one has truly repented, there is going to be demonstrable change in the direction, quality, and course of their life. Therefore, if we have not seen a change in someone, we have every reason to suspect that there really hasn’t been a metanoia, a repentance, a change of mind. Through a new birth, a new nature, and a new life, we are on the way to being able to think correctly. As non-Christians, we were walking away from God, had no time for Him, doing our own thing, living our own life, being the master of our own fate, and so forth. But then, we had a change of mind. That change of mind led to a change of direction. The changed mind led to repentance, which led to conversion, which led to a new nature. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Not only did we receive an “undivided heart,” according to Ezekiel 11:19, but we also received a new “heart of flesh.” We lost that hard heart that was impenetrable and not submissive or responsive to God. As we’ve already read in 1 Corinthians 2:16, we received the mind of Christ. All of this is preparation for right thinking.
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