The Mind Of Christ

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)