The Nous of human spirit that relates to the Holy Spirit

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The nous of human spirit as it relates to the Holy Spirit

(note:any reference to Aristotle has been deleted and has no bearing on the topic)

Theological definition of nous:
Strong's Greek: 3563. ???? (nous) -- mind, understanding, reason

3563 noús (a masculine noun) – the God-given capacity of each person to think (reason); the mind; mental capacity to exercise reflective thinking.

For the believer, 3563 (noús) is the organ of receiving God's thoughts, through faith.


Keeping an unveiled spirit to live in communion with God. Where there is a closed nous, there is a closed spirit that God cannot shine light into.

Eph 4:17-24
4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind 3563,nous
4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (blindness: or, hardness)
4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind 3563;nous
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.(true…: or, holiness of truth)

Note the theological difference of the term nous in the Greek spellings from the link above as used in verse 17 compared to verse 23

Ephesians 4:17
GRK: ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν
NAS: walk, in the futility of their mind,
KJV: the vanity of their mind,
INT: [the] futility of the mind of them

Ephesians 4:23
GRK: πνεύματι τοῦ νοὸς ὑμῶν
NAS: in the spirit of your mind,
KJV: in the spirit of your mind;
INT: spirit of the mind of you

Below is a commentary on the above verses
from: The Renewing of the Mind,
W. Nee

Verse 18 says, "Being darkened in their understanding." Understanding according to the original text is dianoia. This word has the same root as nous in verse 17, but changes a little from the root to form dianoia. So the meaning from verse 17 to verse 18 is, "You should no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk in the vanity of their nous, being darkened in their dianoia." What is the difference between nous and dianoia? Nous is an organ; dianoia is a kind of function. This is like saying that the eye is an organ, while seeing is a function of the eye. Therefore, the eye is the object, while seeing is the function of the object. The nous is the organ, while the dianoia is the function. Nous is an organ, and verse 17 talks about the nature of this organ. Dianoia is a function, and verse 18 talks about the function of the organ.

Verse 18 says, "Alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance which is in them, because of the hardness of their heart." The "heart" in this verse is the true "I," that is, the self, one’s own personality.

Verse 19 says, "Who, being past feeling." The meaning here in the original text is to have lost all feeling and to be numb. This term is used by medical doctors quite often. Every doctor knows that the wound of a patient hurts, but when the hurt goes beyond a certain stage, the person does not feel the pain anymore. Although the wound is still inflamed, the consciousness of pain is utterly lost. This verse means that there is no longer any feeling. It means that the heart is so hardened that it has lost its feeling.

In verse 22 we have, "That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man." The meaning here is that since you have heard and have been taught in Him as the reality is in Jesus, that your old man has been put off, etc., you should do the things recorded in verses 25-32.

"The old man, which is being corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit" (v. 22). According to the original text the meaning here is, "The old man, which through the lusts of the deceit is heading towards corruption."

"And that you be renewed in the spirit of your nous [the Greek word for mind]" (v. 23). This is a continuation of a preceding verse concerning the reality in Jesus, that is, what the believers have received in Christ. We not only have put off the old man, but we should renew the spirit of our nous frequently. The meaning in the original text is to be continually renewed in the same way that the old man is continually being corrupted.

Verse 24 reads, "And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality." "Put on the new man" in the original text can be rendered "having put on the new man." This corresponds to verse 22. Verse 24 also speaks of the facts which we have in the Lord. Verses 22 through 24 are all facts that we have in Christ. Based on these verses, verse 25 and the following verses command and tell us what we should do.

In this passage we see three particularly important things: (1) our spiritual life, (2) our heart, and (3) our nous. Verse 17 speaks of the nous; verse 18 speaks of dianoia, which is the function of the nous, something concerning the nous. Verse 18 says, "Alienated from the life of God." This means that the spirit is closed and can no longer communicate with God. Not only can Gentiles be like this, but Christians can also have a closed spirit. "The hardness of their heart" in verse 18 refers to the heart. "Being past feeling" in verse 19 refers to the numbness and the loss of feeling in man’s heart.

In short, this passage mentions the condition of three things: the nous, the spirit, and the heart.

 

[Radagast]

It would be a mistake to assume that the Bible is supporting Aristotle's doctrine.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It would be a mistake to assume that the Bible is supporting Aristotle's doctrine.

Then you would have to go with the Greek, I added the wiki for a more detailed explaination.

