Background
“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV
“And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”
Luke 5:36-39 KJV
Good morning Beloved of God. Salvation could have ended at the confession of faith and accepting Christ as Lord and personal savior, but not so. After we have accepted Christ, we need to go on further to renew our minds. Many in this process, seem to rely on their own efforts. Sometimes by so doing, only tend to replace certain things of the old ways with new ways which yet still inhibit the corruptible nature. What does it mean to be renewed and what is the motive for this renewal? Lets’s dive into the Word…
In our first scripture of study, Paul gives a rendition of the subject. Beloved, take a moment to meditate carefully on the wording of the apostle. To be renewed in the Spirit of your mind beginning with, assume you purchase a new computer, or perhaps a secondhand one. Acquiring the product, there is the need to download new software or to get rid of files and programs from the old user in order to install new features. This process of reprogramming, will not change the purpose of the computer. It might enhance the manner in which it is used and make it more effective but it remains a computer. Now assume you go on a cleanse, you are taking all kinds of concussions to clear your body up of all toxins. In this course, you might replace usual meals with juices, which cleanse you from within. However, you might go on to old patterns of meals hereafter. Where am I getting at you might wonder? Renewing your mind is not to be compared with these but is rather a process of transforming, regenerating, and restoring to one’s original form. The Apostle describes further in Romans 12. “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.”
Renewing the mind is to the end that we will be totally transformed. This then truly marks being born again, it is a change in form, nature, or appearance or to re-establish. Not just into any form, but a likeness unto another who cannot be compared to earthen vessels.
When the mind is in this process of renewal, are we replacing old patterns with new ones or receiving a new life? The latter is true, Jesus describes something profound in the second scripture of study. You do not put new garments on the old, nor new wine in old bottles. This had me thinking for a moment, in as much as it also relates to the new covenant, we learn a great deal relating to the topic. You see Beloved, I had a recommendation of new songs I could listen to. Basically from a podcast, I was listening to, a gospel version of hip-pop was recommended, and as I listened to the song it dawned on me. Believers today have not truly been renewed unto transformation. We rather choose to replace what “we” now consider good. The process of renewal is to restore in us, the mind of Christ, a mind after our originator and maker. God desires for us to be made new from the inside out. The old nature as described in Ephesians 4 is darkened, futile, unclean, corrupt, and deceitful. So then trying to replace it with itself depicts the purpose of being born again because we then still hold on to the rhythm of the old nature. This is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed and all things have become new. So the old nature needs to be put off totally, none of its elements should be traceable in us if truly we have been transformed through the renewal of our minds.
So Beloved as we begin this study, allow yourself to be indoctrinated by the very Spirit of Truth. To come to the knowledge according to the image of your Creator( Colossians 3:10). May you receive understanding and humility to be reprogrammed unto transformation.
Great insight. More grace for depths of insight.
The journey to perfection has a beginning point and an end point. It’s starts from birth( new life/born again) and the rest is transformation/renewal until we all attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. God bless you.