JC Blog

How we think is dependent on many things, how we were raised, the values and world views we were taught, not to mention the circumstances of our lives. All of these things shape our attitudes and perceptions whether good or bad. No matter where we come from the Word is able to expose all these things so the truth of scripture can be rewritten on our hearts.

Paul said in Romans 12:2 that transformation comes by the renewal of the mind. The transformation he is talking about is metamorphosis, illustrated by a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. It is a complete change. The same illustration holds true for us. When we let the truth of scripture rewrite the thoughts and attitudes we possess then our soul realm is transformed displaying the amazing things that are contained in our born again spirits. Everything God said we are through Christ is exactly what will show up in our lives through this renewal.

Peter said, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” ( II Peter 1:3-4 ). He gave us everything we will ever need in our spirits, remember they are identical in Jesus’ spirit and perfected. Unlocking these things comes through the knowledge of Him and renewing our minds to the truths found in scripture.

This is why God’s word is alive and full of power! It is able to discern and release truth into our lives. It exposes, judges and analyzes the purposes of the heart. Then it rewrites, renews and changes our perceptions of reality aligning it to God’s view. This is an amazing truth! This is why Paul told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” ( II Timothy 2:15 ). We study not to show God that we are approved but to show ourselves that we are approved by God. Handling, releasing and teaching the word of truth with accuracy and skill.

Learning this verse from Hebrews 4 early on in life has made all the difference as I have grown and understand more clearly God’s word. I see the wonderful things it contains and trust that God will reveal these truths to me. They contain life and have transformation power. Not only will my life resemble Christ’s life in my born again spirit but it will also be displayed in my thoughts and actions as well. Knowing this amazing truth helps me dwell in a constant state of Sabbath rest.

Tomorrow we will look at Hebrews 4:13; Nothing is Hidden From God’s Sight.

The Word is powerful because it is able to discern the difference between the soul and spirit. These two words are so similar that most understand them to be the same thing. Even our language uses them interchangeably, but the Biblical definition is vastly different. I Thessalonians 5:23 shows us that mankind is made up of three parts, a spirit, a soul and a body. Understanding this truth is a key to unlocking and understanding many scriptures.

Our spirit is our life force. It is the part of us that was born again when we put our faith in Jesus. The default sin nature was taken out and we were give a new spirit that is identical to Jesus ( Romans 6:6-7, I John 4:17 ). The believer’s spirit is the part that has been sanctified, sealed and redeemed ( Ephesians 2:13-14, Romans 8:15-17 ) . The spirit you have now is the same spirit you will have for all eternity, it is perfect ( Romans 8, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14 ).

The soul can be described as your personality, your thoughts, your attitudes and what makes you unique. Perhaps this is why we use words like spirit and soul interchangeably because we cannot see either one, yet we understand that we possess something that makes up who we are as a person.

The body is the container for the spirit and the soul. It is the physical structure of a human. It is our flesh and blood. It is who we are when people look at us. This is the third part to mankind, without any one of these things, we cannot sustain life.

The spirit and the soul appear to be so similar that we group them together. But Hebrews 4:12 says the Word is capable of showing us the difference between the spirit and the soul. It is like a sharp sword that is able to penetrate and divide the two. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart” ( Hebrews 4:12 Amp ).

This is an important concept because we look at certain scriptures and wonder who they are talking about. We read passages showing us that we are identical to Jesus in this world, God considers us pure, righteous and holy and we don’t believe it because we look to the realm of our soul and assume that God has made a mistake. We quote passages saying we are raised and seated with Christ in the heavenly realm ( Ephesians 2:6 ) but continue to struggle with hardship in our homes. This is because we haven’t understood the differences between the spirit and the soul and this plays out in how we interpret and understand the Bible.

The born again spirit we received the moment we were saved is identical with Jesus ( Romans 8, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14 ). This is how God sees us, He looks at our spirit. This is why He sees us a righteous, because the sin nature is gone. Consequently this is how the devil sees us also. He looks at us dressed in our full armor ( Ephesians 6:10-18 ) and cannot tell the difference between us and Jesus ( Isaiah 59:15-18 ). This is why he trembles when we are around. The spirit is truly who we are because of what Jesus did.

However, we look at ourselves through the eyes of our soul. We see where we struggle, we know the thoughts we have, we know how we mess up. So there is a huge disconnect when we read the Bible because we don’t understand who we are in the spirit and how God looks at us. Then we get frustrated thinking we need be holy and righteous when in fact we already are.

This is why this passage of scripture is so powerful because it shows us the Word of God is able to discern between the two. Knowing the difference between the spirit and the soul brings enlightenment to the scriptures because we are able to discern what part of our makeup is being talked about in passages. Paul wrote, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( I Thessalonians 5:23 ). Our spirit is already blameless, but our soul, the thoughts, attitudes and intent of the heart, needs to be renewed and reminded of who we are in the spirit so we will experience them in the physical realm as well.

Tomorrow we will look at Part 3; The Word Exposes Our Thoughts and Attitudes.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)

Growing up I worked at a summer camp. Each year the camp had a themed Bible verse that was presented to the kids and taught on in the chapel services. The second year I worked, Hebrews 4:12 was the verse. Since then, this verse has stuck with me, making a profound impact on my life because it placed an importance on the Word of God. Thinking of it often, I understood early that the scriptures were there to help and guide me through life. In fact they became life to me because the word that God speaks is alive and full of power, which makes it effective and life changing.

It is no coincidence that this verse is found in the middle of instruction on entering into God’s rest through Jesus. Hebrews 4:11 gives warning to make every effort of entering into rest; not following in Israel’s example of disobedience and unbelief. To do this we must learn who God is and understand His nature and will concerning us. This is accomplished through scripture. The Word of God has an active part in remaining in rest.

