When we become Christians, there is a transformation that must occur in each one of us. 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.” This transformation occurs in us because our minds have been changed or renewed. The key is the thinking of our minds; we must change our thinking.
As non-Christians, our thinking was upon fulfilling our fleshly desires. Ephesians 2:3 “Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Philippians 3:18-19 “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.” That is the way of the world – having one’s mind on things such as having more money and possessions, about fleshly pleasures, about taking revenge, and about being better than others.
But as a follower of Jesus Christ, we determine to set our minds on different things. Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Ephesians 4:17-24 “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
Another way of describing the difference been people of the world and Christians is that people of the world are carnally minded whereas Christians are to be spiritually minded. Rom 8:5-7 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.”
To change from being carnally minded to being spiritually minded requires repentance. The word repentance, by definition, means to change one’s mind or purpose. And that is what we must do – repent and change our mind and our thinking from satisfying our fleshly nature to seeking the things of the Spirit.
My encouragement to you is that you repent and be transformed by the renewing of your mind.