Title: A Mind For Christ
The book of Philippians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Philippi, a church that he founded and a church that loved and supported his ministry. In this letter, Paul expresses his joy, gratitude, and affection for the Philippians, and encourages them to stand firm in their faith, to rejoice in the Lord, and to imitate his example. He also challenges them to deal with some issues that threatened their unity and witness, such as false teachers, persecution, and selfishness.
One of the key verses in this letter is Philippians 2:5, where Paul says: "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." (NIV) This verse introduces a beautiful and powerful passage that describes the mind of Christ, his humility, obedience, sacrifice, and exaltation. It also serves as a model and a motivation for us to have the same attitude and perspective as Jesus in our relationships with God and with each other.
In this study, we will explore what it means to have the mind of Christ, and how it affects our character, our choices, our actions, and our interactions. We will also learn from the examples of Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and the Philippians themselves, how they applied the mind of Christ in their lives and ministries. We will discover the benefits and blessings of having the mind of Christ, such as joy, peace, unity, love, and reward.
Let us also pray that God will help us to apply what we learn in our daily lives and share it with others. Are you ready? Let's begin! Let us start by praying (claiming) the prayer that Paul prays for Saints at Philippi (Phil 1:9-11).
Phil 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; [10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ;[11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
The answer to that prayer is summarized by the command: Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Phil 2:5)
Bible scholars are split on the main theme of Philippians between the following two:
1. The Joy of Christ 2. The Mind of Christ
It is my belief that it is both, the "Mind of Christ" that produces "The Joy of Christ". The goal of this study is for us to understand that "let" is a command and "IF" we will "OBEY" God will provide!
Many see that the above verse is not only the theme verse for the book of Philippians, but the KEY that produces the desired results of Paul's prayer above. The first step in the process is to realize that "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" is not a suggestion, but a command. We will also discover the "Joy of Christ" will be experienced as we develop the "Mind of Christ".
"Let this mind be in you". An initial step is a look at the definition of "let" which means "do not prevent". "Let" is a willful decision to allow the activity to take place! In other words, God's Word is saying that "let" is an act of our will. It is similar to the word "set" in Col 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth". Just as "let" is an action of our will, so is "set" which means put or bring something into a specific state. Just as "let" is an act of our will, so is "set". Neither is passive, but a conscious decision to act. We are to place our attention/affection on Christ (things of heaven). We have the God-granted ability to "let" or "set" as well as to "not let" or "not set"!
At creation, God gave mankind "dominion" over the earth. Stated another way, when you are in charge of something or rule it, you have dominion over it. By giving Adam dominion implies many things, specifically Adam had responsibility and could make decisions and take actions. God's follow with the command not to eat from the "Tree of Knowledge" implies again that Adam had the granted freedom to choose to do so. Adam and Eve had the freedom to choose to disobey God's command.
Every Biblical principle/doctrine has its beginning in the book of Genesis and most can find their basis in the simple creation story and Adam's choice to disobey God in Genesis chapters 1-3. Not only did God grant Adam the freedom to choose Life (Tree of Life") or Death (Eat of the Tree of Knowledge), but also the nation of Israel had the choice of life or death. God told Israel, I lay before you life or death, choose life. The same is true for all mankind since Adam as the book of Romans states "The wages of sin is death" and all have chosen to sin. Like Adam all of mankind has willfully doubted and disobeyed God which is a sin!
Just as all of humanity has willfully chosen to sin, God says we can willfully choose to come to him by so simple words such as "let", "set", "put on", Put off", walk, run, etc. All of these require a person to take action or not (a choice).
Every book in the Bible is true to that basic concept of God, "I lay before you life or death". The whole Bible is also true to the concept God has granted mankind the ability to be restored by the shedding of blood. There is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. Starting with the promise that a seed of Eve would crush the head of Satan, God revealed a plan of a perfect blood sacrifice available to cover the sin of each sinner.
1Jo 2:2 And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus' blood (crucifixion on the cross) was sufficient for all, but only efficient for those who come to Him under His terms!
All books of the Old Testament point to Christ and the crucifixion and all books of the New Testament reference this event! All of Paul's epistles cover this story in one way or another. If you will look closely all of them point out mankind is a sinner and deserves death, but God so loved man that he grants him a way to be restored. The book of Philippians is one of the most straightforward pictures of this restoration.
