Western Bible Conference Renew be metamorphosised by the continual renewing of your mind Rom 12:

Western Bible Western Bible ConferenceConference

RenewRenew

““be be metamorphosised by the metamorphosised by the continual continual renewingrenewing of your of your

mind” Rom 12:mind” Rom 12:

One week of life and One week of life and ministryministry

Two Marriages on the rocksTwo Marriages on the rocks Two teachers scrambling to find workTwo teachers scrambling to find work Two Christian institutions facing Two Christian institutions facing

closureclosure Two officers in deep depressionTwo officers in deep depression ““Am I good enough?”Am I good enough?”

We Need RenewalWe Need Renewal

Renewal in the OTRenewal in the OT Creation – Fall – RestorationCreation – Fall – Restoration Worship life – new = new moon, Worship life – new = new moon,

feastsfeasts ‘picture of newness’ ‘picture of newness’

– Lam 3:23 Lam 3:23 HesedHesed new every morning new every morning Create (Create (barabara) in me a clean heart, O ) in me a clean heart, O

God and renew (God and renew (hodeshhodesh) a right ) a right spirit within me. (Ps 51:10)spirit within me. (Ps 51:10)

Creation as the foundation of Creation as the foundation of renewalrenewal

The language of Scripture (and the The language of Scripture (and the Army)Army)– Redeemed Redeemed and recreatedand recreated– Released Released and restored and restored – Rescued Rescued and resting in Himand resting in Him– Reconciled Reconciled and made perfectand made perfect

The Gospel we offer – The Gospel we offer –

The Reality we need –The Reality we need –

Renewal in the OTRenewal in the OT New Covenant in the HeartNew Covenant in the Heart (Jer 31) (Jer 31)

– A new thing 31:22, new covenant 31:31A new thing 31:22, new covenant 31:31 Renewal of the HeartRenewal of the Heart (Ezek 11:19) 3t. (Ezek 11:19) 3t.

– Ezek 18:31 ‘get yourself a new heart/put on a Ezek 18:31 ‘get yourself a new heart/put on a new spirit’new spirit’

– Ezek 36:26 ‘new heart’Ezek 36:26 ‘new heart’ 6 6 New SongNew Song Pss. 40:4, 33:3, 98:3, Pss. 40:4, 33:3, 98:3,

96:11,144:9,149:1 96:11,144:9,149:1

Isaiah’s “new song”Isaiah’s “new song” 42:10, “new things” 42:10, “new things” 43:19, “new heavens and new earth” 65:17, 43:19, “new heavens and new earth” 65:17, “new name” 62:2,4 ‘married’“new name” 62:2,4 ‘married’

Renewal in the NTRenewal in the NT

John 3 – you must be born again – John 3 – you must be born again – through water and the Spirit (3:5)through water and the Spirit (3:5)– Picks up the OT promise of Holy SpiritPicks up the OT promise of Holy Spirit

Regeneration 2x (Regeneration 2x (palinpalin – again, – again, genesia- begingenesia- begin))

– Mt 19:28 ‘when all is Mt 19:28 ‘when all is made newmade new’’– Titus 3:5 ‘by the washing of Titus 3:5 ‘by the washing of

regeneration’regeneration’

Renewal Renewal ((ana-kainosana-kainos) )

Col 3:10 Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, and have put on the new self, which is which is being being renewedrenewed in knowledge in knowledge after the after the image of its creatorimage of its creator. .

II Cor 4:16 II Cor 4:16 Though our outer self is wasting Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being away, our inner self is being

renewedrenewed day by day. day by day. Titus 3:5 Titus 3:5 ‘and the ‘and the renewalrenewal in the Holy Spirit’ in the Holy Spirit’ Rom 12:2 ‘Rom 12:2 ‘be transformed by the be transformed by the renewalrenewal of of

your mind’ your mind’– Rare terms but pervasive themeRare terms but pervasive theme– II Cor 5:17 ‘ a new creation’II Cor 5:17 ‘ a new creation’

Renewal as RecreationRenewal as Recreation

It takes the power behind It takes the power behind creation to make a heart new creation to make a heart new

and it takes that same power and it takes that same power to keep it renewedto keep it renewed

Brengle and Brengle and Purity of HeartPurity of Heart

After quoting Ezek 36:25-27After quoting Ezek 36:25-27– ““new” occurs twice (cf. 11:19 new” occurs twice (cf. 11:19

twice)twice)To believers, to the redeemedTo believers, to the redeemed

– No longer under sin, No longer under sin, – or over sin or over sin – but WITHOUT sinbut WITHOUT sin

One Distinctive One Distinctive Contribution?Contribution?

