How can we guard against a "depraved mind" in our daily lives? The Warning in Romans 1:28 “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:28) A depraved (reprobate) mind is one God allows when people persistently refuse His truth. Guarding against it begins with taking this warning seriously. Root Causes of a Depraved Mind • Suppressing revealed truth (Romans 1:18) • Refusing to honor or thank God (Romans 1:21) • Exchanging God’s glory for idols (Romans 1:23–25) • Persisting in willful disobedience (Ephesians 4:17–19) We guard our minds by reversing each of these patterns through active obedience. Cleansing Through Christ • Salvation renews us: “He saved us… by the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5) • Ongoing renewal: “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24) Our minds stay sound only when anchored in Christ’s finished work and daily surrendered to His Spirit. Daily Practices That Guard the Mind • Saturate your thoughts with Scripture—read, study, memorize, meditate (Psalm 119:9–11). • Begin and end the day thanking God, countering ingratitude. • Use worship music to redirect attention upward (Colossians 3:16). • Regularly fast from media that celebrates sin (Psalm 101:3). Cultivating a Discerning Thought Life • Filter every idea through truth: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) • Choose edifying content: “Whatever is true… noble… pure… think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) • Ask, Does this thought draw me closer to God or away from Him? Community Accountability • Meet consistently with believers who love Scripture (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Invite honest correction (Proverbs 27:6). • Share victories and struggles; secrecy breeds depravity. Walking by the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • Depend on His power to produce love, joy, peace, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). • Pray throughout the day, asking for fresh filling (Ephesians 5:18). Rejecting Modern Idolatry • “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” (1 John 2:15-17) • Identify cultural messages that deny God and replace them with Scripture. • Practice generosity to loosen the grip of materialism (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Keeping Short Accounts with God • Confess sin quickly: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9) • Repent decisively; don’t nurse secret habits. • Celebrate Christ’s assurance of cleansing, silencing condemnation (Romans 8:1). Vision of a Renewed Mind • “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) • Aim for a mind filled with the knowledge of God’s will (Colossians 1:9-10). • Look ahead to the day He completes the renewal (1 John 3:2-3). By embracing these rhythms, we hold tightly to the knowledge of God, closing the door to a depraved mind and opening our lives to the beauty of Christ-centered thinking. |
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