 

[Radagast]

The Bible uses a Greek word. Aristotle uses a Greek word, in a specific technical way. It does not at all follow that the Bible refers to Aristotle's specific meaning.

In fact, it's much more likely to refer to one of the following:

(1) "Nous" as used in the LXX.
(2) "Nous" as used by Philo (a Jewish philosopher).
(3) "Nous" as used by Epictetus (who Paul actually quotes).
(4) "Nous" as used by other philosophers.

What you're doing is just as silly as saying "This writer uses the word 'nausea,' so he must be referring to the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre."

Actually, there are a lot of good books on Paul's use of "nous" and what it might mean. See, for example, the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

nous the meaning of the term:
1. The original meaning of nous is (inner) sence directed on an object, and from this come such meanings as ``sensation``power of perception, and mode of thought. The main nuances are ``mind, insight, understanding, judgement and meaning``
2. The word is rare in the LXX, since Kardia is there the main organ of understanding. The usual meaning in Apocrypha is mind or disposition.
3. The term is imprecise in postbiblical Jewish works, having such senses as moral nature, mode of thought, and power of spiritual perception.

 

[Radagast]

nous the meaning of the term:
1. The original meaning of nous is (inner) sence directed on an object, and from this come such meanings as ``sensation``power of perception, and mode of thought. The main nuances are ``mind, insight, understanding, judgement and meaning``
2. The word is rare in the LXX, since Kardia is there the main organ of understanding. The usual meaning in Apocrypha is mind or disposition.
3. The term is imprecise in postbiblical Jewish works, having such senses as moral nature, mode of thought, and power of spiritual perception.

No evidence there for a specific Aristotelian meaning.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

No evidence there for a specific Aristotelian meaning.

Since you seem to think that the thread is about Aristotle that was a snip of the whole wiki, I removed the reference to Aristotle, leaving the reference to wiki for others to judge for themselves. I think that the preface to the wiki still has some to say for those who still think it's all Greek to them .....

Nous (British: /ˈnaʊs/;[1] US: /ˈnuːs/), sometimes equated to intellect or intelligence, is a philosophical term for the faculty of the human mind which is described in classical philosophy as necessary for understanding what is true or real, similar in meaning to intuition. The three commonly used philosophical terms are from Greek, νοῦς or νόος, and Latin intellectus and intelligentia respectively.

Do you have any comments on the topical scripture or comments provided?

 

[Radagast]

Since you seem to think that the thread is about Aristotle that was a snip of the whole wiki, I removed the reference to Aristotle, leaving the reference to wiki for others to judge for themselves.

Again, I would emphasises that the article you linked to is about a specific philosophical use of the word, which is not quite the meaning Paul has; posting the link to the article is in my view quite deceptive, as is your dictionary quote for the modern philosophical use of the term.

It would be far better to post from an NT lexicon, or to list other uses of the word in the NT. It's Paul's meaning that's important here, not Plato's or Aristotle's.

Do you have any comments on the topical scripture or comments provided?

I disagree with the Nee interpretation. It's based on misinterpretations of the Greek words, it makes distinctions that don't really exist in the text, it misinterprets tenses, and it sells false doctrine.

For example, the "meaning in the original text" is not "to be continually renewed in the same way that the old man is continually being corrupted." In fact the image, especially in verse 24, is that of putting on a new set of clean clothing -- and to leave it on, not to keep putting it on.

The ESV translates it best:

"... to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

As to the passage in general, see here.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

..
I disagree with the Nee interpretation. It's based on misinterpretations of the Greek words, it makes distinctions that don't really exist in the text, it misinterprets tenses, and it sells false doctrine.

For example, the "meaning in the original text" is not "to be continually renewed in the same way that the old man is continually being corrupted." In fact the image, especially in verse 24, is that of putting on a new set of clean clothing -- and to leave it on, not to keep putting it on.
The ESV translates it best:

"... to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

As to the passage in general, see here.

I have to differ about the new self remaining on and not being a continuous thing as it does not line up with further scripture.

Rom 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[

Galatians 5:17
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Romans 13:14
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.

The reasoning is that as often as the 'old self' arises we are to again to reckon it dead and look to Christ thereby 'putting on' the new self'

ETA that is a very important point to remember because we can work from different parts of our being.
The nous of a person being blocked so the light is not shining in as the OP states
being brought about by the rise of the old nature
can be seen in so many Christians who have fallen themselves.
They allowed the old nature to block the light and sin ruled.
That's not to say that they could not, as many have,
returned to clear dianoia in the new nature.

