The Mind Of Christ
Philippians 2:5-13 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure."
Col. 3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
There can be no doubt about the sort of mind the Christian should have. Christ-like motives, attitudes, thoughts, purpose and priorities can only prevail in a Christ-like mind. Our Christian life and testimony hinges upon our minds becoming receptacles for God's Word. The process is simple. Holy men of God were divinely inspired to give us His Word and insure its providential preservation through the ages. He spiritually illuminates the minds of those who will pursue His will through the study of His Word. Paul repeatedly spoke of the need for the transformation and renewal of our spiritual minds. He speaks of the necessity of a real spiritual transformation of our thought processes. (Col. 3:2, Ro. 12:2) He leaves no doubt about how to achieve a Christ-like spiritual mind-set. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things." (Phil. 4:8) Simply put, we should have THE MIND OF CHRIST.
HIS WAS A SUPERIOR SPIRITUAL MIND. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" (Verse 6) As the preexistent eternal God the Son had all the divine attributes that define and characterize the mind of the Father. From the beginning the minds of the Father, Son and Spirit were as one in determining and executing God's eternal plan and purpose. "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:" (Acts 2:23) "Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (II Tim. 1:9) Obviously, He made a deliberate and calculated decision to leave all the beauty, comfort and glory of heaven to come to earth and bring eternal salvation to man.
Even though our finite minds cannot grasp the infinite divine complexi- ties characterizing the superior mind of Christ, we are obviously called to seek His superior spiritual mind-set. Our thoughts should not be ordinary. Our spiritual vision and goals should not be mundane. Our purposes and priorities should not be worldly, but other-worldly. Our Savior clearly differentiated between an inferior and a superior spiritual mind in that section of His Sermon on the Mount that contrasts a temporal and eternal approach to life. (Matt. 6:19-34) He makes it clear that those who would think as He thinks must exchange the love of the material things of this world for an affection for the eternal things that other world to come.
What sort of practical results should we expect if we yield ourselves to His Spirit and allow the superior mind of Christ to reign in us? Just what sort of worldly action should flow from such an other-worldly committal? Many of us may look a bit askance at trendy contemporary gimmicks such as wearing a pin that asks, "What would Jesus do?” But the thought does seem to express what should be the very essence of a practical Christian mind-set. Is it not logical to assume that those who think like Christ will act like Christ? Did not our Savior say as much when He said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:45)
Oh, how today's cruel and corrupt cultures need those who think like Christ. The world is crying out for those who not only think like Christ, but talk and walk like Christ. The world is crying out for genuine Christians who
will not only talk the talk but walk the walk. How often in our compromising world do we hear people saying of those who call themselves Christians, "I can't hear what you a say because of what you do." It is clear we need to heed the challenge Paul issued here to the Philippians, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; " (Verse 15)
A few years ago I was asked by a sincere young Christian lady who had not been saved very long and who really did have a burden for souls, would it be acceptable for her to go to the disco dances she had previously frequented and socialize with her previous friends in order to try to share Christ with them. In explaining to her the difficulties involved in that sort of reasoning, I simply asked her what did she think Jesus would think of such activity and would she feel comfortable participating in such activity with Jesus at her side. A few months later, she expressed some chagrin about asking me such a question. What had happened in the meantime? Through the study of God's Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit her mind had developed to a superior spiritual level.
The love of God is the key expression of the superior spiritual mind of Christ. God's kind of love possessed the mind of Christ. He came to do the Father's will. This kind of superior love found its full expression on the cross of Christ. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Verse 8) We see the love of the eternal Christ leading Him to abandon His Kingly and Priestly privileges to come to this sin cursed earth and taste the bitter cup of eternal death for every man. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9)
His followers who are spiritual minded will emulate His love. In fact, God's Word makes it clear that the primary fruit of the Spirit is love. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love. . ." (Gal. 5:22a) This clearly indicates that those who allow the superior spiritual mind of Christ to dominate them will somehow love as He loved. Jesus confirmed the primacy of such superior spiritual love when He said to His followers, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13:34-35)
Such love is meaningless if it is not practically expressed. (See Verses 1-4) As the old verse says, "To see love placed into action is what everybody needs," Our words are vain and empty unless matched by our deeds. How often do relationships fail in our egocentric and selfish culture because when push comes to shove real love fails to find a practical expression in the lives of the people involved? When such personal tragedies occur we even hear such cynical expressions as, "I guess the honeymoon ended."
