A deeper look into Need, Rest and, Reasonable Service

Earlier we looked at the Sabbath Rest and the operation of transformation in the Christian life. If there is a glaring need today within Christianity, it is to find saints that have truly been transformed into new creations. The transformation, we are told by Paul, is through the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2; 2Cor 4:16; Eph 4:23; Col 3:10 & Tit 3:5.)

What exactly is the mind renewed too? The answer is to the redemptive decrees; the accomplishment of Christ on our behalf. It is renewed to the Sabbath Rest; renewed to our abiding faith in Jesus. Renewing ones mind to the Sabbath Rest and the accomplishments of Christ Jesus is the source of deep and abiding love for God and, this love for God, is the source of the transformation….realizing that there must always be a healthy dose of need applied to bring about the love….(Luk 7:47 NKJV) Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." The more one is forgiven the more they love.

Paul stated that all have sinned (all sin, my emphasis) and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23.) Therefore, the reasonable service passages…those that explain what love looks and acts like can often be the source of recognizing our need…for example, I look at the admonition.... Php 2:5-7 NKJV Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. and…every time we recognize that we do not measure up to this...really have the mind of Christ in us…that we are not really and always willing to be a bond servant we…at that moment….need to rest in the redemptive decrees such as…2Co 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This will do two things for us; (1) it will cause one to rest and love God and, it will renew our minds to being a servant to all and, with renewed mind, we can have the same mind as Jesus…we can see others as he sees them.

In other words, instead of allowing the passage to become a read and do law that will condemn us for not obeying…the realization of our benefit in Christ, even in the midst of failure…will lead to love for God that, will briefly produce godly sorrow causing a shift in attitude and, we will then willingly –lovingly, become a servant with a servants heart.

The transformation from a renewed mind is a very practical operation. It is the way in which the sanctification process operates. The combination of our regularly reading the scripture….coupled with the Holy Spirit and, the law of God being written on our hearts and minds, will work the transformation over time. It will be real transformation….spiritual transformation.