In verse 22 we have, "That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man." The meaning here is that since you have heard and have been taught in Him as the reality is in Jesus, that your old man has been put off, etc., you should do the things recorded in verses 25-32.

"The old man, which is being corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit" (v. 22). According to the original text the meaning here is, "The old man, which through the lusts of the deceit is heading towards corruption."

"And that you be renewed in the spirit of your nous [the Greek word for mind]" (v. 23). This is a continuation of a preceding verse concerning the reality in Jesus, that is, what the believers have received in Christ. We not only have put off the old man, but we should renew the spirit of our nous frequently. The meaning in the original text is to be continually renewed in the same way that the old man is continually being corrupted.

Verse 24 reads, "And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality." "Put on the new man" in the original text can be rendered "having put on the new man." This corresponds to verse 22. Verse 24 also speaks of the facts which we have in the Lord. Verses 22 through 24 are all facts that we have in Christ. Based on these verses, verse 25 and the following verses command and tell us what we should do.

4:22 That ye 5209 put off 659 5641 concerning 2596 the former 4387 conversation 391 the old 3820 man 444, which 3588 is corrupt 5351 5746 according 2596 to the deceitful 539 lusts 1939;

Strongs Number: G5351

Orig: probably strengthened from phthio (to pine or waste); properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. to spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially figuratively, by moral influences, to deprave):--corrupt (self), defile, destroy.

Use: TDNT-9:93,1259 Verb

Heb Strong: H1238 H2254 H5034 H5127 H7843

1) to corrupt, to destroy
1a) in the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted or "destroyed" when anyone defiled or in the slightest degree damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties
1b) to lead away a Christian church from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide
1c) to be destroyed, to perish
1d) in an ethical sense, to corrupt, deprave

 

[Radagast]

Rom 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

"Clothe yourselves" is ἐνδύσασθε, an aorist imperative (also used in the infinitive form ἐνδύσασθαι in Ephesians 4). This verb does not have the sense of donning clothes repeatedly.

ETA that is a very important point to remember because we can work from different parts of our being.
The nous of a person being blocked so the light is not shining in as the OP states
being brought about by the rise of the old nature
can be seen in so many Christians who have fallen themselves.
They allowed the old nature to block the light and sin ruled.
That's not to say that they could not, as many have,
returned to clear dianoia in the new nature.

And here you are using your misinterpretation of nous to defend an incorrect interpretation of the passage.

Heb Strong: H1238 H2254 H5034 H5127 H7843

Huh?

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

"Clothe yourselves" is ἐνδύσασθε, an aorist imperative (also used in the infinitive form ἐνδύσασθαι in Ephesians 4). This verb does not have the sense of donning clothes repeatedly.

G1746
enduo: I put on, clothe
Original Word: ἐνδύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: enduo
Phonetic Spelling: (en-doo'-o)
Short Definition: I put on, clothe
Definition: I put on, clothe (another)

array, clothe with, endue, put on.
From en and duno (in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively) -- array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.

en (a preposition) – properly, in (inside, within); (figuratively) "in the realm (sphere) of," as in the condition (state) in which something operates from the inside (within).

dunó: to enter, to sink into
Short Definition: I sink, set
Definition: I sink, set (as the sun).

From your definition it can be seen it is in fact a process.

And here you are using your misinterpretation of nous to defend an incorrect interpretation of the passage.

for you I suppose that would mean soul and vision in my very correct interpretation of how Christians can and do fall.

Huh?

whoops, didn't need all those HStrongs references.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Again, I would emphasises that the article you linked to is about a specific philosophical use of the word, which is not quite the meaning Paul has; posting the link to the article is in my view quite deceptive, as is your dictionary quote for the modern philosophical use of the term.

It would be far better to post from an NT lexicon, or to list other uses of the word in the NT. It's Paul's meaning that's important here, not Plato's or Aristotle's.

This would be more along the lines perhaps...http://biblehub.com/greek/3563.htm

3563 noús (a masculine noun) – the God-given capacity of each person to think (reason); the mind; mental capacity to exercise reflective thinking.

For the believer, 3563 (noús) is the organ of receiving God's thoughts, through faith.

Ro 12:2,3: "2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (3563 /ólynthos), so that you may prove what the will (2307 /thélēma) of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (4102 /pístis)"


Ephesians 4:17 N-GMS
GRK: ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν
NAS: walk, in the futility of their mind,
KJV: the vanity of their mind,
INT: [the] futility of the mind of them

Ephesians 4:23 N-GMS
GRK: πνεύματι τοῦ νοὸς ὑμῶν
NAS: in the spirit of your mind,
KJV: in the spirit of your mind;
INT: spirit of the mind of you

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Eph 4:17-21 contains basic principles that are needed in the daily walk with Christ.

