Having The Mind Of Christ

From The News:

-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entered into a written agreement that states that Iran will not use the spent fuel rods to make nuclear weapons. We know the Russians never lied to us and the Muslims have such a good track record keeping their promises as well. After all we are just infidels and they do not have to keep their promises to us.

Judge Vaughn R. Walker has done more that make gay marriages legal in California (and possibly the USA) but has opened the door to hate speech for churches preaching homosexuality as sin (that it is “hateful” (pg. 105 point 77, sub point Q)

Phil 2:5-8

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Taking The Plunge

-This is a request and a command.

Think about it, let implies requesting permission. As a dear friend once said to me “the Holy Spirit is a gentleman.” He will not go where He is not invited.

-It is also a command. Let says we need to do it but He will not force it upon us. God will let us go around a mountain for 30 years if we insist on rebelling. He is not concerned about the short term, His goal is long term and He will let us have our rein if we insist.

The Mind of Christ is…

A Confidant Mind (v.5)

-Not a boastful or prideful mind that shouts me! Me! Me! But an assured confidence in God who saved us in spite of ourselves.

-We are saved by God’s grace and nothing we can do by ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9).

-We stand un-condemned in Christ Jesus. We are given an spirit of adoption where we cry Abba Father! (Romans 8:1,14-16)

Rom 8:1, 14-17

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit… 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

A Humble Mind

Jesus in a supreme example of humility left the glory of heaven to put on a coat of flesh to live a sinless life as our example, submitted to the death on the cross.

-Biblical humility is also a recognition that by ourselves we are inadequate, without dignity and worthless. Yet, because we are created in God's image and because believers are in Christ, we have infinite worth and dignity (1 Cor 4:6-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). True humility does not produce pride but gratitude. Since God is both our Creator and Redeemer, our existence and righteousness depend on Him.[i]

-A further thought: humility is not an outward grace. We must not confuse it with bad posture. A man walking around with his shoulders slouched and his head down is not humble but has bad posture.

-Humility is not a constant outward profession. “Oh I am such a worthless worm!” (or some such rot coming out of our mouths). Negative confessions do not make us humble but rather curse and bind us.

-A proper sense of humility comes out of our confidence in our relationship with Jesus. I am confident in what He did for me and I am humbled by the thought He did it all out of love for me.

A Obedient Mind

He was obedient even to the death on the cross. What does God tell us about being obedient?

-If you love me keep my commandments –John 4:15

Think about this: nobody in the New Testament ever told God that they loved Him. Peter came close but missed. Jesus asked if Peter agape Jesus and Peter said he phelo Jesus. Not the same word, not the same kind of love.

Jesus does not want people to say they love Him, he wants us to show Him how we love Him. Our worship of Jesus needs to be genuine and true. How can we sing “I love you Lord” if we are living in rebellion to His commands? We show our love by our obedience to his word. More on that later.