WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN Paul states in ROMANS 12.20 RENEWING OUR MINDS?

"Renewing your mind" refers to the process of changing our minds to become more like the mind of Christ. It's rejecting the sin, worldly attitudes and lies and replacing them with the truth from the Bible. It's not an event, but a process often referred to as "sanctification".

Examples could include changing a belief that lying is alright whenever you're in a jam to the truth from the Bible that lying is a sin and that our "yes should be yes and our no should be no". Another example is changing one's mind from the attitude that it's alright to take revenge on someone when you're angry to the truth that we are to forgive as Christ forgave us. There are a million other examples, but the point is that to renew our minds, we MUST read our Bibles. We can't change what we don't know, which is why reading the Bible is crucial. It also requires a willingness to submit to what the Bible says (rather than rejecting truths because they don't suit us).

To choose eternal life rather than eternal torment ( Romans 12:2 is the correct verse for this). Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

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Therefore, if thine enemy hunger ... - This verse is taken almost literally from Pro_25:21-22. Hunger and thirst here are put for want in general. If thine enemy is needy in any way, do him good, and supply his needs. This is, in spirit, the same as the command of the Lord Jesus Mat_5:44, “Do good to them that hate you,” etc.

In so doing - It does not mean that we are to do this “for the sake” of heaping coals of fire on him, but that this will be the result.

Thou shalt heap ... - Coals of fire are doubtless emblematical of “pain.” But the idea here is not that in so doing we shall call down divine vengeance on the man; but the apostle is speaking of the natural effect or result of showing him kindness. Burning coals heaped on a man’s head would be expressive of intense agony. So the apostle says that the “effect” of doing good to an enemy would be to produce pain. But the pain will result from shame, remorse of conscience, a conviction of the evil of his conduct, and an apprehension of divine displeasure that may lead to repentance. To do this, is not only perfectly right, but it is desirable. If a man can be brought to reflection and true repentance, it should be done. In regard to this passage we may remark,

(1) That the way to promote “peace” is to do good even to enemies.

(2) the way to bring a man to repentance is to do him good. On this principle God is acting continually. He does good to all, even to the rebellious; and he designs that his goodness should lead people to repentance; Rom_2:4. People will resist wrath, anger, and power; but “goodness” they cannot resist; it finds its way to the heart; and the conscience does its work, and the sinner is overwhelmed at the remembrance of his crimes.

(3) if people would act on the principles of the gospel, the world would soon be at peace. No man would suffer himself many times to be overwhelmed in this way with coals of fire. It is not human nature, bad as it is; and if Christians would meet all unkindness with kindness, all malice with benevolence, and all wrong with right, peace would soon pervade the community, and even opposition to the gospel might soon die away.

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great book "what did Paul Mean" by Garry Wills religious scholar

great insights

Thinking more Chirst like

It is purification of mind and attain the Kingdom of God. It is the purpose of. Religion is ways and means to attain that and that itself not end.

It is a wisdom from God to do good to your enemy so that you will not be overcome by him to be like him at one point of your life.