17 This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk in the vanity of their mind,

If we want to walk as He walked then we will want to be functioning in the spirit as He was so as to be in continual prayer/worship with the Holy Spirit. The spiritual organ needs to be exercised daily to be able to have the compacity to be a functioning spirit. We shouldn't be content to not be functioning. The cross that we carry, when we carry it yoked to Him, is indeed very light.
Inward strength,inner satisfaction, has a great effect on our daily living. When you function in the spirit, you will be strengthened, refreshed, and stirred up. But if you're not functioning, spirituality will not be your experience.

The functioning of all the members of the body depends on two things. First, those who are not as spiritual shouldn't despise themselves or be humbled beyond speaking up; as exampled by the early church, each person brought something spiritual to the gatherings. Rather we all must speak our truth. Second, the more spiritually exercised ones must learn to limit themselves. They shouldn't think that they can do everything, but realize that they need others. If we learn these lessons, the Body will be tempered together, and there will be a proper balance. This is what we need for the genuine Body that is made up of all members.

Not being as the Gentiles walked

Romans 1:21
Because though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or thank Him, but rather became vain in their reasonings, and their heart, lacking understanding, was darkened.

They walk without God in the vanity of their mind, being controlled and directed by their vain thoughts. Whatever they do according to their fallen mind is vanity, void of reality.

Ephesians 4:1
I beseech you therefore, ..... to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Getting to the heart of nous: Intellect plus spiritual understanding: the art and soul of spirituality as a reliable means of interaction with God. Nous is interpretated to mean both intellect and spiritual understanding. Eph 4:17 shows a darkened intellect while Eph 4:23 shows an enlightened intellect. Believers must have a renewed nous. That's not to say that the soul ceases to exist. The organ (nous) with function (dianoia) needs to commune with God functionally as the way to be more and more in tune with God.
(1 Jn 2:6; Exod 26:31-33; Heb 10:20)

Eph 4:18 You should no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk in the vanity of their nous, being darkened in their dianoia.

God has become reconciled with us so that we may become reconciled with Him.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Rom 5:10-11; Eph 2:13-14,16; Exod 19:4-6; Rom 5:1; Heb 6:1; Psalms 25:14,34:2; Heb 11:40; Col 1:23; Rom 8:19,22; Psalm 145:15-16)
(Reconciliation completed Rev 21:5-6; Phil 2:9-11)

The soul gives us self-consciousness and is interposed between the human body and the human spirit (nous of believers) so that if the intellect is darkened (nous of old nature) it impairs sensing God's Holy Presence. Everything of our spirit and body is expressed through our soul as our personality. Therefore give no room for the flesh, or for pride of life, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind (nous).

The heart then is the conscience of one's spirit plus the mind of one's soul. The heart is the administer for our spirit to express everything that is of the Spirit. And the soul, including what it feels from the outside, connects to the heart also where all things are pondered. Yet we do not always do as we ought to do so .....

Therefore at this great 'meeting of the mind of the heart' our true self is revealed to us.


Psalm 4:4
Consider in your heart upon your bed, and be silent.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

[~Anastasia~]

You might find this link interesting and/or helpful.

Partial quote:
Nous (adj. noetic) in Orthodox Christianity is the eye of the soul. Just as the soul of man, is created by God, man's soul is intelligent and noetic. St. Thalassios wrote that God created beings "with a capacity to receive the Spirit and to attain knowledge of Himself; He has brought into existence the senses and sensory perception to serve such beings."[1] Eastern Orthodox Christians hold that God did this by creating mankind with intelligence and noetic faculties. Angels have intelligence and nous, whereas men have reason, nous and sensory perception. This follows the idea that man is a microcosm and an expression of the whole creation or macrocosmos; it is through the healed and corrected nous and the intelligence that man knows and experiences God.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

You might find this link interesting and/or helpful.

Partial quote:
Nous (adj. noetic) in Orthodox Christianity is the eye of the soul. Just as the soul of man, is created by God, man's soul is intelligent and noetic. St. Thalassios wrote that God created beings "with a capacity to receive the Spirit and to attain knowledge of Himself; He has brought into existence the senses and sensory perception to serve such beings."[1] Eastern Orthodox Christians hold that God did this by creating mankind with intelligence and noetic faculties. Angels have intelligence and nous, whereas men have reason, nous and sensory perception. This follows the idea that man is a microcosm and an expression of the whole creation or macrocosmos; it is through the healed and corrected nous and the intelligence that man knows and experiences God.