A little girl was critically injured in an accident years ago. She desperately needed a blood transfusion. It was soon discovered that her seven year old brother had the only compatible blood available. So the doctor took him in his office and said to him, "Son, your sister is very sick. Unless she gets some of your blood the angels will take her to heaven." The young boy's face turned pale and he was obviously very scared. But in a minute he whispered yes to the doctor. When the transfusion began the doctor noted the boy was still very frightened and he said to him, "Don't be afraid, it will all be over soon." Then, with big tears welling up in his eyes, the boy whispered, "Will I die pretty soon then?" He thought he was giving all his blood to his sister so she could live. That is real heart love! The superior spiritual sort that should possess the mind of those who would emulate Christ.
HIS WAS A SAVIOR'S MIND. (Verse 8) The mind of Christ can only be fully understood and appreciated in the terms of the gospel. He determined in eternity to be our eternal sin sacrifice. As he set His face unflinchingly toward Jerusalem and His appointment with death there. He said, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself." (John 10:17) And when the fullness of time was come He placed this glorious thought and promise of sacrifice and redemption into terrible action on that fateful day upon a hill called Calvary. His was a Savior's mind; eternally focused upon that vicarious sacrifice for our sins.
Those seeking the mind of Christ must also pay a price. (Verse 17) Paul makes the Christ-like parallel clear in a number of places, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice..." (Ro. 12:1) It has been well said that if it costs nothing it accomplishes nothing. There can be no real blessings without bleeding. Someone else has said, "There no cheap crosses,"
The following excerpt from my book, "Gleanings In The Gospel," explores this truth,
"In the early sixties I was privileged to visit the country of Mexico with
a Missions Survey Class. I was struck by the plethora of crosses in that Roman Catholic culture. They seemed to stare at you from shops, steeples, street corners and to be strung around the neck or wrist of every person you met. Crosses constructed of wood, plastic, metal or jewels were to be encountered among the most unlikely items in markets, street stalls and souvenir shops. If such is a measure Christianity, one would be compelled to say missionaries were wasting their time there. But obviously such was, and is not, the case.
But when you really think about it, such misleading representations of true Christianity can be seen in some strange places and worn by equally unlikely people in our country today. Have you ever thought that some people who like to wear such crosses seem to personify everything else except real Christian committal? Notice if you will, the number of drug promoting rock stars, promiscuous Hollywood personalities, alcohol consuming sports heroes and pretentious politicians, who seem to have an curious affinity for such sad secular symbolism.
But what about crosses? Are we who know the Christ of the Cross supposed to wear them or bear them? Jesus commanded His followers to, "Take up the cross and follow me." And how many of us who profess to possess His salvation really do this? Perhaps we could consider what someone once had to say about the matter, ‘Have you seen the advertisement in a Christian Bookstore, 'Special, Crosses, Fifty Percent Off'? Too often we Christians shop for a discounted cross rather than take up His cross of self-denial. Some want a vinyl-padded cross that's not too heavy. Others look for a small, flat cross which can be put out of sight when they wish to practice secret discipleship. Still others look for a jeweled cross which can make them part of the fashionable in-crowd. But the cross of authentic discipleship is a plain, rough wooden cross that takes a lot of effort to carry. The type on which our Saviour was crucified. And this is the cross of discipleship which we ,as His followers, are called to carry. But one important difference is that Jesus Himself has promised to stand with us and help us bear the load. He who said, 'Take up your cross,' also declared, 'My yoke is easy, and my burden is light'."
Admittedly, urging such a selfless mind-set in our laid back, easy living, anything goes, Godless culture, indeed sounds queer and quaint. Aren't we riding the crest of the most prosperous wave in history? After all, aren't we supposed to look out for number one first? Is not the name of the game, "Grab it before someone else gets it"? Aren't we all automatically entitled to our national birthright of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness? And do we not relentlessly pursue that elusive phantom as a matter of highest priority? Does not our culture tell us we deserve the very best? Why shouldn't we spend tens of thousands upon luxuries our forefathers could not even have imagined, much less afforded, and then gripe and complain if we are asked to tithe that which the Lord has given us? Why should we wait for pie in the sky by and by, when we can have ours right now?
But thank God there are still those who have the sacrificial and giving mind-set of our Savior. I think of the Australian missionary to India, Graham Staines. He came from Beaudesert, just over the mountain west of here. No so long ago he and his two small sons were burned alive by Hindu extremists as they were sleeping in a van. Why? Because he was a faithful witness for Christ. I must also think of a number of missionaries I know, serving in dangerous and isolated places such as Vanuatu and Africa. Why? I must assume the love of God has been shed abroad in their hearts and constrains them to seek the lost at any cost. I must also assume the tens of millions of martyrs that joyfully laid down their lives for the cause of Christ in centuries past, did so because they had the mind of Christ on the matter.
