Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
“3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul makes the following plea regarding transforming our lives:
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1. The Christian life is to be a transformed life…
a. One that does not conform to things of this world – Romans 12:2a
b. But seeks to prove (demonstrate) that God’s way is better – Romans 12:2b
2. The Christian life requires a renewing of our minds…
a. In which we learn what is God’s will – Romans 12:2b
b. In turn making it possible to be transformed – Romans 12:2a
[What are some indications of a renewed mind? In Romans 12:16, we find the mind or attitude that is to be found among Christians.
Romans 12:16New International Version
16 “Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud,
but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.”
SAMENESS OF MIND; WHAT THIS MEANS…
The NKJV reads “Be of the same mind toward one another…”
Literally, “thinking the same thing” Like what would Jesus do?
Then, treat people with respect and kindness.
We see this scripture play out in several verse…
1. Hod tells The Christians in Rome the following: in Romans 15:5
Romans 15:5New International Version
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
God tells the Christians in Corinth, the following: in 1 Corinthians 1:10
1 Corinthians 1:10New International Version
A Church Divided Over Leaders
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
3. The Christians in Philippi – Philippians 1:27; 2:2-3; 3:16; 4:2
Philippians 1:27New International Version
Life Worthy of the Gospel
“27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving togetheras one for the faith of the gospel”
4th:
Finally, we read the message for The Christians in Asia – 1 Peter 3:8
8”Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
— As Christians are renewed in mind, they will begin having similar goals, aims, views
HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE?
We Seek the mind of Christ – Philippians 2:5
Philippians 2:5New International Version
5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”
a. Each should strive to develop and imitate the mindset of Christ
b. The more we become like Him, the sooner we become “of the same mind”
We do this by sitting our minds on things above – Colossians 3:1-2
“3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
1. Each should focus their attention more on spiritual matters
As a follower of Christ, each one of us suffer in spiritual battles. We need the Holy Ghost to help us determine what is right and what is wrong. We need to understand that spiritual matters are just as important as Physical problems. The most important, spiritual problem is salvation, especially for those who have not accepted God as their savior. For those they face the second death.
2. We should not be Distracted by worldly matters and human opinions.
As a follower of Christ, I have come to understand that I need to be obedient to my Savior and Lord, and His desire is for me to reflect on the oldest prayer found in Scripture, which is called the Shema’. Part of my daily prayer each morning, drawing from Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-39, goes something like this: “Lord, I love you with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and with all my strength. Lord, please help me to love others as I love myself.”
[As we return to our text (Romans 12:16), we find that another indication of “The Renewed Mind” is…]
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.
II. LOWLINESS OF MIND
A. WHAT THIS MEANS…
New Living Translation
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
English Standard Version
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight
New American Standard Bible
Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Amplified Bible
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.
Contemporary English Version
Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you know more than others. Make friends with ordinary people.
2. “but associate with the humble” (NKJV); other translations:
a. “but associate with the lowly”
b. “but accept humble tasks”
c. “but willingly adjust yourselves to humble situations”
d. “but take a real interest in ordinary people” A renewed mind makes a effort not to be snobbish or ambitious, and is willing to be associated with humble tasks and lowly people
B. HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE…
1. By taking heed to what we learn from:
a. The attitude of David – Psalms 131:1-2
David expresses a posture of deep humility and contentment, comparing his trust in God to a weaned child who is completely reliant and calm in their mother’s presence, signifying that he does not seek lofty ambitions or pride, but finds peace in simply relying on the Lord.
b. The warning to Jeremiah – Jeremiah 45:5
In Jeremiah 45:5, Jeremiah warned Baruch, his scribe, against seeking “great things” for himself, essentially advising him not to prioritize personal gain or ambition amidst the coming destruction and hardship he was prophesying for Judah, and instead focus on faithfully delivering God’s message, even if it meant personal suffering and obscurity.
c. The teaching of Jesus – Luke 22:24-2
Jesus taught that true greatness is found in serving others, not in being served; essentially, a leader should act as a servant, putting the needs of others before their own, unlike worldly leaders who seek power and authority over people.
