The Mind of Christ

[Arial]

1 Cor 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
We often in reading that passage, have the natural human reaction to it, thinking that the mind of Christ is something we must attain to through our own efforts. That it is a spiritual goal we must grow into by our own "doing".

But Paul tells us differently. He tells us it is something we already have because we are in Christ through faith when he is writing to the congregation in Phillippi, encouraging them to be of one mind (Phill2:1-7).

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

I am sure that all of us can attest to the fact that we don't always, live, act, speak, and think is though we have the mind of Christ. So, how do we do that and what exactly does it mean?

Keep in mind (pun intended) that we each have our own mind, and the scripture does not mean that we actually possess Christ's mind instead of our own.

 

[makesends]

1 Cor 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
We often in reading that passage, have the natural human reaction to it, thinking that the mind of Christ is something we must attain to through our own efforts. That it is a spiritual goal we must grow into by our own "doing".

But Paul tells us differently. He tells us it is something we already have because we are in Christ through faith when he is writing to the congregation in Phillippi, encouraging them to be of one mind (Phill2:1-7).

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

I am sure that all of us can attest to the fact that we don't always, live, act, speak, and think is though we have the mind of Christ. So, how do we do that and what exactly does it mean?

Keep in mind (pun intended) that we each have our own mind, and the scripture does not mean that we actually possess Christ's mind instead of our own.

The difference between our mind and the mind of Christ is enough that it is almost two different uses of the word, "mind". It is related to the meaning of "Spirit of Christ" —that is, in the references to either, you may be sure that both are in play. But the "mind" of Christ is principles effected by the Spirit, and the Spirit is the means by which we have the mind.

I look forward to the day when my mind is completely dependent on —effected by (and no, I didn't say affected by)— the Spirit of Christ.

 

[Arial]

The difference between our mind and the mind of Christ is enough that it is almost two different uses of the word, "mind". It is related to the meaning of "Spirit of Christ" —that is, in the references to either, you may be sure that both are in play. But the "mind" of Christ is principles effected by the Spirit, and the Spirit is the means by which we have the mind.

I look forward to the day when my mind is completely dependent on —effected by (and no, I didn't say affected by)— the Spirit of Christ.

The difference (or one of them) between our mind and the mind of Christ is that our mind is effected (infected) with sin and his was not.

That is why when the Bible gives and imperative (do this) we tend to look at it like a formula and begin to go to work to appease God, under our own power. And we may be successful for a time, but eventually grow complacent, forget, or just give up the battle between our flesh and spirit.

Usually, and especially in Paul's letters. an imperative follows an indictive (this is who you are in Christ). It is because of the indictive and only because of it, that we can do the imperative. Philippians 2 is a really good example of that.

In chapter 1 he has already identified his recipients as being in Christ and stated that he is sure that he who began a good work in them will bring it to completion. That is the indicative. They are a very strong congregation but evidently there was infighting that involved wrong motives, and this is what Paul is addressing.

Paul exhorts them to be of one mind, being in full accord and of one mind.

• Do not---have selfish ambition or conceit
• Do--count others more significant than yourselves
• Do not---look only to your own interests
• Do---look also to the interests of others

That is utterly against human nature. We are all, every one of us guilty of doing practically everything from selfish ambition and looking only to our own interests. Even when we do look to the interests of others, the flesh is doing so on some level for our own interests. And chances are we, at times, will not even recognize the selfish ambition and selfishness that is lurking in our fallen nature.

Paul gives an example of what it means in regard to these issues to have the mind of Christ.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus prayed for this very thing In John 17:20-26. And if Jesus prayed for this, it is certainly going to take place.

So, how do we do the "do's" and stop doing the "don'ts" if it can't be accomplished by our own good intentions and efforts?

 

[makesends]

So, how do we do the "do's" and stop doing the "don'ts" if it can't be accomplished by our own good intentions and efforts?

Reminds me of what I tell people who object to the Reformed/Calvinistic Ordo Salutis: Even when an unbeliever "obeys" or even "accepts the Lord", he is not obeying, but trying to satisfy a perceived need.

What is funny, or hard to explain to those insisting on self-determinism, is that we believers always have the "old man" pushing us to do the same thing. Most of the time we don't even realize we are doing it when we do: trying to save ourselves, trying to measure up, trying to fix a perceived problem, trying to feel better about ourselves.

It is the work of God not only that we believe, but that we obey. Otherwise it is not faith, and not obedience.

 

[Arial]

Reminds me of what I tell people who object to the Reformed/Calvinistic Ordo Salutis: Even when an unbeliever "obeys" or even "accepts the Lord", he is not obeying, but trying to satisfy a perceived need.

What is funny, or hard to explain to those insisting on self-determinism, is that we believers always have the "old man" pushing us to do the same thing. Most of the time we don't even realize we are doing it when we do: trying to save ourselves, trying to measure up, trying to fix a perceived problem, trying to feel better about ourselves.

It is the work of God not only that we believe, but that we obey. Otherwise it is not faith, and not obedience.

In Philippians 2:6-8 Paul tells the Philippian's how to have the mind of Christ concerning the problem of selfishness and conceit. And that was by contemplating the humility of Christ who was God but took on humanity for the sake of them.

In Eph 4:20-24 Paul instructs is to put off the old man with its desires through the renewal of our mind.

It is in Scripture that we learn how we are to be, and where our own mind needs renewal and our own flesh needs sanctifying.

Phil 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

God did not just give us to Jesus and then stand back and say you do the rest. We are his workmanship.

For me personally, in my time of need (which is always) I go before his throne of grace and mercy and ask him for the graces I need for a particular place in me that needs sanctifying.