HIS WAS A SERVANT'S MIND. (Verse 7) From His humble birth to His humiliating death, His was a servant's mind and heart. The thought of His mind and the theme of His life was stated in His own words, "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:27-28) He was not born in a palatial mansion, but a lowly manger. He condescended to men of low estate rather than those of high position. He who owned the cattle upon a thousand hills owned not at pillow upon which to lay His holy head. He who could say all the gold and silver are mine, plucked grain from the field to satisfy His hunger and made his meal with the lowly fishermen. He whose hands carved out the caves and caverns of this earth was lain in a borrowed grave.
Those who will have the mind of Christ must live as servants also. (Verses 3-4) The obscene riches and luxuries opulence of those who would call themselves the servants of Christ today, should be offensive to those who follow the lowly Man of Nazareth. The pompous, popish, pretense of the religious potentates and the prideful, prating, preening of the media charlatans of our day should sicken those who truly know the mind of Christ.
Those who would be great among men should heed His words, "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." (Mark 10:44) The story is told of a pope of Rome receiving a visiting cardinal from a remote province. It is said he showed the visiting dignitary the overwhelming opulence and richness of the Vatican. At the end of the tour he proudly said, "I cannot say as Peter, 'Silver and gold have I none!" The visitor responded, "Neither can you say, arise, take up your bed and walk.."
If we are to have the mind of Christ and the power of God in our service to Him, we must have a servant's mind.Motive is always the primary criteria defining acceptable service. Christlike service is defined by a desire to please the Master above all else. Christ- like service is defined by serving with no thought of gain. Only obedient sacrificial service motivated by love and rendered for the right reason, for the glory of God, by those with Christ-like minds, will be abundantly rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our Saviour said, "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matt. 25:23)
HIS WAS A SOVEREIGN'S MIND FOCUSED UPON ETERNAL SALVATION. (Verse 12) He purposed to place into effect God's perfect plan of eternal salvation. "In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Eph. 1:13) Christ had in mind to bring salvation to all the world. In anticipation of this He had the prophet to say, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isa. 7:14) The angel restated this intent of the Sovereign mind of Christ upon the occasion of His birth, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21) Later on when He had come in the flesh Jesus confirmed the purpose of His incarnation and sojourn among men, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SUFFICIENT SALVATION that is free. His last words upon the matter of salvation were, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17) It is truly amazing that such an eternally valuable gift seems to be generally ignored in our materialistic world today. We could reasonably expect that if gospel preaching churches advertised that they were giving away $100. notes to all who would respond to an invitation to come to Christ, that their churches would be inundated with those looking for a free handout. But the world ignores the great gift of free salvation.
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SURE SALVATION for every sinner who will repent. He was loving and gracious enough to warn while yet on earth, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) But He did not stop there. He had Peter to lovingly express His deep longing to save repentant sinners, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Pet. 3:9) It would seem that in a world of sinners burdened down with eternal guilt, that many would come to the foot of the cross to have their sins washed away.
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SIMPLE SALVATION for all who will believe. He patiently explained the essence of a childlike saving faith in these simple words to a rich religious scholar named Nicodemus "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14-15) His salvation is as simple as taking a drink of water. It is as simple as receiving a gift. (John 1:2) It is as simple as opening a door. (Rev. 3:20)
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SECURE SALVATION for all those who completely depend upon Him. We are assured He eternal life is eternal and that the transaction of redemption is irrevocable, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25)
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SETTLED SALVATION with no works required nor strings attached. When He had finished His payment for sin on the cross He cried out, "It is finished." His salvation is based upon grace plus or minus nothing. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:" (Eph. 2:8) Those who would be saved eternally can come to Him saying, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SINCERE SALVATION that must be received in the heart. His was not easy believism salvation, but involves the very deepest thoughts and intents of a man's heart and mind. "That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Ro. 10:9-10) A sermon title I first saw many years ago said it all, "Missing Heaven By Eighteen Inches." The physical distance between the head and the heart can translate into infinity and eternity for those who will not believe in their heart.
CHRIST HAD IN MIND A SAFE SALVATION that can be received in the here and now. His salvation is not something that can only be determined sometime in the future, but is a safe and sure certainty that can be received and possessed right now. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12) "Behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation." (II Cor. 6:2)
Are you ready to have a meeting of the mind with Christ on the matter of salvation? If you are saved, are you willing to have Christ have His way in your life?
