The Renewal of our Minds
The mind is the most important thing in spiritual transformation. Our minds control our thoughts, feelings, actions, perceptions, memories, desires, and beliefs. Our minds are to spiritual formation as the motor is to an automobile. The mind is where our thoughts originate. Clearly, our thoughts impact our lives. In my view, I agree with Willard when he says, “So it is in our thoughts that the first movements toward the renovation of the heart occur. Thoughts are the place where we can and must begin to change.” Therefore, if a change is to occur in how we perceive things and react, we must then bring our thoughts into subjection under the power and domain of the Holy Spirit (God) that guides our thinking.
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An epistle is an instructional letter that teaches an important doctrine. In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul writes the church at Rome and gives instructions on transformation. The Church of Rome consisted of a mix of both Jewish and Gentile believers. These believers faced numerous challenges to their faith. Rome was the epicenter of diverse religions and ideas that contradicted Christian values. Therefore, Paul challenges the believers at Rome to present their bodies a living sacrifice to God (Roman 12:1). For this reason, God is focused on the body life of those who believe in Him. Christians should not live according to their desires but live according to the desires of God. To become a living sacrifice implies self- denial. Therefore, we must give up our selfish ambitions, lusts, and desires for the ways of God. Our bodies are a sacrificial offering to God to be used by Him for His purposes. Paul stresses the idea we are to live out our faith in practice and the transformation of the minds will shape our Christian life and ideals. Transformation of the mind keeps us from being conformed to this world and fashioned into the societal image. Society has sickness, death, greed, anger, pride, and perversion. The transformed mind does not think of these things. The renewed mind focuses on the attributes of God and imitates as the spirit of God gives strength. When a person receives Jesus Christ into their life, they receive the mind and image of Christ.
Throughout passages in Paul 's letter to the Romans, there are many themes that we have seen before in his other letters to the Corinthians, Galatians, and Thessalonians. Paul 's passage in Romans 8:1-17 is a summary of all of his main thoughts that he wants every Christian to live his or her life according to. Paul uses references of the "Spirit" and the "Flesh" to communicate his ideas.
3. Cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and to others, becomes: "Cultivation of one’s own spiritual practices and transpersonal self, going beyond ego self" (p. 468).
From my perspective, the mind always seemed like a complicated and intricate puzzle. It was a puzzle that I had no desire to evaluate or even begin to learn more about. It was something that I had just accepted because I believed it was above my understanding and much too complex. However, I never thought to look at just one small piece of the puzzle. If I could just focus on one little section, maybe I could increase my overall knowledge of the mind. By reading the book, Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, I was given the opportunity to be able to specialize on one very crucial part of our mind. A part that deals with how we view ourselves and others, our communication, and the reasoning behind our actions. This is called our mindset. While reading
Paul's letters to the church, also known as epistles, are considered some of the most important documents in the New Testament. Paul's writings continue to shape and forge church even today. His letters were written in some of the darkest, most intense moments of Paul's life, but they also celebrate the grace, love, and life changing power of Jesus. Paul's journey in faith is shown in raw, unapologetic honesty, and inspires Christians to maintain a forward momentum, and to run the race Paul speaks so passionately about in Hebrews 12:1. Paul is able to write with both confidence and humility as he writes about the Christian journey.
Even though some people walk the same path they may see different things. Some may see things in the theological way with God’s presence everywhere they look and everything they do. Some may see it in a psychological way, always looking for the explanation of why something is the way it is. Together, theology and psychology can bring a different view and perspective that they never would have saw by themselves.
Romans: Romans is a letter from Paul to the church of Rome. Paul had not ever been tovisit this church but had met some of the members in his travels. I tells of his plan to visit the church. He wrote this letter durning his third missionary trip in 57 A.D. In this letter he explains that God’s sa,vation plan is for everyone, Jews and Gentiles. Belief and acceptance in Jesus and his sacrifice is the only requirement for salvation. All now have the same access to Jesus, the messiah.
