Both body and mind are completely involved in Christian life and service. We deal first with the body – see v.1. Note that St. Paul beseeches us to present our bodies a living sacrifice. There is no question of legalistic compulsion; rather, the nature of God’s gift to His own – salvation by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ alone – should elicit from us a willing response.

This is borne out by the apostle’s use of the phrase, ‘by the mercies of God’. There are nine different manifestations of God’s mercy, the present usage – oiktirmos – emphasising an inward compassion on God’s part towards us who are totally undeserving. Thus, it is not what God has done for us that should elicit a ready response, but the pity God feels for us that should motivate us to present our bodies a ‘living sacrifice’.

This presenting of our bodies is in a sacrificial sense – a willing sacrifice – and relates to the duties performed by a Levitical priest. In the context of v.1, God is interested in our BODIES. The works we do in the flesh constitute evidence of our salvation. If you have observed an aircraft about to touch down, you would have seen a puff of smoke at the moment the tyres make contact with the runway. That smoke is proof of a successful landing; so, too, with our works in relation to our salvation.

Moreover, the living sacrifice of our bodies is characterised by being (1) holy, and (2) acceptable to God.

‘Holy’: in the sense of being dedicated to God, no reference being made here to ‘purity’ of ‘perfection’. ‘Acceptable’ – meaning, as sinners saved by grace, our willing sacrifice is automatically acceptable to God. We are told, furthermore, that our willing presentation of our bodies for the Master’s use is only reasonable: what God seeks is not blind obedience but intelligent cooperation. That last observation points to the main thrust of v.2 – the renewing of the MIND.

The mind’s renewal is characterised as follows: (1) CONFORMED – be not conformed;  (2)  TRANSFORMED  –  be transformed by; (3) RENEWING – the renewing of your mind.

CONFORMED can have one of two meanings, depending on the context. It could refer to alignment – but that is not the sense in which it is used in v.2; rather, it is ‘taking on a shape or form that is foreign to one’s nature’.

The latter is best illustrated by a rather unique sweet called ‘Mintie’. It is hard – but not too hard; it is sticky, gummy & gooey – but not too sticky, gummy & gooey. When you first pop it into your mouth, it feels really hard: it resists pressure very effectively. The way to ‘conquer’ it is to do nothing – at first. Let the warmth of your mouth get to the Mintie. Let your saliva wash constantly over it: there are powerful, if hidden, enzymes in saliva that need time to work. Before long, the Mintie will have softened to the point of being pliable: you can then have fun pressing it into various shapes with gentle pressure from your tongue.

Isn’t this how the world and the devil get to us? – hardly ever a frontal attack; rather, a slow process of desensitisation and softening, without your even being aware of it. Before long, you could be in the same predicament as Lot, born-again but carnal, conformed to the world around you.

The antidote? – be TRANSFORMED. In the present context, being transformed has the idea of ‘metamorphosis’ – going beyond yourself whilst still remaining yourself, not becoming a different person as in New Age teaching.

Think of the change that occurs when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The one is repulsive to the eye, slow-moving, clumsy, an easy prey for hungry predators. The other is so different – yet, in essence, it has the same nature as the caterpillar.

The transformation that the Scriptures have in view has nothing whatever to do with the ‘positive thinking’ promoted by the secular world. We are reminded, in John 15:5, that without Christ we can do nothing. It is by the grace of God alone that we can rise above our caterpillar-like selves. To be sure, this is the work of the Holy Spirit, but our active participation is required. The object of such a transformation is to enable us to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

To recap: we need to be: not conformed but transformed by the renewing of the mind.

We are renewed once and for all when we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit: we become, as the Bible teaches, a ‘new man’. Such a change is in view when v.2 speaks of the renewal of the mind. Think of the way your skin is renewed: the old cells die and slough off, to be replaced by fresh, new cells. Without the renewal of the mind, the old sin-nature (which remains in us post-regeneration) will bring about a corruption of the new life. Thus, for a Christian, it is a necessity that the mind be renewed continually – ‘… be renewed in the spirit of your mind …’ (Ephesians 4:23), where the Greek present tense is used, signifying a continual and progressive development. Note the emphasis, ‘spirit of your mind’: it is, after all, your mental state that governs your behaviour and conduct.

It follows that lack of renewal of the mind, whether due to laziness or some other cause, leads to a creeping corruption of the New Life, though your salvation be not lost. Should this corruption happen in a believer’s life, God will hold him fully accountable, for the power to renew the mind is a gift given every true believer.

The rest of v.2 tells us what this transformation, engendered by the renewing of the mind, enables us to do: ‘… [to] prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God’. To prove has a double connotation: ‘to verify through experience’, as well as ‘to agree or concur with’.

We see here a ‘process’ at work: (1) by actively opposing the pressure to conform to the unsaved world; (2) by then obeying God’s will as revealed in the Bible; (3) resulting in a transformation of self driven by the renewing of the mind; (4) we finally get to verify and concur with God’s will as revealed in and through the Bible. This process is life-long and is driven by the Holy Spirit, but our active participation is required. We are to deny self, submit to God and grow in the faith, and as a grand result, glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

The LORD bless and keep you all.

Young People’s Fellowship 6^th Anniversary Thanksgiving   

 

The YPF would like to thank our Heavenly Father for sustaining and guiding us these six years. It is our fervent prayer that the Lord may continue to lead and guide us in the years ahead as we strive to grow in the faith and be good testimonies for Him.

We thank the Lord for the providence of faithful speakers who have taught us the truth from God’s perfect, infallible and preserved words. Our heartfelt thanks to the speakers who have ministered to us, and we pray that you continue to defend the faith which was once delivered to the saints.

We would like to thank the Lord for Mr and Mrs Foo Chee Yong who have opened their house for us over the last five years. You have truly been a blessing to us.

We would like to thank Berean B-P Church, as well as their Session for kindly allowing us to use their premises to conduct our YPF meetings. Thank you for your labour of love for the Lord.

We would like to thank God for each and everyone who has contributed in one way or another, and all who have been a great blessing to us.

Soli Deo Gloria!