Transformed by the renewing of our understanding

“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.  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 12:1-2

Dear brothers, let’s talk today, based on this passage from Romans 12: 1 and 2, of something important and valuable to the growth of the spiritual life of those who have believed. We start with verse 1, we see that the apostle Paul says: “I beseech you brethren” Why Apostle Paul begs the brothers and not gives them an order? Because it depends on the layout of each of those who have believed in our attitude toward God. No one can force us to do unless we want, that is why there are multitudes of believers that not think about it. The apostle says: “I beseech for the mercies of God“ That is, that we must seize that God in his love and mercy he redeemed us and made ​​us partakers of all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ …” Ephesians 1:3

He says: “… that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God”

This offer is like as an offering to God, in which we must turn in all things to the flesh and the devil want through the world offers; This offer is like as an offering to God, in which we must turn in all things to the flesh and the devil want through the world offers, as a sacrifice, so that, guided by his Spirit, offer Him all that pleases him, that as Paul says: “which is your reasonable service” The apostle continues: “And do not be conformed to this world”

Dear brothers, this is something that we understand, should not conform to all the things we have or receive that belong to this world. What God has given us in Christ comes from heaven, has to do with his life and is eternal. If we seek the improvement of all the things we have received will never get to an end, it has no limit and surpasses knowledge. However, we can see multitudes of Christians are in search of material blessings and some try to imitate the lifestyle with those who do not know God in this world. But we must be careful not to lose anything of what God, in His great love, has given us. Therefore, the apostle it does not say that we do not to settle for what we have in this world. God raised us and made us sit with Christ in heavenly places.

“… and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:6

So, we are above all that this world is. Our riches will leave with us when we depart this earth, they are spiritual and glory in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul says, that will end the centuries, we in God’s plans have already reached its end and go into eternity where time will be no more.

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” 1 Corinthians 10:11

“… and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer” Revelation 10:6

Now, the apostle Paul teaches us how we can let go of all these earthly things and be transformed into a new man. It also says that this transformation takes place through the renewing of our understanding. This word “renewal” in this verse 2 of chapter 12 of Romans, has this meaning: The adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is intended to carry out a transformative effect on life.

How do we transform our understanding? In this we must be vigilant and not let anything or anyone deceive us, taking us based on the word of God assures us that we can. Our understanding is renewed by the knowledge that God brings us through His word and in light of your Holy Spirit, for all the good that He says that we should practice.

An example: the word of God says: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” Galatians 6:9

For information that gives us the word, we see that the good we should do continually. The practice of this will lead us to see that what God commands us to do, produce in us, something we had not experienced before, and is being produced carnal man’s transformation to a spiritual man. We must seek, to do, to have the information of all the good that is in us by Jesus Christ, as Paul tells Philemon in verse 6: “… that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” Philemon 1:6

Another example: the Bible teaches us that: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35

For the natural man is always better to receive than to give. If we believe what God’s word says, we should not only stop that by this renewed our understanding, but know that in the spiritual man be happier giving than receiving. Upon receiving this information from the word of God, renewed understanding to something that did not know; to practice it is to have the experience of satisfaction it produces and so will carry out the transformation by through the renewal of our minds.

Now, if we look to the church these days, we see that believers cannot believe they have died and been born again, Now, if we look to the church these days, we see that believers cannot believe they have died and born again, and to confess and believe that they are sinners cannot practice these things, which we are speaking, because when considering who are not saints and are looking for ways the way how to stop being sinners. However, the letters of the Apostle Paul, are for the Church which is the body of Jesus Christ, it is formed by all who by faith died with Christ on the cross and resurrected to a new life.

“How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life” Romans 6:2-4

Now, the apostle Paul tells us that if we perform this transformation, we will check something of such value that no man’s mind cannot imagine, and that every believer should achieve, which is God’s good, pleasing and perfect. Thousands of Christians have no idea of what it means to the knowledge of God’s will. However, the apostle Paul, writing to the Colossians, asking in prayer that they reached this knowledge.