In this essay I will be explaining my passage, Romans 12:1-21. Romans 12s topic and main focus being on “Living Sacrifice” and how a christian should live out his or hers salvation. I will be explaining my passage from two different points of views, from the people, during that times view, and my personal view. My main focus is to help you understand this passage on a deeper level. In Romans 12 Paul constantly reminds us that Salvation is obtained only through grace and not works. Do not be conformed to this world” (vss. 1-2). Much of the errors and trials that Paul dealt with in his “Epistles”, were because the believers
In this new reformation of religious beliefs, many felt that they ultimately had control over their own spiritual awakening. This was a new concept! Stephen Marini, Historian of Religion from Wellesley College said: “The spirit is the absolute empowerment of my individuality, so my individual choice is not just an option; it is a divinely mandated course of action.”
The literary elements of Paul’s epistle create a letter; the primary and uncontested author is Paul, a self-proclaimed apostle to the gentiles, teaches in his letter about gentiles and Christianity. Paul’s letter also focuses on the Jews role in Christianity, how without observing the law that they may still be condemned. Paul uses the example of circumcision, and how it will only have value if that person follows the law, but if they break the law they will
Our source of knowledge of the apostolic work of Paul comes first from the Book of Acts. The epistles written by Paul serve to further our knowledge of his mission. These letters were written to churches that he had founded or churches that were known to him. Luke’s account of Paul introduces us to the basic facts about this important biblical figure. A more complete understanding of Paul’s journeys can be gleaned from his letters. These epistles were written almost at the time they occurred and they comprise some of the earliest works contained in the New Testament.
world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is
The concept of mind and body interactions has been debated among many modern philosophers. Some believe that our minds and bodies are different things, thus existing separately, while others believe that they exist as a whole. In this paper, I will be introducing two rationalist philosophical views regarding this topic, one which is by Rene Descartes and the other by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Rationalists, in philosophical terms, are the ones who obtain their knowledge through reasoning rather than the human senses. Descartes and Leibniz both have similar perspectives, but Leibniz takes a slightly different approach to improve Descartes’ argument. This paper will first show Descartes’ original argument, an example that proves the argument to be invalid, and then lastly, a revised version of the argument with Leibniz’s help.
When discussing the relationship of brain and behavior, the materialist view of human experience runs into conflict with the historically dominant religious accounts. Recent studies, however, suggests that there may be a "middle view" between the two world-views. Religions, especially Buddhism, stress the role of meditation in one's spiritual growth. Meditation has tangible psychological and physiological benefits, though, which can be explained strictly in neurobiological terms. Understanding of how meditation affects the brain, and, by extension, human behavior, also gives insight into consciousness, the role of feedback loops, and the nature of the I-function.
The genre of Ephesians 2:1-10 is an Epistle. The Epistles were letters teaching specific churches or groups of people; often inspired by God. They are split into two categories: Pauline Epistles, written by Paul and traditionally Paul was the first word of the book in Greek, and General Epistles, often referred to as the Catholic epistles and were written to the universal Church. The Pauline Epistles consist of: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. The General Epistles consist of: Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. The interpretive principles of this genre are that it is meant to be read as a whole and in one sitting in order to get the main idea of the passage, one must view the paragraphs as the main unit of thought in the passage, one must know the structure to understand the letter, and one must do background reading to fully comprehend the main concept and the history and culture of the setting.
Les answers “The role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual transformation is to bear witness with our spirits that we are the sons and daughters of God. Les again scratched the surface here on the Holy Spirit’s role in our transformation. The Holy Spirit’s role is to form and transform our inner nature. He opens our eyes to the present truth of scripture. He makes us aware of God’s presence and counsels us in a way to maintain healthy habits of holiness. He is essentially our best friend that has the transforming power that no human has. His revealing power of unveiling our eyes to truth enables further transformation of our minds to be more Christ-like in