The Renewed Mind

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

In a sermon, John Piper said, “We are perfectly useless as Christ-exalting Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us.” Paul tells us in the book of Romans that the key is to be transformed. The word in Romans 12 “transformed” is the same as the word “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2, And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. The point is, nonconformity to the world not only means an avoidance of worldly behavior but a change spiritually also. We can avoid or stop participating in all kinds or a long list of “sinful” behaviors but still not have a transformation on the inside.

The world gives a “to-do list” of fleshly desires. Becoming a Christian does not mean to exchange your worldly list for a “to-do list of the law”. If we try to keep the letter of the law within ourselves we will fail.

The transformation takes place on the inside and the inside transformation affects the outside. The transformation is blood bought. The transformation is Spirit led. The transformation is so profound that it begins on the inside and bubbles out. It is a transformation on the inside that others see in what we do, what we say and where we go.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17

John Piper also said, “You are free in Christ, because when you do from the inside what you love to do, you are free—if what you love to do is what you ought to do. And that’s what transformation means: When you are transformed in Christ you love to do what you ought to do. That’s freedom.”

Transformation will happen on the inside but can’t help but affect the outside. When Moses descended the mountain after being in God’s presence and receiving the 10 commandments, the people saw a physical difference. When Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34:30

Just like Moses, those around will “see” the difference in our lives. Your transformation will be the greatest witness you can have. The sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone.Exodus 34:35

Let your light shine!