New: 30 May 2025
The Transformation
of a Renewed Mind
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
Conformed or Transformed
Our lives are not lived in a vacuum or in isolation. We live among other people. Our environment, to varying degrees, has influence on us. Within a given culture, most people conform to their environment and become like all others. They live according to the common Zeitgeist (spirit of the time). There are cultural norms and values they live by. These are the conformists. Some, however, have different ideas, rebel against the norms of society and break out into alternative lifestyles (if that culture allows that; not all do). These are the non-conformists. And then there are the biblical instructions not to conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in order to understand the will of God (Romans 12:2). We are not to love the world and its pride and sin, but to live for the will of God (1 John 2:15-17). As believers, we too are influenced by the people around us and the culture we live in. Some cultural values, at least the traditional ones in the Western world with its Judeo-Christian heritage, are compatible with biblical values. Some liberal and neoliberal values are not compatible, yet even some Christians accept them as norms. Such people, and even churches, are conforming to the world and its cultural values, rather than being transformed by biblical truth. The truth is, we are either conformed or transformed. We are either conformed to this world or transformed by God. The choice is ours and we must live with the consequences of this choice. We must remember that there is both a culture around us and a culture within us. We must gain clarity according to which values and principles we seek to live.
The Power of Transformation
The power of repentance gives us the opportunity and strategy to change our lives. Repentance is the first step to a changed life (see D10). The next step in this process of transformation is the renewing of our minds. In view of God's great mercy in salvation (Romans 10—11), believers are to present their lives to God as, in the metaphor of Temple worship, a living and holy (set apart) sacrifice as an spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). We are to live for God and seek His purpose for our lives. In addition to this wholehearted dedication to God, believers are to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, rather than conformed to the standards and values of their culture and environment (v 2a). Believers either conform to the cultural norms or are transformed by biblical truth. Believers can live in the world (the culture around them), while living according to the standards of God (the culture within them). We are in this world, yet not of this world (John 17:14) with a citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We not some weird aliens from a different planet, but live according to divine, biblical values in the midst of sin and corruption. We are saved not only from hell (eternity), but also from the corruption of our present age (Acts 2:38-40). We, therefore, we need to learn to live in the power of transformation as children of God, or else we are simply salt that lost its power (Matthew 5:13), i.e., we cannot fulfil our role of moral responsibility in the world (vv 14-16).
The power of transformation is such, that our lives can change by the renewing of our minds. When our thinking changes, when new values are adopted and different habits are established, life changes. It is a choice to change and a process to be transformed. We are 'not to conform to the pattern of this world' (NIV) or 'copy the behavior and customs of this world' (NLT). There is an alternative way to change our lives: by allowing 'God [to] transform you into a new person by changing the way you think' (NLT). The transliteration of The Message puts it as follows: 'Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out' (MSG). All change starts internally. The power of transformation is in the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). There is a metamorphosis, 'the change of moral character for the better' (Strongs, 3339), much like a caterpillar turns into a butterfly! We can choose to remain a caterpillar or turn into a butterfly, figuratively speaking. Do you want your life to change for the better or do you want it to remain the same? The choice is yours; the consequences, too.
The renewing of our minds is necessary in order for us to understand the will of God (Romans 12:2b). Unless there is a renewing of the mind, being transformed by biblical truth, the mind cannot understand the will of God. The natural, carnal mind is set on the things of the flesh, the sinful desires and lustful appetites. It cannot understand God; it won't submit to God's law; and it cannot please God (Romans 8:5-8). Only the spiritually minded can understand God and have 'life and peace' (v 6b). The carnal mind cannot understand the things of the Spirit He reveals to us; they seem foolishness, until we truly understand reality with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-16). As long as we love the world and its pride and lust, we cannot live for the will of God (1 John 2:15-17). We cannot love the sinful things of the world and God at the same time (James 4:4-5), but we can change through humility (vv 6-10). Only as we dedicate our lives to God and allow Him to transform us by the renewing of the mind, can we understand the things of God (Romans 12:1-2). Only by the transformation of the renewing of the spirit of our mind can we embrace newness of life (Ephesians 4:23-24) and turn away from the sinful lifestyles God saved us from (vv 17-22). As we learn to live heavenly-minded, we can appreciate the beautiful things of God (Colossians 3; see Q3) and express the fruit of the Spirit rather than the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-23). The ways of God is true freedom (vv 13-14).
