`Because they reprobated the knowledge of God, God gave them over to a

reprobate mind'.

The resulting state of morals, given in the verses that follow, is

terrible to the last degree.  It is summed up

in Ephesians 4:19 by the words, `All uncleanness with greediness'.  Such was the

condition of the Gentile world; such the outcome of a mind alienated from God

and His truth.

In our appreciation of the vital distinction that exists between law and

grace, we are apt to slur the equally decided difference that there is between

the light of the law of God given to Israel and the darkness of reprobation that

settled down upon the Gentiles.

While the law could give neither life nor righteousness, we do read:

`The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul ... The commandment

of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes' (Psa. 19:7,8).

lf we keep this fact before us we shall be able to understand the setting

of the next reference to the nous:

`I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind ...

so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God' (Rom. 7:23-25).

This illumination by the law, however, only intensified the bondage of sin

and death; for while to will was present, to perform was impossible.  So far as

justification is concerned, the enlightened Jew stood upon the same platform as

the darkened Gentile, but so far as the doctrine of the mind is concerned, we

perceive that it can be influenced by outside factors, even though the bondage

of sin and death may remain.  Passing to Colossians 2:18, we learn that there is

a `fleshly' mind which `puffs up' and leads away from Christ.  The three

passages that remain speak of:

`Men whose mind is corrupted and destitute of the truth' (1 Tim. 6:5

author's translation).

`Men who resist the truth, being corrupt in mind and reprobate

(cf. Rom. 1:28) as concerning the faith' (2 Tim. 3:8 author's

`All things indeed are pure to those who are pure, but to those who are

defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but both their mind and

conscience are defiled ... and unto every good work reprobate' (Titus

1:15,16 author's translation).

Such is the testimony of the apostle to the nous of the old man.  His

teaching concerning the nous of the new man is contained in four passages:

`Present your bodies a living sacrifice ... be ye transformed by the

renewing of your mind, that you may approve (dokimazein, cf. Rom. 1:28)

what is the will of God' (Rom. 12:1,2 author's translation).