The heart is the core or center of one’s emotions, feelings, and desires.
The mind is the faculty of consciousness and thought.
God’s Grace in Transforming His Children
In the journey of faith, God’s grace is not limited to transforming our hearts alone. Scripture emphasizes the renewal of both heart and mind.
Renewing the Mind
Discerning the Will of God
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2 calls believers to be transformed by the renewal of their minds. This renewal is not a call to shut off our minds but to align them with God’s truth. By testing and discerning, we can understand what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s eyes.
Our minds, transformed by His grace, become instruments to discern and embrace His will.
God’s Initiative in Salvation
Solely Initiated By God’s Grace
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:44
John 6:44 assures us that no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws them.
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5
Titus 3:5 echoes this truth, emphasizing that our salvation is not based on our righteous deeds but on God’s mercy, through the regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, it is not a matter of us allowing God, but rather God graciously allowing us to receive His Spirit.
Wholeness in Christ
Heart and Mind United
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6
God’s work in our lives aims for wholeness, encompassing both our hearts and minds. Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who began a good work in us will continue perfecting it until the day of Christ Jesus. Our hearts and minds do not disconnect in our spiritual journey.
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Hebrews 5:14
Hebrews 5:14 highlights the importance of training our senses and discernment, aligning our thoughts with God’s truth.
Sealed with His Spirit
A Calm Assurance
Through Christ, God establishes His children with His Spirit in their hearts. This sealing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings about a calmness and peace that surpasses human understanding.
It is a guarantee of His presence and a testament to our connection with Him.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
Freedom From Chains
Chains of the World
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
Romans 6:18
As God’s grace transforms us, we experience true freedom from the chains of this world.
Romans 6:18 reminds us that through our obedience from the heart to God’s teachings, we are set free from the power of sin.
This freedom leads to sanctification and eternal life, breaking the cycle of death caused by sin.
The Struggle
Mortal Flesh vs. Spirit
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:1-5
While our mortal flesh is prone to sin, the Spirit within us wages war against it.
God’s Grace assures us that He will deliver us from our sinful nature and its desires. Ultimately, believers will receive glorified bodies, free from the struggle with sin.
The Assurance of Being God’s Children
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Romans 8:16
Romans 8:16 affirms that the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit, assuring us that we are God’s children.
This confirmation brings confidence and assurance in our relationship with Him.
God’s grace extends beyond transforming our hearts; it also renews our minds.
Both heart and mind play integral roles in aligning with God’s will and experiencing the freedom He offers.
As God’s children, we are summoned to embrace His transforming grace, making our hearts and minds united in perfect harmony with His Spirit, His heart, His mind, and His will.