Unless we are renewed in the very heart of our being, change will not materialise. External or superficial change, won't work. A change of environment can be helpful and is sometimes necessary, yet change must go deeper than that: it must be internal. Repeating the same things and doing things the same way, will bring the same results. Albert Einstein observed that it is insanity to keep doing the same things over and over again while expecting different results. We cannot solve problems with the same thinking that created them. New solutions require new thinking patterns. As they say, if you want something you never had, you must do something you have never done. There is power in transformation by the renewing of the mind. We are not to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2), but conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29). We are to be transformed to become like Christ. This transformation is internal, real and powerful.
If you continue in My word,
then you are truly My disciples;
and you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32 NASB
The liberating Power of Truth
Lies are deceptive; they mislead. But the truth sets free! The liberating power of truth for life is in the words of Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is God's Son, the incarnate Logos, the Truth personified. He came to bring us the truth that sets us free. And this liberating truth is in His word. His word of righteousness is 'solid food' for our mind and spirit, the word of God that cuts to the heart, to the very core of our being. His word is powerful to teach us to learn what is good and what is evil, what is pure and what is sinful, and what is right and what is wrong (Hebrews 4:12; 5:13-14). It takes practices and learning, and it takes humility in the process. It is a process of growth, much like a baby first drinks milk and as it grows eats solids. As we grow, we mature in stature, until we reach the maturity of Christ and learn to fulfil our calling in this world (Ephesians 4:12-16).
Whenever Jesus taught and spoke, people were either impressed or offended, yet seldom indifferent. People knew He spoke the truth and was unafraid to do so. He spoke truth to power—to a corrupt elite and paid the ultimate price for it. He confronted the evil and corruption of the proud, yet He was merciful to the humble. He shared the liberating truth with those who humbly received it and were set free by it. He told believing Jews that if they continued in His word, that they would know the truth that sets them free (John 8:31-32). Some of them objected by stating that they were Abraham's descendants and therefore not enslaved, so how can Jesus claim that they are in need of liberation? (v 33). The answer is fundamental to all of humanity, no matter what ethnicity, religion or social standing they have: 'everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin' (v 34). We may live in free societies, although most people don't, yet are enslaved to sin. True freedom is the freedom from sin. No wealth, status or education can buy or achieve freedom from sin. Only the One who died for your sin can set you free from it—Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour of the world. He is the Way to the Father, the Truth that sets you free and the Life that is truly divine, real and eternal. He alone can impart the liberating truth that sets you free. When the Son of God sets you free, you are free indeed (v 36).
The Power of a Renewed Mind
We are called to live according to the will of God, yet how can we live according to it if we don't know it? The power of a renewed mind is the key to understanding God's will and to learning God's ways. The truth will set us free, and the truth is Jesus and is in Jesus. The truth that is in Jesus (Ephesians 4:21) is the liberating truth that can renew our minds and transform our lives (vv 22-24). People put away lies that deceive and embrace the truth in thought and speech (v 25). Forgiveness is part of being truly free and no longer living under the demonic influence of bitterness and resentment (vv 26-27). That's transformation! The thief no longer steals, but works to provide for himself or herself and contributes to the needs of others (v 28). Instead of being someone who takes, he or she is now someone who gives. That's transformation! A renewed mind will bring forth uncorrupted speech that serves to edify others (v 29). Instead of breaking others down, we build them up. That's transformation! We learn to appreciate the Holy Spirit who was given to us as a gift and for redemption, and no longer grieve Him by doing sinful, evil things (v 30). We do what is pleasing before God, not what pleases our selfish, sinful desires. That's transformation! Bitterness, wrath, anger, gossip, slander and malice no longer hold our hearts a prisoner of sin (v 31). Instead, we are liberated to speak that which is beautiful and good. We realise that life and death are in the power of the tongue and loving life means to speak appropriately (Proverbs 18:21; Psalm 34:12-16; 1 Peter 3:10-12; see E7). We meditate on that which is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, good, excellent and praise worthy (Philippians 4:8). We learn to speak to others for their edification and be kind in everything we do (Ephesians 4:32a). We forgive others as we were forgiven (v 32b). Forgiveness towards others shows that we understood what God has forgiven us in Christ (v 32b). That's transformation!
