Tuesday, March 24, 2009

ANATOMY OF A MIND: THE BAD NEWS

What kind of mind do you have? I suppose it depends largely on what you believe - or don't believe.

The Unbeliever's Mind

Ephesians 4:17 says the Gentiles or the Pagan’s mind is futile and vain (empty!).
Ephesians 4:18 says unbeliever’s are darkened in their understanding.
Philippians 3:19 Says Their mind is on earthly things.
In Colossians 2:18 it is a fleshly mind.
Titus 1:15 says it is a defiled mind.
Romans 1:28 tells us it’s a reprobate mind.
In 1Timothy 6:5 it’s a corrupted mind.
Romans 8:7 calls it a Carnal and Sinful mind.
Romans 8:7 also says it is Hostile to God.

Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
"...in the folly, vanity and emptiness of their souls and the futility of their minds." AMP
"Their minds are set on worthless things." GW

Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

This is the progression in the life of the unbeliever:
"Don’t live like the Gentiles." Their thinking is futile and empty. Why is their thinking futile and
empty? Because their understanding is dark and they’re separated from God’s life. Why are they dark in understanding and separated from God’s life? Because they are ignorant. Why are they ignorant? Because they hardened their heart!†

We're given the choice between God, and not God; between good and evil. If we harden our hearts against that choice and refuse the knowledge of God, our only alternative is ignorance. Ignorance of God keeps up separated from the life of God. Being separated from the life of God keeps our understanding dark. Dark understanding leaves all of our thinking futile and empty. O.K. now we've seen the progression backwards and forwards! Want the good news? You'll have to check in tomorrow!

For the theologians out there, I suppose the difference between free-will and predestination is who hardened your heart - you, or God?

[Photo: Charles Bell: Anatomy of the Brain, c. 1802]

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