THE MIND OF CHRIST The Complex Nature of the Saved Believers are complex in their makeup. There is not only a part of them that is "born of the Spirit," or "born of God;" as long as they are in this world, there is also a part of them that is "born of the flesh." Their bodies, together with the senses that go with them, was certainly not born of incorruptible seed! Our bodies are not "born of God" in the sense of First John 3:9 and 5:18. Who would care to defend such an absurd postulate. John is referring to the new creation or new man. That part of us "cannot sin," 'does not sin, " and the wicked one "touches him not." Like the Israelites in Canaan The believer is like Israel in Canaan. There is an enemy in the land--"the flesh." To the believer, "the flesh" is like the Canaanites. It is with us, but it is not of us. It is a foreigner in the land, and will ultimately be completely thrust from our presence. Until that takes place, we have to contend with "the flesh." When that contention is ended, we will see the new creation--what is born of God--is totally incapable of sin. if this was not the case, sin would again break out in glory. Is This Relevant? This IS relevant to our subject. The "mind of Christ" equates to "the mind of the Spirit," and relates to the "new man." It represents the only valid thought pattern in the Kingdom of God. Any thought contrary to "the mind of Christ" is vain and inimical to God. This condition exists because the natural order has been written off, leaving room only for the heavenly perspective, which is really the ONLY perspective. Those who extoll the rationality of man forget that this was the source of man's downfall. It was human reason that brought our race down. it is certain that it cannot lift us up. -- Tomorrow:
"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:11-16, NASB).
Devotion 8 of 28
Indeed, it is true that all have sinned and come short of God's glory. Yet, for the believer, it is the "flesh," or unregenerate part of us that is accessible to the wicked one. Our "new man" does not sin--it is the "old man" that does so, and that attempts to draw us back into iniquity. Nor, indeed, can Satan touch the "new man." This is why we are admonished to "put on" the "new man," and put off the "old man" (Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:9-10). This is more than a mere law, or requirement. It is the only way we can survive while we are in this world.
"Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:9). The language here is precise. John does not say "the Christian" cannot sin, or "the believer" cannot sin. It is what is born of God that cannot sin. The reason why this condition exists is apparent: "His seed abideth in him." Remember, that "seed" is "incorruptible" seed, which lives and abides forever (1 Pet 1:23). It is not capable of sinning because it is of another order. The "new creation" (2 Cor 5:17) cannot sin.
Again it is written, "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him" (1 John 5:18). By "keeps himself," the text means what is born of God effectively resists the encroachments of the wicked one, refusing to walk in the domain of which Satan is prince. The wicked one cannot touch the one who is born of God because that life is "hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:3), and is therefore beyond the reach of Satan.
Some versions, taking an academic approach to these texts, read "cannot PRACTICE sin," and "does not PRACTICE sin." Appealing to the tense of the verb used here, the position is taken that the Spirit means the one born of God cannot habitually sin. Many of the very people espousing this view dogmatically affirm the possibility of falling away, in which case habitual sin would be present. No, the "cannot-practice-or-continue-in-sin" view cannot be supported. It provides for some sin to be found what is born of God, and for Satan to touch what is born of God. It will take more than the espousal of a theological position to support that!
Sin is related exclusively with the "old man," or the Adamic nature. By faith, "our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Rom 6:6). Our job is to keep that old nature crucified, refusing to allow it to have dominance, or to obtain its desires. Even though Christ crucified the "old man" for us when we were united with Him through baptism (Rom 6:4-6), yet believers themselves are said to crucify the flesh (Gal 5:24). Their action is required because the "old man" was not annihilated when we came into Christ. If that was the case, it would be absurd to admonish those in Christ to "put off the old man" (Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:9-10).
At no point are the "sin and weight" of believers (Heb 12:2) associated with their new nature, which cannot sin. Such is always identified with their old nature. The fact that such things can be "put off" confirms they are not part of the new creation (2 Cor 5:17). The Scriptures are precise on this point. Believers are admonished, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth (Col 3:5-8). Rest assured, we are never exhorted to put away anything belonging to the "new man."
This is precisely why we are promised: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Gal 5:16, NASB). It simply is not possible to walk in the Spirit and sin! No honest person will say they have not sinned, or that they have absolutely ceased from sinning, for to do so is to lie (1 John 1:8,10). If, however, any one sins, it is because they chose to walk in the flesh. You simply cannot walk in the Spirit, or in the power of the new creation, and sin! Thank God there is an Advocate for such times (1 John 2:1-2).
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I thank You for the new creation -- the new man -- and for its superiority to sin and the devil.