The true Sabbath Rest is found in Jesus; we enter by trusting in Him and the finished work of the cross. But to remain and stay in this place takes effort, not because we must do something to remain saved, but because we have a tendency to take back control and strive in the midst of circumstances. Instead we must rely solely on Him; not trusting in ourselves when situations come against us. The more we let the truth of scripture speak into our lives, the more we will trust God when things beyond our control happen because we know His promises. He reminds us of the things he has said in His Word, bringing both encouragement and confidence.

Tomorrow we will look at Part 2; The Difference Between the Soul and the Spirit.

All the writings of the Old Testament, all the law and all the prophets foretell of the gospel of God or good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the epicenter of history past and history future. It is not by accident that Paul starts off this brilliant expose to the Romans with the claim that this good news is one and the same of which the prophets had been foretelling for centuries.

Many marvel and are caught off guard concerning this - many believe that the new covenant or good news of Jesus came about because God just got feed up with the first system of laws and sacrifices and decided to do something entirely new and different. But the truth of the matter is that this was always the plan, the plan before creation, the plan before man and the plan before fall. In fact it is Peter who tells us in I Peter chapter 1, that it is "not with perishable things such as silver or god that you were redeemed from an empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the World, but was revealed in the last times for your sake" ( I Peter 1:18-20 ). Peter clearly teaches us that Jesus was chosen to bear the penalty of our sin before that sin existed. That is why God told the serpent in the garden, "he will crush (or strike) your head, and you will strike his heel" ( Genesis 3:15 ). Right after sin entered into the world, God told Satan that there was one coming or there was one already on the way to undo what he did, and that was Jesus!

Mankind's sin in no means caught God off guard. This didn't send the Lord back to the drawing board trying to figure out another plan after the first one had been foiled. No, Peter says that Jesus was the Lamb chosen before the foundation of the world! And Paul is telling us in the beginning of Romans that this gospel is what was promised before hand through the entire Holy Scriptures. This is the good news of the grace of God to which he was called to be an apostle.

God wasn't doing something new because he got feed up with the first system. Hebrews says that the law was types and shadows of what was to come ( Hebrews 10:1 ). Meaning the law always pointed towards Jesus, the law brought about the conscience of sin indicating the need for a Savior. This Savior is in the person of Jesus Christ and through faith in His blood which he offered for the sins of the entire world ( Hebrews 9:28, I John 2:2 ). For those who believe, this grace is a sweet and precious gift. Sins are completely covered and completely paid for through the redemption that came through Christ's atoning blood.

This was always the plan, this was always the way and this good news is what the prophets foretold and promised through the Holy Scriptures. And this good news is what Paul was set apart for. This good news is what will save us and give us abundant life if we believe those prophets and Paul and believed in Jesus as our Savior, to the Glory of God.

In Proverbs 23 it says, as a man thinks in his heart so is he ( Proverbs 23:7 ). Our actions are a result of what we think. Intellectually we may believe something to be true, but our real convictions come out our actions. This is why it is so important to renew our minds with word of God. To take the scripture and implant it in our hearts so that it is in alignment with what God has said. If what is in our heart is scripture then we will act based on that belief system.

Peter said, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" ( II Peter 1:3-4 ). Everything we need for life and godliness comes through the knowledge of him. In other words, applying the word of God is what affects your life. Life and godliness is a byproduct of knowing God and what he has spoken. This is why Paul said to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. We are so inundated with the world and it's philosophies that it is hard to escape its corruption and not to internalize some of those viewpoints, but through the knowledge of him we are able to escape the corruption in the world because our beliefs are based on his principals.

Jesus said the same thing in John, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" ( John 8:32 ). Being free is not automatic, first you must understand that the truth is what makes you free and to be free you have to know what the truth is. Later in John Jesus was praying for his disciples, he said, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" ( John 17:17 ). Sanctification is the process of becoming holy. We are already righteous before God because of Jesus, but sanctification and holiness comes through the knowledge of him ( II Peter 1:3 ). Jesus said "your word is truth" so knowing and understanding God's word is what brings about our sanctification and knowing this truth will set you free.

In Romans 12 Paul urges us to be living sacrifices in view of God's mercy toward us. This is our reasonable worship of the Lord for all that he has done. In today's passage Paul gives us the key to being living sacrifices. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ( Romans 12:2 ).  Paul uses a very descriptive word picture of this change. First we should not allow ourselves to be poured into the world's mold. This will only cause us to look like the world, to act like the world and to talk like the world. Instead we should be transformed by renewing our minds with what God has said. Imagine a caterpillar as he turns into a butterfly, this transformation is what Paul is talking about. II Corinthians says that in Christ we are a new creation. The old is gone the new has come ( II Corinthians 5:17 ). After we are born again, we still look the same on the outside, but God said we are new creations, completely different and changed on the inside. Renewing our mind to everything God says that we are will transform our lives into the new creation that we are.

This is an amazing truth in scripture, not because this change comes with anything we do but because it comes by knowing God and his word. We can experience effortless change in life simply by renewing our minds to the truth of God's word. As a man thinks in his heart so is he ( Proverbs 23:7 ), when what we think and know is God's word, then it will come out in the way we live. Paul wrote to Timothy that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" ( II Timothy 3:16-17 ). The Word is what equipped us and prepares us for this life. We are instructed to know and approve of God's will for us and this comes through renewing our minds to the scripture. But to be effective in our lives it has to be our revelation, our truth, our basis for living.

Today, I am so thankful for the word of God and how its truth has blessed my life. What it says about me is who I am. I am thankful that all things pertaining to life and godliness are mine through the knowledge of God as written in his word. May you understand the importance of the scriptures and apply them to your life, amen.