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The Ways of God – Obedience to the Faith

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God… Ephesians 2:8

As we mentioned in our previous article, faith is a gift of God – a process consisting of three phases: the hearing of faith, obedience to the faith, and the work of faith. God’s gifts are meant to be shared, so we encourage you: our copyright is the right to copy.

This series of articles on God’s way for faith are taken from An Enemy Lies Within, where we argue that the carnal mind is enemy #1 for every Christian who has not purposefully and diligently overcome it. Before continuing here, coming to terms with this fact will help tremendously. The argument in brief goes like this:

  1. Satan is a powerful adversary. However, he must flee the Christian that resists Him (James 4:7).
  2. The world influence should not be underestimated, but every Christian has been crucified to the world and the world to them (Galatians 6:14). The world can only affect those who allow it.
  3. Hiding within our being, our carnal mind is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7). And it is the doorkeeper to Satan’s and the world’s deceptions and distractions.

Therefore, our carnal minds are our number one enemy (a more detailed explanation can be found here).

The process of faith has been given to us by God to lay hold of the grace necessary to overcome our carnal mind. Most of this good work takes place in the steps associated with our obedience to the faith.

Obedience to the Faith

The faith that finds its home in our heart must pass through “obedience to the faith” before it can effectively walk in “the work of faith”. The logic here is straight-forward: Because our mind controls our brain, which in turn controls the work of our physical bodies, faith is dependent on the renewal of the mind for the obedience and work that perfects it.

What has found its place in our heart must find its way out through our feet, hands and mouth. The mind stands between our heart and our body and is, therefore, the passage and governor of our obedience. Our mind must be right for the work of faith to accomplish God’s ultimate intention: His glory (not ours) and the advancement of His kingdom (again, not ours). We begin this phase by setting our mind right about the value and purpose of our bodies.

Step Four: Living Sacrifices

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service… that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

This passage threatens the carnal mind like no other. It cannot comprehend the suggested level of sacrifice. “Holy, acceptable to God” enflames its enmity with God. The threat sets off alarms; code red defense tactics are initiated.

This comes across as hyperbole and exaggeration only because we rarely consider what is truly reasonable in our relationship with God. Force your mind to imagine what holy and acceptable sacrifice looks like in your life. For example: What does it really mean to love your neighbor as yourself; or, to lay down your life for the brethren? These are ideas our carnal mind works hard to suppress. It is for this very reason that we must force ourselves to think critically.

God does not leave us unarmed in this battle. He has given us His word and the faith that comes with it, along with the encouragement and assurance that our sacrifice is for a worthwhile cause. These truths are powerful and living weapons against the distraction and deception of our carnal mind.

Furthermore, we must not underestimate the purpose of our sacrifice: “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. Much is at stake for God and His kingdom. Our carnal mind would have us think otherwise: that our sacrifice is of little value.

For those in need of additional motivation, consider just how much is at stake regarding our inclusion and position in God’s kingdom. Recognizing and regularly affirming our bodies as living sacrifices is Jesus’ requirement for all who would be His disciples (Luke 9:23). It is the way we follow Him, that He might make us into fishers of men (Mark 1:17).

Action step: Formally present yourself to God as a sacrifice for His pleasure and glory. Just say to Him, “Father God, I present myself to you as a sacrifice for your pleasure and glory.” Then ask Him to use you as He desires.

Step Five: Reckoning the Truth

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11

This is the step in which our mind is most actively involved in the process. The word “reckon” is translated from the Greek word logizomai. Logizomai is an accounting term, meaning to record something in a journal – to balance the books. It is used 44 times in the New Testament. Here are a couple of other passages to help with our understanding:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1Corinthians 13:11

Spiritual reckoning is the process of accounting as true what God says is true. The carnal mind prefers that we balance our mental “books” with the world’s version of truth. This is the point at which our new man must exert himself over the carnal mind – becoming, not just an auditor, but an overcomer, in Christ Jesus. In doing so, we lay hold of the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16), for the greater works He has promised (John 14:12).

