THE MIND OF CHRIST -- 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 18 of 28
First Corinthians 2:16 is not the only text that deals with the mind of Christ. In salvation, there is place for no other mind. Any other frame of reference is appropriately termed "ignorance." Those who do not think like Jesus cannot be trusted to deliver His message--regardless of their credentials. Further, we may speak for the Lord Jesus only to the degree we have embraced His mind. Any other mind disqualifies us from the service of the King!
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5 KJV). The Apostle takes the loftiest aspect of Christ's mind, and imposes it upon the people of God. The staggering consideration of
Christ's humiliation is called to mind. He emptied Himself of Divine prerogatives, and assumed the form of a servant, in order to the salvation of humanity. If we are astounded at the mind of an Apostle, what will we do with the Mind of the Son of God? Paul says we are to participate in it, not marvel at it! Of course, if we cannot have "the mind of Christ," this is a vain word, to be ignored by all of us.
The Spirit is not calling upon us to make a disciplined attempt to think like Jesus, although our effort will surely be involved. This is a summons to appropriation. We are to "let," or allow, this mind to be in us. That is another way of saying this is a trait of spiritual life, and is offered to us in the "great salvation" of God. If we refuse to be dominated by the flesh, and walk in the Spirit, we will thereby allow Christ's mind to dwell in us.
Some will object, saying this passage encourages us to have the attitude of Jesus--that it has nothing to do with us really possessing His mind. If this supposition is true, then we are encouraged to develop a Christlike attitude in the energy of nature. It also suggests that you can have Christ without having His mind, which is an absurd contradiction. The notion that our text is merely speaking of having a Christ-like demeanor is a Sinaitic approach that leads us into hopelessness. If, in an innocent state, Adam fell prey to the wiles of the Devil, what will happen to his progeny? Israel, after witnessing the greatest signs and wonders the world has ever seen, succumbed to unbelief. What will happen to those who seek after their own righteousness, as Israel did (Rom 10:1-4)? And if Christ's mind is really not in us, we are shut up to our own resources, just as surely as Israel was.
The Spirit is not urging us to capitalize on our natural abilities, i.e., those we have received from Adam. They have proved destitute in the crucible of spiritual life. Rather, He is entreating us to appropriate the nature of Jesus. "LET this mind be in you . . . " Other translations use the term "attitude," i.e., NASB and NIV, which has led to some confusion. Notice what the massage says. This "mind," which is to be found in us, was in Christ Jesus, "Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped" (Phil 2:5).
Do not miss the weight of this statement! We are admonished to possess the same mind, or "attitude," as the One Who was "in the form of God," and was "equal" in all respects to the Father! Who is the individual that supposes nature can provide the resources to do this? Can Divine qualities be copied, or emulated? Is the human spirit a sort of duplicator, that can reproduce the character of the Jesus of the Gospel? The person who would dare to assume such a thing betrays the smallness of their view God! Peter reminds us that we "participate" in the Divine nature (2 Pet 1:4). The "mind of Christ" is part of that Nature! The exhortation is to allow this mind to be in us. That will begin by first taking the admonition seriously.
PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You for providing a salvation that brings a new mind--even the mind of Your only begotten Son.