Interesting link. Thanks.
From the #2 reference there is one thing I find dissimmilar and that's that an inspired message or revealation from God in the 5 words are an enlightened nous while a prepared message is from the intellect and not inspired. Because of the wording in 1 Cor 14:5-6 it could mean either.

1 Corinthians 14:19
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind (nous) in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

For the Apostle Paul reasonable or logical worship takes place by means of the nous (i.e., the reason or the intellect) while noetic prayer occurs through the spirit and is spiritual prayer or prayer of the heart.[4] So when the Apostle Paul says, "I prefer to say five words with my nous in order to instruct others rather than a thousand with my tongue,"[5] he means that he prefers to say five words, in other words to speak a bit, for the instruction of others rather than pray noetically. Some monks interpret what St. Paul says here as a reference to the Prayer of Jesus, which consists of five words,[6] but at this point the Apostle is speaking here about the words he used in instructing others.[7] For how can catechism take place with noetic prayer, since noetic prayer is a person"s inward prayer, and others around him do not hear anything? Catechism, however, takes place with teaching and worship that are cogent and reasonable. We teach and speak by using the reason, which is the usual way that people communicate with each other.[8]

The heart is the place of man's spirit.

This means that the Spirit of God speaks to our spirit. In other words, God speaks within our heart by the grace of the Holy Spirit. St. Gregory Palamas in his second discourse from "In Behalf of the Sacred Hesychasts" notes that "the heart rules over the whole human organism". For the nous and all the thoughts (logismoi) of the soul are located there." From the context of grace-filled prayer, it is clear that the term "heart" does not refer to the physical heart, but to the deep heart, while the term nous does not refer to the intellect (dianoia), but to the energy/activity of the heart, the noetic activity which wells forth from the essence of the nous (i.e., the heart). For this reason, St. Gregory adds that it is necessary for the hesychasts "to bring their nous back and enclose it within their body and particularly within that innermost body, within the body that we call the heart." The term "spirit" is also identical with the terms nous and "heart." Philokalia, vol. IV (London: Faber and Faber, 1995), p, 334.

Dianoia-The energy/activity ....the noetic activity which wells forth from the essence of the nous.

Well said.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

To recap a moment - it's important to know at every moment from what area of nous one is working from. Sometimes it could from direct revelation, other times it could be from those things that have been pondered upon in the heart and other times it could be from a darkened mind. In reflecting upon these things there is no problem in discerning one's actions at all times. The bible's example is to the revelation, followed by the pondering in the heart, giving forth to rightly dividing the Word of God, and speaking forth with knowledge.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

The conscience in the heart, as being made new (ie: the function of the conscience being recovered to its original state) to the extent that the believer now hates sins and dislikes sinning, doesn't necessarily follow that it remains new afterwards, nor does it necessarily renew every day. The conscience can become seared so as to no longer function in the renewed compacity.

If tolerating sins repeatedly and not listening to conscience, the conscience will then no longer rebuke and in doing so will lose its function.
The same is true of the mind, the nous, and it is critical to every believer's position and living life as abiding in Him.

A believer hasn't the same mind of the darkened intellect (refer to Romans 1:28 where it says reprobate nous. Ephesians 4:17 vain nous. Colossians 2:18 fleshly nous. 2 Timothy 3:8 corrupt nous. Titus 1:15 defiled nous.)
or the intellect that argues philosophically about there being no God,
(both argue against God from a position an unrenewed spirit and heart)
because they are not able to enter into the depth of the teaching clearly and thoroughly and are not able to understand or 'know' God in a definite way.
The believer 'knows' God and in 'knowing' Him they 'know' they are saved. In hearing they have believed, being reborn into the new heart and spirit. They have a renewed nous that they can understand spiritual things. That 'knowing' is the work of the nous.

John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Him whom You have sent, Jesus Christ

An unrenewed nous experiences life differently than a renewed nous. Inaccuracy of other's thoughts, splitting hairs to find fault, lack of trust, judgmental, and speaking poorly of others, always thinking there are hidden words behind the words of others, are some of the thoughts of a darkened nous. The natural unrenewed old nature has no bearing on Christ's example (the life of Rom 12:1-2)

Jesus judged everything according to the sense in His spirit. Why do we judge others only according to what we see and hear? Paul said prove all things. The nous of a criticizing believer who depreciates everyone else must be wrong in their nous. Their nous is worldly and old.
The reason we have these kinds of thoughts is also Satan is working behind us. Satan's base for working is an unrenewed nous.

