The Renewing Of The Mind

Temple Baptist Church - 1-26-2011

Ephesians 4:17-24

Introduction:

A. The verses tonight show a contrast between the “old man” and the “new man” or the two natures of the saved. The natural man or the lost man has only one nature and that is a sin nature. The saved man has two natures: the natural or old nature and the new nature that comes with salvation. Thus, we have the natural man (who is lost), the carnal man (who is saved but worldly), and the spiritual man (who is saved and living a consistent life for Christ). The natural man cannot be a spiritual man and the spiritual man cannot be a natural man but the spiritual man can be a carnal man.

B. Verses 17-19 show the relationship between the natural man’s walk and the natural man’s mind.

1. The Vanity of their Minds. Vain: not yielding the right outcome or of no avail.

2. The Darkness of their Minds. The absence of the light or illumination of God is the perpetual state of the unsaved man’s mind.

3. The Ignorance of their Minds. The natural man cannot discern or know spiritual truth.

4. These are the results of the condition of their Hearts.

C. When salvation comes, then comes the struggle between the old and new natures. In verses 20-21, we find a clear contrast between the philosophy and teaching of this world and that of Christ. “Ye have not so learned Christ!”

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

D. We that are saved have both the Word of God and the Spirit of God! We are now “taught of God” how to live in this world and still be a light in the darkness of sin. Before our salvation, we were under the controlling influence of the world. Now, we find that the saved man’s spiritual walk and the renewing of his mind work hand-in-hand. Between the putting off of the old man and the putting on of the new man is the renewing of the mind.

E. I want to look at the mind for a few minutes tonight. This is not going to be a complete study of the mind for that could not be done in one sermon but some things that will help us to “put off the old man” and to “put on the new man.”

1. There Must Be A Renewing Our Minds - Romans 12:2 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. ( To make over! The world’s philosophy has molded the minds of the lost. They are blinded by the “god of this world” into thinking as the world thinks. Outcome based education shows both the process and results of satanic thinking. The teacher now gives a “s” or a “u” instead of A, B, C, D, or F. There is no longer the point system of grading that we used in our childhood. Children and adults are being programed to accept sodomy, adultery, etc. as acceptable lifestyles. Our minds have to be “renewed” or made over again by the Word of God so that we will think right. Otherwise, we become conformed to this world.)

2. We Must Gird Up The Loins Of Our Minds - 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (To bind up in order to protect. Weight lifters [serious ones] wear a belt around the waist. It is tightly wrapped in order to protect both the back and the loins. A “loose mind” is one that tends to wander from the things of God. As frontlets keep the mule’s mind upon his business, so the girding of our minds keep our minds on God’s business.)
3. We Must Pattern Our Minds After Christ - Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. (A mind of humility, obedience, and service. Philippians 2 speaks of the incarnation, obedience, and sacrifice of Christ for us. We are to have this same mind. Humilty or know just who and what we are; obedience, being doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves; and sacrifice, giving our lives in Christ’s service. Heavenly minded instead of earthly minded.)

4. We Must Learn To Capture The Imaginations Of Our Minds – 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (As children, we were taught to let our imaginations flourish. We had little in the way of toys when I was young so we made use of our imaginations. This was not a bad thing. Not all imaginations are sinful. As we grew older, we continued to entertain ourselves by letting our minds drift into a world of imagination. It is a departure from the real world; an escape mechanism; and is dangerous spiritually. We are to cast down and bring into captivity every thought that is contrary to sound doctrine and our obedience to God.)

5. Learn To Quench The Fiery Darts of the Devil - Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Our minds are constantly “bombarded” with carnal thoughts. The word “quench” means to extinguish. One of the best ways to put out a spark of fire is with a good dousing of water! The shield of faith: faith coupled with the Word of God. Believing what God has said and immediately putting away the temptation to sin.)

6. We Must Arm Our Minds Against Hardships - 1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. (This world is hard! In our generation, we have become accustomed to a life of comfort. We expect everything to work out right and are “floored” when things go wrong. We are to endure hardness as good soldiers. When you know that life is hard, you can make it! We can grit our teeth, set our jaws, fix our eyes, and withstand everything that the world throws at us. Toughness is a state of the mind! Ron. We need to arm our minds with a spiritual toughness that we are going to take all that Satan can throw at us and, through the power of the Spirit, come out of our hardships better instead of bitter.)

Conclusion: The battle that we looked at tonight is an old one. We find the fiery darts of Satan in the beginning as he turned the thoughts of Eve from the revealed will of God. Paul gives us a little glimpse into his personal battle with the flesh as he was continually tempted to give into to its sinfulness.

Romans 7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.