Reckoning the truth assumes the truth has been purchased (Proverbs 23:23); you simply cannot reckon what you do not have. We lack the truth, not because it is hard to find, but because we are unwilling to invest our time in acquiring it. Our carnal mind has succeeded in distracting most of the church from the pursuit. If the truth does not fall into our lap, we hardly come in contact with it.

Clearly, most do not understand the dangerous position we have allowed for ourselves and those we disciple. We are commanded to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God (1Corinthians 4:1-2). The future that awaits unfaithful stewards is downright scary (Matthew 25:30). It is hard to imagine a better example of our carnal mind’s ability to deceive – at both the individual and corporate level.

On the surface, it may appear that reckoning is analogous to filing away information in a database, or adding a new book to the library shelf. This is a dangerously limited view. Databases and library shelves are inanimate objects; adding good information to them – even lots of it – does not rid them of the bad. Something more organic is required.

For a better analogy, consider the chemist who adds an organic catalyst to a beaker of polluted water. The organic catalyst – being, like the word of God, alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12-13) – sets off a process that purifies the water; transforming its very nature. The Bible calls this process, “renewing the mind.”

Action step: Ask God to reveal one to three truths He would have you reckon as truths in your life. Write these down on one or more 3×5 index cards. Put them in places where you will encounter them multiple times during the day (e.g., as a bookmark, on the bathroom mirror, in your pants pocket). Preface reading them with, “These truths are truths for me.” Meditate on what they mean to you for the day and season.

Step Six: Renewing the Mind

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

Most of us have spent most of our lives being conformed to this world. From our earliest formative years, we have been conformed by a secular and humanistic education system. Later in life, workplace policies and procedures molded us into good corporate citizens. The entertainment and advertising industries have formed our value systems. Left to ourselves, we have been hapless victims of the carnal mind’s alliance with the world to distract and deceive us. Jesus has prayed that we would be delivered from these influences.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:15-17; KJV

Jesus prayed, not that the Father should take His followers out of the world, but that He should keep them from the evil, and sanctify them by His truth.

It is important to note that most modern translations have added “one” to the end of verse 15; as if Jesus was asking the Father to protect us from Satan. In my humble opinion, this is a mistake; the Greek word for “one” does not appear in the original text. Jesus is more concerned about our rebellious carnal mind. He is asking the Father to protect us from ourselves – through the truth of His word.

Furthermore, in the midst of this prayer, Jesus proclaims – as a matter of fact – that His disciples are not of the world, just as He is not of the world. This is a beautiful example of truth we must reckon for ourselves. The carnal mind will resist; renewal requires forceful reckoning.

Finally, notice that Jesus did not leave the outcome of His prayer in our hands. He did not ask His Father to encourage, equip and empower us to become and remain “not of this world”. Instead, He asked His Father to do the work. As you might expect, His Father has set about answering that prayer.

…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

Our transformation by the renewing of our minds is the Father’s responsibility. It is His good work. In 2Corinthians 3:18, we discover that He has delegated this work to the Holy Spirit.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Once the Holy Spirit gets involved, the carnal mind will recognize its imminent defeat, and shrink back into the shadows to lick its wounds. The renewal of our mind – even in the smallest area – is a great victory for the kingdom of God.

Action step: Purposefully recognize and consciously consider that the renewing of your mind creates transformation (i.e., changing from one form to another). Something about the way you think must change for renewal to occur. As you reckon the truths God has given you, resist the temptation to protect your current mindset and paradigms. Do not let your carnal mind deceive or distract you.

The renewing of our minds is the turning point in the process of faith and the overcoming of our carnal mind’s influence in our life. The resulting transformation prepares us to walk in God’s good work as living sacrifices fully aware of the truths God has given us for the journey. We will search out the truth for the good work of faith in our next article. In the meantime…

God bless you with grace for obedience to the faith.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

#iamjustthepen

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