This teaching comes from the King James Bible, and every verse I quote is from the KJV. These are my own convictions from the Word of God, shared through The Prevailing Word of God ministry, and they do not speak for any local church.
Prescriptive
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Colossians 2:8, KJV
In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns those who belong to God through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. They must not think, live, or behave according to the values and reasoning of an unredeemed world. Scripture says that those apart from Christ have “the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18). The god of this world has also blinded their minds, lest “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The unredeemed mind is shaped by philosophy and vain deceit. It follows the tradition of men and the rudiments of this fallen world rather than Christ. Romans 8:7 explains that “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” First Corinthians 2:14 adds that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The problem, therefore, goes deeper than a lack of education or information. Without the gracious work of God, the human mind cannot receive or understand the things of God.
Scripture also shows how God’s redeemed people learn to think, live, and behave differently. Believers have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ” and “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:19, 23). God does not simply tell His people to try harder to think differently. He transforms them from within through His Word and by the power of His Spirit.
Romans 12:2 commands believers, “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The purpose is that they “may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The Christian mind is renewed as the Word of God reshapes our thinking. The Holy Spirit then applies that truth to our lives. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to “put off” the “old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” We are to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” and to “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Glory to God.
The world works to shape the mind through its philosophies, values, traditions, desires, and deception. God renews the believer’s mind through His truth and by His Spirit. This renewing is the fruit of the new life God gives to everyone saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Christian life, therefore, requires more than outward religious behavior. God calls us to let His Word correct our thinking and expose error. His Word reshapes our desires and brings our minds more and more into agreement with Him.
There is much more that could be said. My prayer is that these Scriptures will encourage you to seek God. Let the transforming power of His Word and Spirit renew your mind. May our thoughts, desires, attitudes, decisions, and conduct increasingly reflect the truth and character of God. May it all be to His glory, in the loving and redemptive name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Amen.
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Salvation is only through a personal relationship with God the Father by grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. At the moment of faith in Jesus Christ, the believer is instantly and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates, seals, leads, guides, empowers, and sanctifies the believer in their walk with God.
Prescriptive
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-21, KJV
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