Romans 12:1-2 – Transformation of the Mind

Topic: Transformation of the Mind

Reading: Romans 12:1-2

Introduction and Overview

One of the most amazing and powerful aspects of the Christian walk is the transformation of the mind. In reality, what we are talking about is the transformation of the spirit of man within the hearts of believers.

The whole essence of the Christian walk is aiming towards this end. Transformation of the mind to be able to walk and live as Jesus did is what we are all working towards. The gifts of God are all designed to help us in this endeavour also. Every part of the gospel and the work of the New Covenant is aimed at this very purpose.

God established the New Covenant to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. In fact if you go back into Genesis chapter 1, verse 26, we see this aim of God in the process of Creation. Think about this for a minute. At the beginning of Genesis 1:26 it says, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” Here is something to think about. Is man in the “image” of God? Does man reflect exactly the nature of God, being righteous, holy, and pure as He is?

No, man is NOT in God’s image…yet. Currently we are made in the likeness of God, but that is not the same as being in His image. An image is like looking in the mirror. It is an exact replica of the one looking in the mirror. But a “likeness” shows similarities so you can tell one thing is like another, but it is not identical. For instance, if you look at two pine trees, or two dogs of the same breed, they look alike and you know they are similar. But they are not identical. They are not mirror images of each other.

We are currently like God, but we are not images of Him. This is the work of transformation that is occurring in the New Covenant through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Key points from reading:

1. We must be prepared to sacrifice our life and our bodies to God.
2. The sacrifice we offer is that we are to give every part of our life and our physical being up to serve God
3. We are to reject the things of this world that are physical and seek the spiritual things that transform us into the image of Christ. The spiritual things will renew our minds to become the image of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God.

Discussion:

1. Scripture: Romans 12:1
   • Many people in this world believe that life consists only in what they can see, feel, touch, and do. They have no concept of a spiritual dimension that overlays everything in and of this world. They do not realise there are forces of good and evil fighting for our very lives.
   • The devil would keep all mankind in this mindset and have people seek self-satisfaction, self-desire, self-righteousness, hedonism, and seeking the delights and pleasures of this world. The devil aims to keep people bound to the flesh. He wants people to think that the flesh is all important. You see this in how industries like the beauty industry, fitness industry, weigh loss industry, and so on are so powerful. Youth is worshipped these days, and this is the work of the devil to make people think the body and the flesh is all important.
   • It is not. It is the spirit that is most important. As Jesus said, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63) Life is in the spirit, not in the flesh.
   • This is why we must be prepared to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. We must be ready to reject the desires of the flesh for the sake of God. There is no future in seeking the desires of the body as that only leads to death. The life we seek that leads to eternity with God is not through following the flesh, but through following the ways of the Spirit. We must seek the transformation that comes through Jesus Christ and reject the will of the flesh as we walk in Christ.
2. Scripture: Romans 12:2
   • This verse speaks of the need for transformation. It speaks to the need to reject the ways of the world and seeking the ways of the Spirit.
   • This verse explains that the process of transformation occurs through the renewal of the mind. The key to transformation is changing how you think and what you think about.
   • And the best part is that we don’t have to do this alone.
   • God has provided every thing we need to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. God sent His Son to die for us to remove our sins and set us free from the law so that sin would lie dead. As the scripture says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b) And; “Apart from the law sin lies dead.” (Romans 7:8b) The work of Jesus and the death He died established the beginning of the path to life and the work of transformation.
   • The next phase of the process is to receive the Holy Spirit and learn how to walk in the Spirit through the transformation of the mind. This is how we are transformed into the image of Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to transform us, as the scripture says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
   • The walk to perfection through the renewal and transformation of the mind is a lifelong journey. As the scripture above says, we are changed from “one degree of glory to another.” It doesn’t happen overnight. There is much to learn, understand, and know as we travel the path to perfection. And I should add that perfection is the goal as the scripture tells us: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
   • It is by the transformation of the mind that we can then do what this scripture in Romans tells us. We can “…prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Key Takeaways:

1. The aim of the Christian walk is to perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect
2. We come to that place through the renewal and transformation of the mind
3. God has provided us everything we need to receive this transformation of the mind through the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Points

1. Pray and ask God to guide you in understanding His power for the transformation of the mind. Ask Him to reveal to you the steps that lead to transformation of the mind that is available to all people through the Gos pel of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.
2. Thank God that He offers these things free of charge to all who seek Him, so that we will be ready to live with Him and Jesus Christ in His eternal kingdom.