The renewed mind learns to understand the will of God as believers are dedicated to (Romans 12:1-2). We learn to think of ourselves in appropriate ways, neither inflated nor degraded. The renewed mind is a healthy mind that can think soberly about oneself (v 3). We learn to live in community and partnership with others, no longer in competition with unhealthy ambitions (like in the world), and serve others according to the gifts God has given us (vv 4-8). That's transformation! The renewed mind liberates us to love without hypocrisy as it is free from evil and selfishness, but rather guided by what is good (v 9). From our heart flow all issues of life, hence we must guard it with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Speech and action come from the heart (Matthew 12:34). Renewing the mind gives us a set of new values and a shift in thinking. Such transformation changes the way we live and treat others. People learn to be kind and affectionate, giving honour to others (v 10), rather than pushing others down by selfish ambitions and seeking honour for themselves. We do what is right because it's right. We do things alone and in private before God, who alone chooses when and how to reward us (Matthew 6:1-6). We don't live and serve God with pride in our hearts and desire to be heard and seen. We don't 'fake until we make it' by showing off in public what we are not in private. We know God in an intimate and genuine way and know He hears and sees us. That's transformation!
The renewed mind is diligent, not lazy; fervent, not lacking zeal; serving the Lord and His people, not seeking to be served (Romans 12:11). It follows the dignified example of Jesus who came to serve, not to be served, and give His life for others (Mark 10:45). There is no greater love than selfless service for others (John 15:13). We are to serve others as He served (1 John 3:16-17), expressing 'faith working through love' (Galatians 5:6) and 'through love serve one another' (v 13) in fulling the royal law (v 14). We go the 'extra mile' in service of others. We are to walk as Christ walked (1 John 2:6), because we are called to become like Him (Romans 8:29). We are not to be conformed to the world, but transformed into the image of Jesus!
The renewed mind also learns strategies to handle suffering in the right way: 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer' (Romans 12:12; cf., D13). Combining these three aspects in our life is a powerful tool to handle the reality of trials and tribulations (James 1:2-12; see D15). We cannot escape suffering, but we can learn to handle it right by following the example of Christ (see D14). We learn to continue in doing good (Romans 12:13), rather than becoming resentful when life is tough or has been unfair. We seek unity with others, associate with the humble (to avoid pride) and show compassion with those who mourn, while we also rejoice in others' well-being and victories in life (vv 15-16). There is no room for jealousy or resentment when others do well. Those who can't clap when others win, have some serious issues to deal with. Jealousy and ambitions are not of God; humility and honour are. We bless when persecuted, we don't curse in retaliation (v 14). We won't repay evil with evil, but stay focused on what is good and right (v 17). We seek to live in peace with others, as much as it depends on us (v 18). We don't avenge, but leave the aspect of judgment to the One who judges righteously (v 19). We do good, even to our enemies when we get the opportunity (v 20), and in this way make sure we are not overcome by evil (by becoming evil and doing evil), but we overcome evil by doing good (v 21). That's transformation! This is the power of a transformed mind. This is a changed life that lives in the will of God.