The Mind Of Christ And The Believer

Issues – September 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The Mind Of Christ And The Believer

The word “repentance” is commonly defined as “a change of mind.” Romans 12:2 calls this a “renewing of your mind” (

NKJV

).

We may wonder, “Is this something that takes place through our own efforts?” John 1:13 gives us the answer, for in reference to being born again and therefore having a new mind, we read that it is not by “the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Scripture urges us to have the mind of Christ. Let’s look at three verses about His mind and consider them in relation to ourselves.

Being Instructed
For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. — 1 Corinthians 2:16

Paul, here, was referring to all of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (see 1:2), teaching us how to live by the Spirit of God. Through Him we are able to “know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (2:12). We might say that it is like God coming into us and telling us how to live.

If a person does not know how to live, is there something wrong with the Holy Spirit or with the individual? The problem would be the person, of course. In this fault we see the character of “natural man,” one who does not have the Holy Spirit and cannot grasp anything from God, because “they are foolishness to him” (v.14). Such an individual does not know God or have a new mind. He needs to be saved, to put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the believer, though, we see the Holy Spirit is to us a Teacher and Revealer, so we can have proper judgment (v.15). We go on to know the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul used the word “instruct” (v.16). Do we consider ourselves properly instructed? More importantly, how does God view us? Get into the Word and see what the Spirit teaches!

There are professing Christians who do not behave much differently than natural men. While it is possible that this could be partly blamed on a lack of teaching by elders or pastors, every believer should be reading God’s Word, learning directly from Him.

Having Humility
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 2:5

We are to have a mind that is filled with Him, Christ Jesus. If it isn’t, it will be filled by something that is not good or of less value.

In this letter to the believers in Philippi, Paul spoke of what the mind of Christ was like. Jesus Christ was and ever will be fully God. He was God when born of Mary, but He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” (v.7). Then “He humbled Himself … obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v.8). Only He, the sinless One, could ever be obedient to death. Death, to people, is not an act of obedience but a part of the judgment of God against sin (Gen. 2:17).

May we, for ourselves, consider the depth to which He humbled Himself.

Suffering For Him
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. —1 Peter 4:1

Philippians 1:29 says, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” We see in John 16:2 that there are people who kill believers thinking they are serving God. As we know, this is happening today. Among the apostles, all died a violent death except John, who suffered plenty for his faithfulness to God. May we be so minded to bear suffering for Him.

Consider Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” God promised rest, and you as a believer can have rest for your soul.

Whose mind do you have – yours or that of Christ?

By Curt Darling