The Mind
Marsh 13, 2025
Romans 12:2-3 (NASB95)
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind g3563, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly g5252 of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Philippians 2:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Let this mind g5426 be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal withGod, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Colossians 3:2
2Set your mind g5426 on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
What part does your mind play in salvation? Can the way you think help or hinder your walk with Christ? What do you think?
The Apostle Paul has quite a bit to say about your mind. In Romans, he says that your mind must be transformed and renewed. This is part of the process of completely turning your life over to the Lord. As you are to present your body as a living sacrifice, you are also to present your mind to be renewed. In Philippians, he calls this having the mind of Christ. In this passage he is talking about having the humble attitude that Jesus had when he emptied himself to come to earth as a man. In like manner, we need to humble ourselves and leave behind any exalted opinion of ourselves. Back in Romans, Paul speaks of this as not thinking more highly of yourselves than you ought. It is interesting how this is expressed in the Greek. The mind or “to think” is phroneo and “think more highly” is huperphroneo. So basically, Paul is saying not to overthink it! Don’t get hyper!
But on the other hand , I think that it also important not to under think it. There is a segment of Christianity that thinks that intellectualism is worldly. In many cases this is true, but there is also a place to think deeply about questions of the faith. We don’t want to think more highly of ourselves, but we need to think deeply about the things of God. Paul even says in this passage in Romans that a renewed mind will enable us to prove what the will of God is for. So it important to have a renewed mind so that you can know the mind of God.
In Colossians, Paul gives us some practical advice on how to accomplish this. “Set your mind on things above”. A key method of transforming your mind is to direct your thoughts. What you let your mind dwell on will shape your mind. Focusing on good thoughts will certainly improve your thought life, and in many cases it will physically transform your brain. The neural pathways in the brain are flexible and can be rearrange by the way you think. Therefore, concentrating on heavenly things will actually transform your mind into more of a heavenly organ.
The bottom line is not to be conformed to the world, but to be conformed to heaven. Think godly thoughts and become more godly in your mind. Just like Paul says back in Romans 12:
Anddo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind g3563, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
—- Strongs —-
g3563. νοῦς nous ; contr. of a prim. word νόος noos (mind); mind, understanding, reason:--
g5252. ὑπερφρονέω huperphroneō ; from 5228 and 5426; to be overly proud, to have high thoughts:--think more highly(1).
g5426. φρονέω phroneō ; from 5424; to have understanding, to think:-- Set your mind, attitude, think
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