John 3:3 Jesus responded and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is bornagain he cannot see the kingdom of God.
BornAgain is instant, ReNewing is a process. When I was BornAgain immediately when I believed on the resurrected Jesus in my heart and confessed Him with my mouth, I began the life long process of being ReNewed daily. Although I still had the same struggles, thought the same way, remembered the same things, definitely looking the same, I was a new creature and in the process of being ReNewed. I still am being ReNewed all these years later. I can tell you that I am a completely different person that I was even 5 years ago. I am being renewed every day since I was instantly born again . The very next day I woke up after being saved I distinctly heard (in my spirit) a cheerful ‘wake up child of God!’ I felt an unknown joy, and a keen awareness of God that I have never gotten over.
I read The Bible after that and it finally made sense, and I liked it. Sermons were no longer boring when I went to church. Christians and their gatherings were no longer weird, but my heathen friends and heathen hang-outs were. I didn’t mind waiting in lines as much because I as always in prayer. I was a lot more patient. I was the same guy essentially, but I had a new spirit inside of me.
I began to think in terms of eternity, for myself and for others. I began to think of the good in people instead of the bad. I began to think about God in every beautiful thing I saw in nature. I was a new spirit. (We are all spirits). I was being ReNewed because I was born, again. I was born a second time. They say if you are born once, you die two times (including going to hell) but if you die twice (including re-birth) you only die once. Just because you are saved though, doesn’t mean you are ReNewing you mind to be transformed into Christ’s image. You ReNew your mind by what you think about.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I think about these things as often as I remember to. To this very day, I try to only think on those things. Thinking on these things is how to have a ReNewed life in Christ Jesus. Thinking on other things serve no purpose other than lead you down a different path.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
It is impossible to think on beautiful things and ugly things simultaneously. The Bible tells us what to think about in Philippians 4:8, and it goes on to say that if you do think on those things the God of peace will be with you (Phil 4:9). Obviously if you don’t think on these things, good things will happen. And if you think the opposite, the opposite will happen, which isn’t good. The choice of what you think about, of being ReNewed is up to you. You have total control, if you are born again, to decide thinking in a way that will ReNew you or not. Thinking in a life giving way or thinking in a lethal way
Roman’s 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:
Why Am I going on and on about Thoughts and the ReNewing of the mind? Because your worldly brain thoughts don’t automatically change the instant you get saved. No one really teaches that in church. We are told that we are given the mind of Christ as it says in 1 Cor 2:16, and that’s it. But having the capacity of Christ’s mind isn’t the same as thinking like Christ. We aren’t there yet, we are to strive, and to be instructed, to be transformed to His image. My son for example is brilliant. He has a brilliant mind. But he did some things that weren’t exactly brilliant when he was little. Many believers, including myself, do some pretty stupid things as we grow. Some new believes do nothing and languish in this world just waiting to go to heaven. Most times our lives look like anyone else’s life. People should know when someone is born again but most of the time they don’t. The saved person usually has their light under a bushel. You are only light when you are transformed into Christ’s image by the daily ReNewing of your mind. It doesn’t happen in a day. You may be changed a lot, but no where near into Christ’s image.
Matthew 5:14- 16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
We try to help our PureHeartChildren’sFund kids to be light. Not just barely saved but to shine to others by the renewing of their minds. We do this by lovingly teaching them that it isn’t just about the Christian rebirth experience but the ongoing work of renewing our minds. If we keep on thinking about what we always thought about, we are not being transformed into Christ’s image by the renewing of our minds.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind
Love Dean and Winnie Peters