In enjoy discussions with people in regards to the heart, I often come to the point of sharing that the Christian life is all about living from the heart and if we don’t have something in our heart then we don’t have it. There are many scriptures where Jesus shares this. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. Out of your heart will flow rivers of Living Water.
Frequently however in my discussions with people I am met with the following “but” reply:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2, NKJV)
People usually continue with statements like “the mind is still important” and “we have to do our part” . They usually have a perspective that indicates balance is key. However, I don’t see this perspective in Jesus’ teaching.
For a long time I didn’t argue or dispute with anyone in regards to this verse as I felt I didn’t have any revelation relating to it. I also didn’t feel like there was any value in trying to argue theologically as it felt a little bit like two ants arguing about the internal working of a motor vehicle. So for quite some time I simply left this with Father saying I don’t understand how this verse in scripture fits with everything I see in Jesus’ teaching and what you have revealed to my heart.
It was quite some time later that I felt Father prompt me to look at romans 12 verse 2 again. I just had an impression to look again.
On looking at the scripture, it stood out to me that in the phrase Be transformed by the renewing of the mind… The words ‘by the’ imply a specific direction of cause and effect. Specifically that it is the renewing of the mind that result in transformation. As this was the first thing that stood out to me I decided that I would look again at this. Opening up my blue Letter Bible app and viewing the interlinear translation of the word ‘by the’ I noticed that the Greek word ‘ho’, in this instance is translated to buy the. However in the 543 occurrences of this word 413 times is translated as ‘which’ and in the definition is described as “the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.”. In fact I can’t see any other instance that this word is translated to ‘by the’. So I now questioned if this verse should read:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed which renews your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
But to go solely on the above interpretation was not enough for me to be confident in the understanding that it is transformation that results in a renewed mind. So I felt led to look again.
Then looking at the word translated as transformed I saw that it is only used 2 other times once in Matthew and once in Mark, both referring to the same situation:
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. (Matthew 17:2, NIV)
Now I don’t know about you, but I am completely confident that there is no amount of renewing my mind that will result in me being transfigured so that my face shines like the sun. These two things together mean that I now read Romans 12:2 like this:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transfigured which renews your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
So, do not live by the ways of this world (living by your knowledge of good and evil), but be transfigured (encounter the presence of God so much that you are changed to the point of your appearance changing) which renews your mind (your perspective will be changed by revelation during your encounters), that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (that the works of the Father will be made manifest in and through you to others without question)
Hearts on a Journey 