OK, SO…
Be transformed by the renewing of the mind. (Romans 12:2). This is what God has called us to do. He provides the way through observing principles in His Word and relationally through the Holy Spirit. It’s one thing to be saved, born again, made perfect and new in the Spirit. But in the meantime, what about the mind? Here is where much of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification takes place. In Mohler’s article, “The Way the World Thinks”, the conflict is described as the intellect (or conscience) being at war with the will. (2011, 8). At the fall, man’s will became preeminent, self became the primary focus. But with salvation, transformation and renewal of the mind directly challenges this preeminence, and reworks the mind into God becoming the primary focus. The Holy Spirit guides this process as He occupies our conscience. This is what the cross made possible. First the spirit of man is reborn from it’s state of death. It is made alive, and clean by the sacrificial death of Christ and His blood. This makes possible the indwelling of the Spirit. Man becomes a new creature. He then can be called a Christian. And now, the battle for the mind is engaged. The Christian is commanded to love God. Man is restored to loving God by first being redeemed and then renewing the mind. To know and love God requires being actively engaged in Christian thinking. To do this is to enter into a great battle.
