2b But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Christians are here exhorted to live a transformed life. In the past, we lived according to the lust of our flesh and enjoyed the pleasures of the world. But now as Christians, we ought to be “transformed”. To be transformed is to be metamorphosed, or changed in nature and form. Christians demonstrate a real change in their conduct. They are no more the same as before their conversion.
Their spiritual and moral transformation is effected by what Paul referred to as “the renewing of your mind”. When people turn from their sins to Christ by faith, a radical change in their thinking occurs. They are no more thinking and living for themselves or the world, but for Christ who now lives in them. Their thoughts and feelings are now influenced by the Spirit and truth of Christ. As genuine followers of Christ, they surrender their mind to the renewing influence of the Spirit and truth of Christ.
Paul rhetorically asked the Corinthian Christians, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:16). Paul wants Christians to continue to renew their minds by taking heed to God’s truth brought to their minds by His Spirit.
Christians should not give themselves to think like the unrepentant and unbelieving people who walk in the vanity of their mind. The apostle tells us in Ephesians 4:17-19, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” A Christian’s motivation, desires and ambitions should not be according to carnal and materialistic views of life.
So Paul urged Christians, “But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:20-23). Let us not allow our minds to be corrupted, but rather let our minds be renewed to pursue a life that is according to the knowledge of His will.