minds"?
Renewing of the mind happens after salvation. It is not just an addition
of information. It is a total transformation from the way we think. It is
easy to read our Bibles and knowledge with no reformation. In order to be
transformed by the renewing of our minds, we have to apply the knowledge
we receive from the Lord. Being "religious" will not transform
us nor renew our minds. Religion will guide us through the old mindset.
What would be a good example of renewing of the mind?
You may have gone to the store and after you got home, you realized the
clerk had accidently put something in your bag that you did not pay for.
Before you were saved, in your old way of thinking, you would not have
thought anything of it; in fact, you may have even rejoiced at their
misfortune. But now you are following Christ and the Holy Spirit now
dwells in you. You have been studying God's Word and you know that if you
keep the merchandise without paying for it, it is stealing. Your mind has
been renewed to think differently by the transformation taking place in
you by the Holy Spirit and the reading of God's Word and the application
of it in your life. Because of this transformation within you, you
will want to do right before God and you will not be able to keep the
merchandise without paying for it. Your new heart and your new mind knows
it is not God's way and it is stealing.
A true follower of Christ will renew their minds so they can be
transformed into the image of Christ.
Why not think of your own life? Are there any areas of your life that have
not been transformed because you have not allowed your mind to be renewed
in that area? Maybe you are struggling with a particular area and are
wondering why the struggle. Could it be that your way of thinking may be
wrong in that area? Why not renew your mind by meditating on God's Word
and placing your complete faith in what Christ did for you at the Cross? A
renewed mind will bring transformation into the image of Christ. Then when
you are faced with a situation you will easily be able to say: "What
would Jesus do", and your renewed mind and transformed heart will be
able to handle things that will bring honor and glory to your Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Before you know it you will sense the peace that
passes all understanding.
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