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The Mind Renewed, February 11
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
.
The part man has to act in the salvation of the soul is to believe on Jesus
Christ as a perfect Redeemer, not for some other man, but for his own self.
He is to trust, to love, to fear the God of heaven. There is a certain work to
be accomplished. Man must be delivered from the power of sin. He must be
made perfect in every good work. In doing the words of Christ is his only
assurance that his house is built upon the solid foundation. To hear, to say, to
preach, and not to do the words of Christ is building upon the sand.
Those who do the words of Christ will perfect a Christian character,
because Christ’s will is their will. Thus is Christ formed within, the hope of
glory. They are beholding, as in a glass, the glory of God. By our making
Christ the subject of meditation, He will become the subject of conversation;
and by beholding, we will actually be changed into the same image, from
glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. Man, fallen man, may be
transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that he can “prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” How does he prove this?
By the Holy Spirit taking possession of his mind, spirit, heart, and character.
Where does the proving come in? “We are made a spectacle to the world, and
to angels, and to men” (
1 Corinthians 4:9
).
A real work is wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the human character, and
its fruits are seen; just as a good tree will bear good fruit, so will the tree that
is actually planted in the Lord’s garden produce good fruit unto eternal life.
Besetting sins are overcome; evil thoughts are not allowed in the mind; evil
habits are purged from the soul temple. The tendencies, which have been
biased in a wrong direction, are turned in a right direction. Wrong dispositions
and feelings are rooted out. Holy tempers and sanctified emotions are now
the fruit borne upon the Christian tree. An entire transformation has taken
place. This is the work to be wrought.—
Elder E. P. Daniels and the Fresno
Church
, 8, 9.
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