Gospel not completed until there is:Gospel not completed until there is:– ‘‘universal holiness’universal holiness’– ‘‘actual renewal of the image of God’actual renewal of the image of God’– ‘‘not just relative but real change’not just relative but real change’– ‘‘a great salvation perfectly restored in a great salvation perfectly restored in

me!’me!’

– Renewal – nothing less than Renewal – nothing less than transformationtransformation

Real lifeReal life after Sanctification after Sanctification Rom 12:2Rom 12:2

By the (By the (Hesed/AgapeHesed/Agape) Mercy of God:) Mercy of God:– Living SacrificeLiving Sacrifice– Not formed by something which is not His Not formed by something which is not His

will for your lifewill for your life Passive with negative: stop something nowPassive with negative: stop something now

– Continually transformed in your inmost Continually transformed in your inmost naturenature Passive: Let yourselves be transformedPassive: Let yourselves be transformed

– By the RENEWING of your By the RENEWING of your mindmind ( (nousnous)) Normally the moral reasoningNormally the moral reasoning

– vs. 3 uses (vs. 3 uses (phroneophroneo) for mind ) for mind

Dealing with a different Dealing with a different mindmind

But when he had turned about and But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: Satan:

for thou savorest notfor thou savorest not (phroneo) (phroneo)

the things that be of God, but the the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. (Mar 8:33; Matt things that be of men. (Mar 8:33; Matt 16:23 KJV)16:23 KJV)

Dealing with a “satanic” Dealing with a “satanic” mindmind

Mind (Phroneo)Mind (Phroneo) – “savor” (KJV) – “savor” (KJV) You are not ‘minded’ like GodYou are not ‘minded’ like God

occurs in some crucial passagesoccurs in some crucial passages– PerspectivePerspective– MindsetMindset– Direction mind takesDirection mind takes– To take someone’s sideTo take someone’s side– To think in a certain wayTo think in a certain way– Setting one’s interest in a consuming directionSetting one’s interest in a consuming direction– Orientation, Way of thinking, Orientation, Way of thinking,

We have the mind of ChristWe have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2: 6-15)(1 Cor 2: 6-15)

– Theme of paragraph - Wisdom concealed in Theme of paragraph - Wisdom concealed in a mysterya mystery

– ““MusterionMusterion” (once in syn. gospels, ” (once in syn. gospels, Mk 4:11/Mt13:11/Lk8:10 Mk 4:11/Mt13:11/Lk8:10

(21t. in Paul)(21t. in Paul) muo = a shut mouth muo = a shut mouth ‘‘sater’ = state of hiddenness, especially to the sater’ = state of hiddenness, especially to the

natural mindnatural mind– Something too profound for human ingenuitySomething too profound for human ingenuity

– The revelation comes out of a relationshipThe revelation comes out of a relationship– Spirit reveals what is freely given (12) Spirit reveals what is freely given (12)

The Christian MindThe Christian Mind

– Is this just speculation?Is this just speculation? Harry Blamires Harry Blamires The Christian MindThe Christian Mind

– A supernatural orientation A supernatural orientation – Reality of the eternal: Reality of the eternal:

C.S. Lewis “All that is not eternal, is eternally C.S. Lewis “All that is not eternal, is eternally out of date.” out of date.”

No earthbound salvationNo earthbound salvation Other religions: faith and works, which? Other religions: faith and works, which?

– Awareness of EvilAwareness of Evil Doctrine of Original SinDoctrine of Original Sin

– Mind = “the theology of Jesus”Mind = “the theology of Jesus” Jesus is our focus point and what His Jesus is our focus point and what His

interests are become oursinterests are become ours

Have the Mind of ChristHave the Mind of Christ (Phil 2:1-5)(Phil 2:1-5)

– Spiritual Disposition: Spiritual Disposition: The pattern of “emptiness” The pattern of “emptiness” The example of “humiliation” The example of “humiliation”

– Commend Him, how - by proclaiming HimCommend Him, how - by proclaiming Him

by living like Himby living like Him

Set your Mind on things Set your Mind on things aboveabove (Col 3:2) (Col 3:2)

Structure of the ParagraphStructure of the Paragraph 3:1-4 is a 3:1-4 is a General statementGeneral statement:: (1)(1)IfIf ConditionalConditional Statement Statement Rec. of “ifs” 2:20 and here only in Rec. of “ifs” 2:20 and here only in

Col.Col.– consequence of his death in 2:20 consequence of his death in 2:20 – here is consequence of his being raisedhere is consequence of his being raised

If…thenIf…thenThen Then or therefore: or therefore:

CausationCausation refers to what has preceded, how refers to what has preceded, how far? 2:20, 2:12-13far? 2:20, 2:12-13

Since you have been raisedSince you have been raised/ rose along with / rose along with Christ (belief, regeneration, baptism)Christ (belief, regeneration, baptism)

Rec of raised resurrection theme(1:11,12,13?) Rec of raised resurrection theme(1:11,12,13?) 1:18 firstborn of the dead 2:12,13 (14?) 1:18 firstborn of the dead 2:12,13 (14?)

