From Depraved Mind to Renewed Mind
In the beginning, God created man and woman in His own image (Genesis 1:27), endowing them with the remarkable ability to think and act like their Creator. However, with Adam’s tragic descent into sin, he distanced himself from God and engaged in actions that were contrary to the divine nature. They became tainted by corruption, losing their original nature. This corruption of mind was a legacy passed down to all subsequent generations. This deterioration of the human condition is vividly portrayed in
Romans 1:28-31: Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
The roots of our sinful nature, therefore, dwell deep into this depraved state of mind, where we often discern what is right yet falter in implementing it. We continually choose the wrong path, transgress against God’s commandments and will, resulting in unrighteous life. However, God did not abandon us in this fallen state. His desire was to renew our minds so that we could once again think and act in alignment with His divine attributes. This profound purpose led to the advent of Jesus, the only Son of God, who descended to Earth as a man and willingly sacrificed Himself as the perfect atonement for all our sins. Through our faith in and acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, we are endowed with the power and strength to consistently make righteous choices and adhere to God’s commandments.
Romans 3:21-22 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Yet, despite our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, we often find ourselves falling short in various aspects of life. To better understand and follow God’s will in every part of our life, we must cultivate a vital practice as believers: the act of submitting our bodies as living sacrifices to God.
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.”
As we place our bodies on the altar of God as a living sacrifice, He sanctifies us, extinguishing our sinful nature and endowing us with His own divine nature. This renewal of our formerly depraved minds liberates us from conformity to the world’s standards, allowing us to discern and embrace God’s perfect will in every aspect of our lives.
Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
God, characterized by unwavering righteousness, expects us to consistently make right choices. As we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, God renews our minds, enabling us to reflect His divine image and transforming us into beings of righteousness like Him. Let us conclude with a prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for instilling faith in Jesus, our Savior. As we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, cleanse us with Your holy blood and renew our minds. Amplify our righteousness, guiding us to become more like You. Lead us in Your divine will and empower us to consistently choose what is right. Amen.
Sol.Edvitta