By noting what we learn from The example of Jesus – Philippians 2:5-8
According to Philippians 2:5-8, the example of Jesus teaches us to prioritize humility, selflessness, and service to others by willingly giving up our own privileges and even enduring suffering, just as Jesus did by taking on human form and dying on the cross despite his divine status, demonstrating the ultimate act of love and obedience to God.
Finally, similar to lowliness of mind, “The Renewed Mind” also possesses…]
HUMBLENESS OF MIND
WHAT THIS MEANS???
1. “Do not be wise in your own opinion” (NKJV)
2. Some other translations:
a. “Do not think too highly of yourselves” (Twentieth Century NT)
b. “Do not be conceited” (Goodspeed)
c. “And don’t think you know it all!” (Living Bible)
3. Similar warnings are found elsewhere:
a. Given by Solomon – Proverbs 3:7; 26:12
The warning given by Solomon in Proverbs 3:7 and 26:12 is a caution against thinking highly of oneself and considering oneself “wise in one’s own eyes,” essentially advising against arrogance and self-reliance, urging people to instead fear the Lord and seek true wisdom from God
b. A warning given and Lamented by Isaiah – Isaiah 5:21
In Isaiah 5:21, the warning that Isaiah gives, which is also lamented, is a “woe” to those who consider themselves “wise in their own eyes” and “clever in their own sight,”essentially condemning people who arrogantly believe they have all the answers and disregard God’s wisdom and guidance.
c. Cautioned by Paul – 1 Corinthians 3:18
— A renewed mind will maintain a strong sense of humility, an awareness that one has much to learn from God and others
B. HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE…
1. Hopefully, by listening to the scriptures
a. Such as that found in
1 Corinthians 8:2New International Version
2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know
The idea is that those who gain a small amount of knowledge on a subject tend to become overconfident about how much they really know.
b. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God – 1 Corinthians 1:20 states, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?“ – means that the world is foolish to think they can understand scripture without having the Holy Ghost inside of them. We should not look for the world for answers. We should look toward God for answers. 
c. If we seek wisdom and understanding, we must be receptive to the gospel – 1 Co 1:26
1 Corinthians 1:26-28New International Version
“26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,”
- Hopefully, aided by knowledge and experience we grow!
- Often, the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know
- Often, the older you get, the more you realize how little you know
- Hopefully, by the example of Christ Who was willing to submit to the will of His Father – John 6: 38; 5:30
- Who did not think so highly of Himself that He viewed equality with God something to be exploited – Philippians 2:6 (cf. NRSV) — Adopting the mind of Christ will go a long way to helping maintain humility about one’s self
Conclusion
Such are the qualities of “The Renewed Mind”…
+ Sameness of mind
+ Lowliness of mind
+ Humbleness of mind
The more we adopt the mind of Christ, and make it our own… The more we will think the same.
The less we will be snobbish, and ambitious over the wrong things
The more we will associate with the less fortunate
The less conceited and arrogant we will be
Such are the qualities of those who have the mind of Christ, and are being transformed by the renewing of their minds.
Are we setting our minds on things above, where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-2)? If we have been raised with Christ
(via baptism, Colossians 2:12), that is our duty!
Invitation
If we have not yet been raised with Christ, why not today? Render obedience to the gospel in faith, repentance, and baptism, that you might begin to walk in the newness of life…! – Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Peter 3:8, Acts 2:38, Colossians 2:12, Colossians 3:1-2, Isaiah 5:21, James 2:1-5, Jeremiah 45:5, John 6, Luke 22:24-27, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:5-8, Philippians 2:6, Proverbs 3:7, Psalm 131:1-2, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12:16, Romans 12:2, Romans 15:5, Romans 6:3-4
