Rejoice in renewal
The Bible promises, among other things, that I will have a new mind, that my life will change, be transformed. Romans 12:2 says Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV
It sounds like I need to make a decision in order for this to happen. Or is there more?
Let's look at the passage: Chapter 12 begins with the word therefore which means we are, despite the chapter break, in the middle of a thought. So, chapter 11 is talking about ingrafted branches and eventually saving the Jews despite their current unbelief; they are elected by their connection to the patriarchs. Chapter 11 ends with a lovely prayer from Paul's heart, who has ever given to God that God should repay him, and this is a lesson for me. And then he says in 12 to worship God by offering our bodies to him as a living sacrifice and to be different from the world, different than we were when we were of the world. Be transformed to God's will, his pleasure, his plan. I think it is to be transformed by submission and then the transformation is automatic. If we do not actively resist God will find a way to make us new and different from the world and from us when we were the world. Somehow this transformation puts us in touch with God's will so we will know what he wants and what he doesn't want. Somehow, we change from what we were to what he wills and this must remove from us something of the world that caused us to desire something other than his will. His ways are not our ways but then he gives us his ways to some degree and we desire what he desires to some degree and we are pleased by that which pleases him and we conform to his will, his desire, his plan.
I think I like that idea. I spent a lot of time working out my life in my own way and I made a huge mess of it all over and over. Then God came along and patiently began unraveling the knots and even cutting others so they could never be rebuilt in my life.
If I would allow wouldn't he shape me completely? Can I stop him? Can I take that old stubborn and rebellious attitude up again and slow his progress? Or has he already given me enough of his mind that I might consider rebellion but never actually take it up again?
It sounds like I need to make a decision in order for this to happen. Or is there more?
Let's look at the passage: Chapter 12 begins with the word therefore which means we are, despite the chapter break, in the middle of a thought. So, chapter 11 is talking about ingrafted branches and eventually saving the Jews despite their current unbelief; they are elected by their connection to the patriarchs. Chapter 11 ends with a lovely prayer from Paul's heart, who has ever given to God that God should repay him, and this is a lesson for me. And then he says in 12 to worship God by offering our bodies to him as a living sacrifice and to be different from the world, different than we were when we were of the world. Be transformed to God's will, his pleasure, his plan. I think it is to be transformed by submission and then the transformation is automatic. If we do not actively resist God will find a way to make us new and different from the world and from us when we were the world. Somehow this transformation puts us in touch with God's will so we will know what he wants and what he doesn't want. Somehow, we change from what we were to what he wills and this must remove from us something of the world that caused us to desire something other than his will. His ways are not our ways but then he gives us his ways to some degree and we desire what he desires to some degree and we are pleased by that which pleases him and we conform to his will, his desire, his plan.
I think I like that idea. I spent a lot of time working out my life in my own way and I made a huge mess of it all over and over. Then God came along and patiently began unraveling the knots and even cutting others so they could never be rebuilt in my life.
If I would allow wouldn't he shape me completely? Can I stop him? Can I take that old stubborn and rebellious attitude up again and slow his progress? Or has he already given me enough of his mind that I might consider rebellion but never actually take it up again?
posted by Ben | 3:45 PM
2 Comments:
"20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 tim 2:20
I think as we grow up a little as Christians God expects us to do a little work too. You're right that he's the transformer.
"You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked." 2 Peter 3.17
Also containing a therefore, so take it alone and in context, but that word steadfastness is key. It brings to mind the lines from the hymn: " the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning.... great is thy faithfulness."
And one of my favorite verses:
This is a faithful saying,
For if we died with Him,
We Shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him
If we deny Him,
He will also deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny himself.
This verse seems to imply that there is a difference between denying God and unbelief or lack of faith. I believe we can lack faith, which is a form of rebellion, yet still experience God's faithfulness. Yet to deny Christ is to deny our one source of life, and it seems to me that there is a form of rebellion, even among "Christians" that leads to, shall I say, a withering off the vine. Which leads me to my final point.
I read a Pauline Scholar once who took issue with what most people took as Paul's central theme in the book of Romans "Justification by faith", not that it isn't important or true doctrine, but he believed strongly that the central theme of Romans, and actually all of Paul's writings was: " In Christ" or " abiding in Christ". If you read the first couple chapters of ephesians you will see countless times such phrases as " In Christ' and " in Him" quite a bit.
To me To be a Christian is to be in Christ, and it is a very cooperative action. "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you".
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