Years ago I was trained by "Walk thru the Bible" to teach the Old Testament and their summary of all the prophets (that is each book of the prophets) could be summarized by "shape up or ship out" or in other words repent or be condemned/destroyed. Shortly after my "Walk thru the Bible" training I went to India and taught a two-week course in a school that trained evangelists. My assignment was to teach an overview of all of Epistles from Romans to Hebrews. In doing so, I discovered they all, including Philippians, have the same message "Repent or suffer eternal death". They just approached the same subject in different ways with different illustrations. However, I believe that Philippians is one of the simplest and easiest to grasp.
THE NEED FOR REPENTANCE
If we receive the light of the Word of God upon our fallen natural mind, thoughts, and reasoning, it will come as no surprise to us that the first words that mention John the Baptist’s preaching reads: "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:1-2 NIV) This verse is also found in Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3.
Both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus declared, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand” (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). The command to repent is directed to man’s mind. The Greek word rendered “repentance” is metanoia, which means a change of mind. As Harry A. Ironside says, “This is not merely the acceptance of new ideas in place of old notions. But it actually implies a complete reversal of one’s inward attitude.”
Repentance is an act/decision of turning from the acts of the Old (carnal) Man and turning to the acts of the New (Spiritual) Man. Yielding (a decision) to the Holy Spirit is an act of walking in the spirit (Gal. 5:16).
When one genuinely "repents" before the Lord and is “born again” of the Spirit, receiving Christ into his being, his spirit is regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). John has stated in two other verses John 3:3,5 that one must be "born again"!
To be "born again", starts one's experience of a change of mind and of heart. They begin to think differently about God and spiritual things, and they also have a heart to love the Lord Jesus. But this does not mean that the mind has been renewed. This is the initial step in the process of "developing the "Mind of Christ"!
Remember Paul’s words: “No longer walk in the vanity of the mind.” In verse 23 of the same chapter, Paul tells the believers to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Therefore, in Ephesians 4 we have a vivid contrast between “the vanity of the mind” and “the spirit of the mind.” The urgent need among all Christians today is the renewing of the mind.
Paul also speaks of the renewing of the mind in Romans 12:2. This verse says, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” In the book of Romans we see the mind of man in various stages: the reprobate mind (Rom. 1:28), the mind desiring to serve the law of God (Rom. 7:25), the mindset either upon the flesh or upon the spirit (Rom. 8:6), and the transformed and renewed mind. The word, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” implies that this process is not yet completed.
Just as we must make a decision (a choice) to repent (turn from sin) and turn to God. We also must decide to do the following:
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Earlier in chapter 6 of Romans God's Word says in Rom 6:1-4 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in the newness of life.
The next few verses of chapter 6 tell us how the individual is involved in the process of this transformation. This concept of Philippians, Hebrews, and Romans agrees with the Colisians' concept of putting off the old man with a carnal mind and putting on the new man with a spiritual mind. "Put" requires a decision to act much like "let" and "set"!
This new man with a new mind that has to be trained/developed. Developing the mind of/for Christ starts with developing a "desire" to know Christ, "diligence" to seek Christ, "discipline" to follow/obey Christ's commands, and "delight" in His presence! Not only is it an act of laying aside and running the race (Hebrews 12), but it also involves that we are "not conformed but transformed" by the act of renewing our minds so that we might know and do the will of God.
The Bible is consistent from cover to cover. Hebrews states this concept in Heb 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let us "lay aside" (a conscience decision/act) and "let us" run (decision/act) the race looking unto Christ (things above) who is sitting at the right hand of the Father.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
The expressions “old man” and “new man” occur in four places in Paul’s letters, Romans 6:6; Ephesians 2:15; 4:22-24; and Colossians 3:9-11.
Furthermore, "old man" is a mind set on the flesh, it is enmity against God, and it is not subject to the law of God (Rom. 8:6-7). The fallen mind is corrupt and causes men to resist the truth (1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Tim. 3:8). According to Titus 1:15, the natural mind is defiled.
Ephesians 2:2 -3 “In time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience … fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.”
As a fallen one, we were directed by our mind. Our mentality, logic, and philosophy governed our way of life. Before we were saved (born again), we were under the direction of our fallen mentality (the old man). We were far away from God, and our life was in direct opposition to His will.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
All of the above verses either state or imply a choice, an act of our will.
It has been said, that one of the "Greatest revelations of my life" is: I can choose my thoughts and think things on purpose. This is key because our thoughts lead us to their behavior (act out). Where the mind goes, the body follows.
Proverbs 23:7 “As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.”
In Philippians, Paul is showing us how to develop a way of thinking like Christ which leads us to a way of living that pleases Christ. God uses Philippians as a tool to show us how to develop and demonstrate the mind (thinking) that leads to behavior that God desires for His disciples/followers.
