The Renewed Mind
Peter preaches on the renewed mind. Once a man is born again, he is translated from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of light. That kingdom has it own culture and currency. The believer’s new citizenship impels his to please his new king, one who selflessly gave himself to save those in darkness. The believer with a renewed mind is a believer who consciously seeks the aims of his new kingdom.
Notes
Romans 12:1–2 – bodies a living sacrifice – “sacrifice” is singular
Ephesians 4:23 – and be renewed in the spirit of your mind
Ephesians 5:10 – proving what is pleasing to the Lord
make a critical examination, put to the test, prove
Ephesians 5:17 – have an intelligent grasp of what the will of the Lord is
Ordinary message: “feed on the Word” and it is left open-ended
How You Once Lived
Ephesians 2:1–3 – You were dead in trespasses and sins. You walked (lived) according to the age of this kosmos, according to the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit that now works (animates) the sons of unbelief. Lived in the passions of the flesh, following the desires of the body and the “thoughts” just like everyone else – “like the rest of mankind.”
Born From Above
John 3:1–16 –Jesus says, “Born from above.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 –If any man be in Christ—new creation!
Colossians 1:13 – who hath delivered us from the dominion of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son. We are living in a new kingdom – citizenship, currency, aims, purposes, a king who gave himself over for us.
Living as Mere Men
1 Corinthians 3:1–3 – For still carnal you are, for since among [there is] jealousy and strife, not carnal are you? and according to a man walk?
Meatheads
Colossians 3:9–11 – and having put on the new man, which is recreated in the knowledge according to him who created it. This is part of the renewing of the mind, putting on the new man, being renewed in knowlege after the image of its creator. You carry him with you – as himself and as yourself (made in his image).
Foreigners and Strangers
John 8:23 – “You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world [κοσμος]. I am not of this world.” Jesus did not fall in with them. He recognized the clear distinction.
1 John 2:16 – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life – this is what the world [κοσμος] is after; moral and spiritual impulses on how to live; “Bios” – occupational/social status – it is what is passing away
1 Peter 2:9–12 – as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul
We have a different outlook from 1 John 2:16 – different motivations. We are aliens in a foreign land.
Romans 6:11–13 - reemphasizes Peter’s injunction, directive.
Different Motivations
Romans 12:1–2 – Sons of unbelief don’t offer their bodies as a living sacrifice
Philippians 3:18–20 – enemies of the cross whose god is their belly. Your flesh’s passions mastered you. Now: The things that motivated us, animated us, no longer do so. We are about a different kingdom. Sounds rough, but these are spiritual realities, not social niceties. Sin is deadly and it is serious. Otherwise, Jesus wouldn’t have had to offer himself up.
Galatians 6:7–9 – An unregenerate man cannot sow to the Spirit. He is spiritually dead, a corpse. The church has majored on identification with Christ with regard to authority. Believers need to understand their identification with Christ vis-a-vis the world.
1 Cor 1:23 – We preach a crucified Christ. Laying your life down for the will of the Father, for Jesus, for the kingdom.
Galatians 6:14 – Not only do you no longer know anyone “according to the flesh.” The κοσμος has been crucified to you. It is dead to you. Why try to revive it? What’s the purpose?
You belong to a kingdom where the Spirit leads – Acts 16:7
Because Paul has been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:19), the cross is a barrier of which the world is permanently “fenced off” (ἐσταυρωται, perfect) from him and he from the world.
Not only does he no longer know anyone “according to the flesh” (worldly standards), he has made a radical reassessment of everything in light of the cross.
This is not psychological. It is the κοσμος that has been crucified to him, not merely Paul’s perception of it. The στοιχεια τοῦ κοσμοu have been overthrown and abolished by Christ’s death and resurrection (Col 2:13–15).
A new reality has been brought into being that determines the destiny of the whole creation.
Benediction
1 Thess 5:23–24
