“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.” (Romans 12:2).
Jesus said in John 3:3, that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. This means except we die to the old sinful nature inherited through our earthly parents, and receive a new life (Eternal life), which comes as a gift through Jesus Christ, we cannot inherit salvation.
An unsaved person or a person without the Spirit of God cannot perceive, understand or receive the things that come from God.
As a born-again Christian, the moment you prayed to receive Jesus Christ into your heart as Saviour is essentially the day you died. Meaning, your old life (sinful nature) died. And you received a new life and a new nature. You became a new creation or a new “spiritual being” with the life and nature of Christ. That is what the Bible says,
“For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-8).
A Christian is set free from the nature of sin. They have become the righteousness of God because they have put on Christ Himself. And God is pleased with them because there is nothing displeasing to God in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
A new creation has a new God given identity. This new identity is Christ Himself. And so, this new spiritual person must live by the faith of Christ Jesus.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).
However, because you are a new creation does not mean your mind will function in agreement with your new spiritual nature. The carnal mind does not by itself believe the things of God. This is because our spirit is saved but the mind is still stuck in the old ways. The mind naturally wants to carry on with carnal thinking, human reasoning and sinful habits.
That’s why the Bible says, there is an internal battle going on between the flesh and the Spirit. “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” (Galatians 5:17).
“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” (Romans 8:7).
The reason for the conflict is because the old nature belongs to Adam because it is corrupted by sin. Therefore, it is very conscious of sin and it is drawn to sin because of self-pleasing desires. But the new nature is righteous and Christ conscious. The new nature seeks to please God like Jesus did when He walked this earth. The power to conquer the flesh can only come from God. The key to overcoming these struggles with the flesh is to develop the spiritual discipline of daily renewing the mind with the promises of God. The closer we draw to God in prayer and meditating on His Word, the stronger we are to resist the temptations of the flesh.
The Bible says, So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16).
In other words, if a believer wants to live by the faith of Christ, if a Christian wants to live the victorious life of Christ, they must consciously decide to have their mind renewed with the Word of God. Apostle Paul told the Christians to wash and cleanse their mind from the clutters of the corrupted system of this world by renewing their mind with the Word of God. (Romans 12:1-2).
Christ has set us free from guilt, condemnation, fear, anxiety and all the lies and the bondages of sin the devil is constantly attacking our mind with. God has freely given us all things we need to live a Godly life. But the transformation of the mind is the responsibility of a Christian. God will not do this for any person, because that is why God instructs us to renew our mind so that we can breakthrough the self limiting barriers in the mind to believe and receive His blessings by faith.
Jesus said,“…If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6). What help do you need from God today? Do you need healing, financial help or family deliverance? No matter the nature of the need, believe what the Word of God says about it. Refuse to be anxious, instead humble yourself before God in prayer and base your request on the Word of God. Then hold on to the Word, keep meditating and speaking it. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. As you keep renewing your mind with the Word your faith will become a reality, in Jesus Name.
I encourage you to download The Faith Confession PDF resource attached below. It is designed to encourage and strengthen your faith. Please click here to download.