Confessions - Book Xiii - Chapter Xxii
St. Augustine teaches that true transformation comes from the renewing of the mind in God's image, enabling believers to discern His perfect will beyond mere human imitation.
In this profound exposition, St. Augustine explores the spiritual transformation that occurs when believers renew their minds in God's image. He emphasizes the importance of discerning God's perfect will beyond mere human imitation, rooted in the Trinitarian nature of God. Augustine's insights invite listeners to a deeper understanding of their identity as spiritual beings made in God's likeness.
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32. Thus, O Lord, our God, our Creator, when our affections have been turned from the love of the world, in which we died by living ill; and when we began to be \"a living soul\" by living well; and when the word, \"Be not conformed to this world,\" which thou didst speak through thy apostle, has been fulfilled in us, then will follow what thou didst immediately add when thou saidst, \"But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.\"[621] This will not now be \"after their kind,\" as if we were following the neighbor who went before us, or as if we were living after the example of a better man--for thou didst not say, \"Let man be made after his kind,\" but rather, \"Let us make man in our own image and our own likeness,\"[622] so that then we may be able to prove what thy will is.
This is why thy minister--begetting children by the gospel so that he might not always have them babes whom he would have to feed with milk and nurse as children--this is why he said, \"Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.\"[623] Therefore thou didst not say, \"Let man be made,\" but rather, \"Let us make man.\" And thou didst not say, \"After his kind,\" but after \"our image\" and \"likeness.\" Indeed, it is only when man has been renewed in his mind, and comes to behold and apprehend thy truth, that he does not need another man as his director, to show him how to imitate human examples. Instead, by thy guidance, he proves what is thy good and acceptable and perfect will. And thou dost teach him, now that he is able to understand, to see the trinity of the Unity and the unity of the Trinity.
This is why the statement in the plural, \"Let us make man,\" is also connected with the statement in the singular, \"And God made man.\" Thus it is said in the plural, \"After our likeness,\" and then in the singular, \"After the image of God.\" Man is thus transformed in the knowledge of God, according to the image of Him who created him. And now, having been made spiritual, he judges all things--that is, all things that are appropriate to be judged--and he himself is judged of no man.[624]
Sermon Outline
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I. The Call to Transformation
- Turn affections from worldly love
- Begin to live as a 'living soul' by living well
- Fulfill the apostolic command to not conform to the world
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II. The Renewing of the Mind
- Transformation beyond human imitation
- Renewal according to God's image and likeness
- Ability to discern God's perfect will
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III. The Divine Image and Likeness
- God's plural 'Let us make man' and singular 'God made man'
- Man's spiritual renewal in knowledge of God
- Judging all things appropriately and being judged by none
Key Quotes
“Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” — St. Augustine
“Let us make man in our own image and our own likeness, so that then we may be able to prove what thy will is.” — St. Augustine
“Man is thus transformed in the knowledge of God, according to the image of Him who created him.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Seek daily renewal of your mind through Scripture and prayer to align with God's will.
- Avoid conforming to worldly patterns and instead strive to reflect God's image in your life.
- Trust in the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding of God's perfect and acceptable will.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'renewing of your mind' mean?
It refers to a spiritual transformation where believers adopt God's perspective, enabling them to discern His will rather than following human examples.
Why does Augustine emphasize 'Let us make man' in the plural?
He highlights the Trinitarian nature of God, showing that man is made in the image and likeness of the triune God, not merely after human kind.
How can one prove the good and acceptable will of God?
By being transformed through the renewing of the mind, believers can understand and live according to God's perfect will.
What does it mean that man is 'judged of no man'?
Once spiritually renewed, a person is able to judge rightly and is not subject to human judgment in spiritual matters.