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The Scriptures speaks about renewing the mind through the Spirit of God: the new man who has a new mind. This renewal comes by embracing God's life in you and not holding on to a corrupt lifestyle and thought process. It is a purposeful, personal, quality decision that you must make for yourself. “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” Ephesians 4:17–24 (NKJV). A renewed mind is essential for understanding the real truth of God. The only problem with the human mind is that it doesn’t have access to all the knowledge it needs. Therefore, education becomes the great instrument of redemption, which becomes a personal and social issue. If people just get more wisdom, they would not use their minds to invent elaborate scams, intrusive schemes for embezzling, and fast– talking hustles, mentally manipulation tactics.
The human mind is not a sophisticated computer managing data, which it then faithfully presents to the heart for appropriate emotional responses. The mind has a “spirit.” In other words, our mind has what we call a “mindset.” It doesn’t just have a view; it has a viewpoint. It doesn’t just have the power to perceive and detect; it also has a posture, a demeanor, a bearing, an attitude, a bent. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” A new thought process that comes from a spiritually renewed mind is essential for understanding the real truth of God. Real truth is not situational. It is absolute. It is up to us individually to find it. The tools have been provided for us, the evidence is all around us, and the desire for it is implanted in our beings. The problem is that the influence of the world system of lust, greed, and selfishness clouds that spiritual yearning. Man has created many ways and even organizations, which are also based on carnal mind reasoning, to satisfy his worldly yearning. These can further confuse the truth. The truth is that we are all responsible for our own spiritual well–being and growth. However, relying upon a man–conceived religion, institution, or rules set by an organization simply serves to pass off that responsibility to someone or something else. The relationship with God that we need is not through an intermediary of some sort. You are encouraged to change your lifestyle and avoid giving too much heed to the understanding of your mind. The spiritually un-renewed mind is subject to ideas and opinions that are known to operate outside of God’s permissive will because it views itself as superior or even supreme. It does not acknowledge the fact that there is a higher level of truth or understanding that exceeds its own ability to comprehend.
Human understanding comes from the mind, and it is carnal. Carnal mind reasoning is based on experience, education, culture, tradition, and many other factors. It operates under the premise that everything can be conquered or mastered by the human intellect. This level of understanding makes truth a relative concept since everyone sees things differently and judgment depends upon the perspective of the individual.The problem with our minds is not merely that we are finite, and don’t have all the information. The problem is that our minds are fallen. They have a spirit, a bent, a mindset that is hostile to the absolute supremacy of God. Our minds are bent on not seeing God as infinitely more worthy of praise than we are, or the things we make or achieve. “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four–footed animals and creeping things” Romans 1:22–23 (NKJV). And the image in the mirror is the mortal image we worship most. the Spirit must work from the inside out, breaking the hard heart that blinds and corrupts the mind. The Spirit must work from the outside in, through Christ–exalting truth, and from the inside out, through truth–embracing humility.
If he only worked from the outside in, by presenting Christ–exalting truth to our minds but not breaking the hard heart and making it humble, then the truth would be despised and rejected. And if he only humbled the hard heart but put no Christ–exalting truth before the mind, there would be no Christ to embrace and no worship would happen. As Christians, we need to be aware of the worldly influences that infiltrate our minds. Thoughts tend to build upon each other and can lead us into ungodly habits and patterns. The devil will tell us that whatever is in our minds is just for us, no one will get hurt, and no one will ever know. But, in time, out thoughts will begin to change our behaviors and ultimately, some of those hidden things in our minds will be revealed in our exposed lives. We must guard against these influences from the start. We must be on the offense at all times. The apostle Paul tells us that we are not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds must be renewed daily, moment by moment, and this training begins by keeping certain things out. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13–14 (NKJV).