“For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” Colossians 1:9

In this case, the will of God is an advice filled with grace. That is, in his will that he gives us advice so through His word teaches us the way and manner in which we live while we are in this world and in his advice. His grace is enough for you to achieve all those who want it. The apostle Paul says, that if we practice everything through the teachings reveals, with respect to good works, which we should do and what God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10

We will see that the Lord’s will is not only good but is also acceptable and perfect. That is, through the practice of the counsels of God, and that by faith, we believe that this is so, we find that it produces in us is pleasant, that is, that brings contentment to discover that we can do as well, brings joy and peace to our lives, because this will of God is not only pleasant, but has no failure. So, all I have to reach ever regret having done, by the renewing of your mind, this transformation that makes us similar at Christ.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” Romans 8:29

This is a spiritual stature that the believers deny can achieve, however, here in this passage is clear, God knew us, predestined and called us to be like his Son. Now if you do not believe what God says in His Word, about what it has done through us in Christ Jesus, and we do not give value, knowing that we are free from the bondage of evil in the natural man (which according to God is dead) and we have been raised with Christ, we cannot check what that life is. But God says that faith has given us as a gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

Through which we can believe whatever He speaks about us. We must not seek leave of doing evil to do good then, because the Bible teaches that doing good can overcome evil. (Romans 12:21) Because not believe this, we have introduced many doctrines of error in the Christian world, and believers are carried away by thoughts and human cunning, introduced the false teachers in the church. But the time is coming when God will release the glorious truths of the work of Christ on the cross, where not only purchased salvation for those who believe, but that she also has given her life to develop it are like him in his conduct, love, purity and holiness, as manifested when he was on earth.

When we read in the Word of God, which He made us partakers of His divine nature: “… by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” 2 Peter 1:4

And we can achieve the image of his Son, we should all bow down before Him in worship and we should learn to love him with all our might and with all our heart. Who could do such a thing to us that we were once sinners? In this we see the manifestation of God’s love for man. However, the church sings songs of worship and never learned to worship.

Most worship that you can give God is believe everything he says, which multitudes of Christians do not. Now, finally, we see that the renovation is to change the way people think about the life we ​​have; so, it says, setting the moral and spiritual thoughts to the mind of God, that is, that obedience to the doctrines of the Bible, about the way of life that God has given us, we have to go with the knowledge that our thoughts are the thoughts of the Lord.

Renovation, transformation, which is wonderful to think that this has been given and prepared for us, we can be imitators of God as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1) and which can put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24)

But most believers today live as if the rapture is not going to occur, live ignoring what the church has to do before being taken away. Christ cannot take your church, if it is not manifested in the institution of marriage God was not wrong, that men can love each other in His Kingdom and driven by that love can help, to get in the people the Lord there is no need.

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need” Acts 4:32-35

Shall the church, before leaving this earth, teaching as were created all things men discovered and which make use at this time, for example: nine numbers with a leading zero, infinite God makes them infinite. Also, the atom, the atmosphere, the domain and the law of gravity, men have discovered that there are, but know not what created them. In addition, it must be the great harvest and then the final harvest until between the last Gentile. If the church is out at this time, men who know not God say that He has failed marriage and also in trying to perfect man in his conduct. But none of this will happen but who is the true Church, those who know the grace of God in truth, will not fail in His grace to do his will, and so, to come, they will carry out the implementation plan God before they are taken to heaven.

That is why we speak of a transformation through the renewing of our mind. God will bring in these last days, knowledge about the life and behavior of man through the Church never spoken before. Because eyes are enlightened understanding of all who believe they have died and born again and can achieve the image of Christ. e Church will be raptured before revealed in all its glory, splendor and majesty, as it is the body of Christ and God has highly exalted.   That is, those who are enlightened by the Holy Spirit and take over all these riches in glory in Christ Jesus we shall make known not only to the Christian world but men of this world in this time have no idea that their lives can change, as the church, not to live the new life, is in the eyes of the world as a religion.

But as we said before being taken away will be displayed, because it is the bride of Him who fills all in all, it passed into the heavens, and sits above all rule and all authority.

“… which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” Ephesians 1:20-23

So, brethren beloved of the Lord, we must awaken from the dream we live and look to the glory that awaits us when Christ is revealed. And in the time remaining, serve God with purpose of heart and joy, knowing that our work in Him is not in vain.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Corinthians 15:58

The doctrines of prosperity, freedom and many other strange things that have been introduced into the Church, cannot lead to the improvement of this life of which we speak. But knowledge of exaltation to which God in Christ has led us through faith, we cannot only achieve but also manifest. This is what God expects of His Church and Christ is who is preparing, as a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

“… who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works …” Titus 2:14

You are not excluded from this, but we are who through faith and patience appropriates all the promises, “… that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises …” Hebrews 6:12

So, brothers, to stand firm in the faith, growing in the knowledge of God, “… that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2:2-3

I embrace you in the love of Jesus

Pastor: Juan A. Avellaneda