What ends up happening then is that it's reflected, even in the believer's life, onto thoughts of God. Doubt of God's power, wisdom, and lovingkindness are barriers to the renewed nous. It's impossible to recieve anything from God in this state. It becomes impossible to 'know' anything.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I want to relate to you the experience of the Jewish sacrifices and
the similarity of experiencing Christ in the same way.

First was the trespass offering,
then the sin offering,
the peace offering,
meal offering
and finally the burnt offering.

In bearing our sins Christ is our trespass offering and in that offering is the enjoyment of Him as our sin offering. In knowing that we have offended God, a feeling of deep regret and self condemnation results in our offering of willingness to deal with offenses and trespasses.

He is our peace offering because He accomplished redemption. Those who offer to Him a peace offering are humbled and grateful to have received such grace. The responce is to share the grace with others.


The meal offering is taking Him as our life, desiring to live the life He lived and be like Him in His conduct and perfect walk.


Stepping further into that walk we see that Christ lived for God, putting everything to death, giving up all on the cross. We respond in putting our all on the altar and in doing so we become the burnt offering.


The result is a satisfying fragrance before God.


God created that mold, that pattern, that is seen in all the patterns that He has set forth, for us to be transformed into Him.

In the union of the Holy Spirit and the human nous is seen the transforming of the believers.

2 Corinthians 3:18 we, the believers, are being transformed gradually into the same image as the Lord from glory to glory, even as from the Spirit.

Romans 12:2
And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.

On the one hand the metabolic process is gradually eliminating our old natural element, and otoh is intrinsically spreading thru the life and nature of God into our entire being to be our new nature. We are the new creation and we are transformed/conformed more and more as we willingly lay down our lives to Him.
The firstborn Son of God is the prototype and we are being conformed into that mold, that pattern into His image.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

So what is the final culmination of all this? (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 10:15-17)
God's law will become our first nature, not just as a second nature.
At the embryonic stage the process has begun while gradually God is replacing carnality with His Holy Spirit.
The various stages of conversion leads to righteous conduct.
Unrenewed minds cannot fathom the things of God, only the renewed heart of flesh and mind can know the things of the Spirit.
To an unrenewed nous even scripture itself is only words rather than the living Word of God that the spirit of believers have eyes and ears to discern.

Matthew 5:20
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

The problem that the Pharisees had was in the inner self that was like dead man's bones but they had a whitewashed outer self.
From the NT scripture it's been seen that this same problem does not disappear completely upon rebirth.
It's still a choose and still a lifelong process.
I really believe that God places the desire to yield to, and experience within, the law of the Spirit for the harmony of the body.

Psalm 1:1-2
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.…
Romans 7:
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
Psalm 119"
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Apply His Word to myriads of situations, and let it become the centre of the nervous system
so that the law to act from God, becomes our reaction
(as opposed to reacting to anything other than that which comes from God or acting from self-motivation)
The law of cause and effect itself will cease to have a negative effect.
Only the law of the Spirit remains, against which there is no law.

The written word, combined with the spirit. is the perfect balance of law and grace.
It becomes so much easier to detect if a liberal interpretation has become off balance or biblical principles have been violated.
To the Pharisee Jesus could point out where mercy could override justice for instance.

Experience that is internal rather than external is demonstrated when we can not only know the principles, but also provide examples from our own lives.
The deeper the understanding the broader the bases for applying the biblical principles and thereby 'know' the will of God.
Assimilation in achieving spiritual maturity that goes beyond a set of do's and don'ts.
His Character mingles with our own as the two become one.
God's plan becomes our plan.

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father, I have made known to you.

Conversion comes when the written word becomes the Word living in our hearts.
We're no longer looking for the outer praise or fear of mankind.
Instead we're seeking the inner, rightly motivated, prompts from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

The desire for righteousness involves accomplishing the steps of growth that can be seen in sanctification.
Overcoming and moving on to the full stature of Christ.
Yet we must make that choose to sacrifice ourselves as reasonable service (Rom 12:1-2)
Seeking holiness, His will for us is to prepare to live in fellowship with God's Son, just as His Son lives in His Kingdom.
Matthew chapters 5-7 shows His character, the character of His people and the character of His Kingdom. Be Blessed.

Galatians 6:9-10:
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.