but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Transformed is the word μεταμορφοῦσθε (G3339) and it means to change into another form. It is only used 4 times in the New Testament. It is used twice in the gospels, Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2, and twice by Paul in his writings, Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18.
In the gospel accounts it is used to describe the outward change in appearance of Jesus. But when Paul uses it in Romans and 2 Corinthians he is describing an inward change.
This transformation takes place by the renewing of our mind, but how is our mind renewed?
There are a few things that we must do in order to renew our minds, the first of which is to be born again. Only a believer in Christ will have the facilities to participate in the renewal process. That is because this is not just “turning over a new leaf”, or “keeping some resolutions”. We are commanded in Romans 13:14 to “Put on Christ”. The same verse goes on to say “make no provision for the flesh.” So what we have here are two things that we must do: 1. Put on and 2. Make no. Both require actions on our part and both are dependent of the other. If I put on Christ then I will make no provision for the flesh. However if I make provision for the flesh then I cannot put on Christ. This is further described in Ephesians 4:20-24. Here it speaks of laying aside your old self and putting on your new self. Colossians 3:9-10 also speaks of this.
This is all well and good but how do we put on Christ? How is our mind renewed?
In Titus 3:5 we read that the renewing is an action of the Holy Spirit. He does the work, but we must allow Him to. We allow the Holy Spirit to do this by daily bible study, prayer and by taking in sound teaching through a local church. Once we begin to do this then we can get to the second part of the Galatians passage that contained the deeds of the flesh. Instead of the deeds of the flesh we now see the fruit of the Spirit. Before we move on we need to consider the fruit of the spirit in more detail, the list that we shall use is in Galatians 5:22-23.