Since you share in the endless life He procured, Since you share in the endless life He procured,

He gave, He is He gave, He is

Continuation of commands related to Continuation of commands related to 2:5,8,9,12,162:5,8,9,12,16

EffectEffect: : Seek the things that are aboveSeek the things that are above: : First CommandFirst Command1b) Be seeking, Aim at! Keep on aspiring to those 1b) Be seeking, Aim at! Keep on aspiring to those

things which are abovethings which are above AboveAbove is is particularizedparticularized by description by description

Where our Christ is Where our Christ is

Seated at the Right Hand of our God: Seated at the Right Hand of our God:

Meaning of Heaven, Ascension, SessionMeaning of Heaven, Ascension, Session

Second CommandSecond Command or completion of the first? or completion of the first? Positive perspective:Positive perspective:

(2)(2)Set your minds on things that are aboveSet your minds on things that are above,,PhroneoPhroneo in the NT (Mk.8, Mt 16, I Cor 13: 11, Phil 2) in the NT (Mk.8, Mt 16, I Cor 13: 11, Phil 2)

Give your minds to, be intent on, Give your minds to, be intent on, constantly fix your thoughts onconstantly fix your thoughts onThe bent, the tendency of your thought and The bent, the tendency of your thought and

will,will,

Set your Mind on things Set your Mind on things aboveabove (Col 3:2) (Col 3:2)

Turn from Negative to PositiveTurn from Negative to Positive– Implications of the Death and Ress. (2:20ff)Implications of the Death and Ress. (2:20ff)– Elemental Spirits no longer control or attractElemental Spirits no longer control or attract

– tenor of existence changedtenor of existence changed

– What is it that we actually do? Seek, Set, have died, What is it that we actually do? Seek, Set, have died, you will appear…everything else is of heavenly originyou will appear…everything else is of heavenly origin

– set your mind on the highest you know and stay set your mind on the highest you know and stay therethere

What keeps us from His Mind? What keeps us from His Mind?

– Rom 1:28 Reprobate Rom 1:28 Reprobate MindMind

– Rom 8:7 CarnalRom 8:7 Carnal– Rom 12:2 ConformedRom 12:2 Conformed

Am I thinking Christianly?Am I thinking Christianly?

– It is so easy to be de-Christianized in It is so easy to be de-Christianized in our “minds” our “minds”

Cultivating an eternal perspective?Cultivating an eternal perspective?– It is a constant fight with secular cultureIt is a constant fight with secular culture

Therefore no need for dependence upon GodTherefore no need for dependence upon God– Incarnation is the breaking in of supernature Incarnation is the breaking in of supernature

into natureinto nature The Greater breaks in on the SmallerThe Greater breaks in on the Smaller

– The eternal is not for laterThe eternal is not for later It is the background for all of life todayIt is the background for all of life today The issue of salvation is the dominant The issue of salvation is the dominant

concernconcern

Does my mind reflect His?Does my mind reflect His?

Don’t interject our faith into anythingDon’t interject our faith into anything Christian ‘silence’Christian ‘silence’ Actually begin to reason like the world Actually begin to reason like the world

and add Jesus when totally acceptedand add Jesus when totally accepted Begin to think and act like the world – Begin to think and act like the world –

self-help, we can be good, don’t bring self-help, we can be good, don’t bring that supernatural stuff into the quotientthat supernatural stuff into the quotient

Allowing Him to Renew My Allowing Him to Renew My MindMind

Is His Mind Mine?Is His Mind Mine? Is His Self-emptying Way Mine?Is His Self-emptying Way Mine? Is His Reality truly ‘real’ for me?Is His Reality truly ‘real’ for me?

Macarius of EgyptMacarius of Egypt

““If any man is in Christ he is a new If any man is in Christ he is a new creature, for our Lord Jesus came for creature, for our Lord Jesus came for this very reason, that He might change, this very reason, that He might change, and renew, and create afresh this once and renew, and create afresh this once perverted soul. He came to work a perverted soul. He came to work a new mind, a new soul, new eyes, new new mind, a new soul, new eyes, new ears, a new spiritual tongue, yes to ears, a new spiritual tongue, yes to make believers new people that He make believers new people that He might pour into them His Spirit.”might pour into them His Spirit.”