Who is responsible for this? God or us? OR God & us? Philippians and the Bible as a whole show us that God allows us to a choice, but provides the power to accomplish His desires (life) and punishes those who choose not to follow Christ's example.
We open this book of Philippians with a reference to Paul's prayer:
Philip. 1:9-11 (ESV) And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
This prayer has a number of common elements with prayers in Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, and Corinthians. Paul uses these prayers somewhat as an outline of the purpose of the letters. In so doing he is requesting the power of God to enable the hearers/readers to be transformed by the Word and Spirit of God and at the same time they develop the desire to work out (live out/practice) their salvation.
All of Paul's Epistles encourage the reader to "walk worthy" of their calling and by so doing bring glory to God. For this to happen requires the willful yielding of the human flesh/desires to the Spirit of God. This not only brings glory to God but prepares the human to be ready (secure & rejoicing) for the “day of Christ”
Philippians lays out a process/progression that will allow an individual to develop the mind (thinking & behavior)of Christ. Philippians presents a four-step process, when followed will produce the desire of God for the individual. These four steps are: 1. Single Mind (focused on Christ) -> 2. Submissive Mind (to Christ) -> 3. Spiritual Mind (of Christ-> 4> Secure Mind (in Christ)
1. Single Mind - a desire to know Him
The general theme of the Philippian letter is Christ. Christ is mentioned as "Lord" or "Jesus Christ" over fifty times in this little book. The name “Christ” or “Jesus Christ” occurs seventeen times in the first chapter alone - A Single Mind focused on Christ
2. Submissive Mind - a discipline to follow Him - we (our mind) must submit to Christ/Holy Spirit
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had the choice of eating either from the "Tree of Life" or the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They chose the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil", death!
Today we have a choice: the choice of setting our mind upon God's Spirit, which is life and peace, or of setting our mind upon the flesh, which is death. According to Romans 8:6 and 7, the mindset on the flesh is not only death but also enmity against God. Therefore, where a Christian sets his mind from moment to moment is of tremendous significance in his practical life.
A Submissive Mond to Christ is a mind that has been so renewed through being permeated by the life-giving Spirit that will indeed be set on the things in heaven, not on the things on earth (Col. 3:12).
3. Spiritual Mind - diligence to seek Him - Renewed Mind
Trusting in God is being open to God's Truth (His Word)
In Hebrews 10:16. This verse says, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and upon their minds will I inscribe them” (Gk.). As Hebrews 8:10, a sister verse, indicates, when this takes place, the Lord will be our God and we shall be His people. As the Lord inscribes His laws upon our minds, we gain the inward subjective knowledge of God. Eventually, we shall no longer need teachers in an outward way, for we shall all know the Lord in an inward way. Hebrews 8:11 says, “And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” How marvelous to have a mind inscribed with the laws of God! This is an outstanding characteristic of the renewed mind, a Spiritual Mind of Christ.
4. Secure Mind - a delight to trust Him
A Secure Mind in Christ is obtained by developing a desire, discipline, diligence, and delight in God which is a choice!
1) Our Commitment – to allow God to mold us (die to self)
2) Our Commitment - to change/do - new creature - His likeness
We are to have faith - Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that "He is" and that "He" is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (our part)
Definition of Diligently: having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties (a decision and the act of our will)
Definition of Seek: an attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something),(a decision and the act of our will).
1) We are to: - Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? - How are we doing?
2) We are to: - Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2]Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? How are we doing?
Developing the "Mind of Christ" is a very important and practical topic for Christians who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus and with each other. Focusing on the teaching of Philippians with the developing "Mind of Christ" emphasizes the fact Paul is telling us to walk as Jesus walked and that is to walk the talk!
As we begin this study of Philippians, let us pray that God will help us to understand and apply the "Mind of Christ" in our lives. Let us ask him to show us how to be humble, obedient, loving, joyful, and faithful, just as Jesus was. Let us also ask him to help us to be united in spirit and purpose, as we share the gospel and serve one another. Let us remember that we are citizens of heaven and that our ultimate goal is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. May this study of Philippians inspire us to live worthy of the gospel of Christ and to grow in his grace and knowledge.
How is His work progressing in our life? Is it where God's Word says it should be? Who is responsible? God is faithful we are not!
Let us now look at the "Four Step Progression" of developing the Mind of Christ found in the Letter to the Philippians.
These four steps are: 1. Single Mind (focused on Christ) -> 2. Submissive Mind (to Christ) -> 3. Spiritual Mind (of Christ-> 4. Secure Mind (in Christ)
This is the first of a series of lectures/sermons on the Book of Philippians.
Charles King, Retired Pastor - https://preaching-the-word.com
