Salvation of the Mind

The place where God begins His work in the believer is in the spirit. This is how a true believer discerns his new birth and has become a child of God. This is because the inner spirit has been quickened or made alive by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within.

The new spirit is regenerated and renewed and is abiding with the indwelling Holy Spirit. And the two of them bear witness together. The Holy of Holies of the Old Testament temple is an illustration of this. Jehovah God’s glorious presence dwelt there. The innermost part of the temple pictures our spirit from which the Holy Spirit influences our soul and body.

The blueprint of the Old Testament temple or Tabernacle was given to Moses by God. It begins with the Ark in the Holy of Holies and proceeds to the outside gate. Also, God begins his saving work in man’s spirit and progresses outwardly through the soul and body.

Man’s religion begins with outside changes attempting to change the inside eventually. Man’s religion majors in external “dos and don’ts” but is not capable of changing the heart of man.

However, God’s salvation is a divine process of inward change and outward godliness. God has made provision in grace for the whole person who truly believes. He granted not only love and power but also a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. “Sound mind” literally means the “saving of the mind.”

This is a tremendous thought that redemption is not only salvation of the soul but also the deliverance of the mind.

Consider Luke 8:26-35. Jesus confronted a maniac who had been demonized for a long time. In this state, the man had the spirit of fear, which drove him to acts of violence, nudity, uncleanness, and no permanent structured homelife. When the demons left him at the command of Jesus, he was found sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.

Luke 8:35 – “Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” This man was once mentally deranged but now is completely healed. He is now capable of thinking logically, soberly and spiritually.