THE MIND OF CHRIST ONE SPIRIT While we have been brought near, we have not merely been brought close. In salvation, we are actually united with the Lord, being made one with Him. The possession of "the mind of Christ" is one of the aspects of that marvelous union. This unity is so remarkable men often struggle to believe it. Whole bodies of theology have been developed to explain a supposed gulf between Jesus and His people. The Spirit puts to silence such pointless speculations. "But he who is joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT with Him" (1 Cor 6:17 A Question I would pose a question to you. Is it possible to be joined to the Lord and not possess His mind? If this IS possible, what are the advantages of being in Christ? What is the difference between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion if our basic thinking has not been changed? From another perspective, is it possible to come into harmony with Christ in our thinking by sheer natural abilities? If so, why is it necessary to be born again (John 3:5-8)? The answer to these questions should be obvious. Those who insist we cannot have the mind of Christ have exalted the flesh. By that very act of unbelief, they have handicapped believers, leading them to overestimate their natural powers, which have been blighted by sin. They have also excluded themselves from the blessing. -- 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 24 of 28
JOINED TO THE LORD
Like all New Covenant benefits, the possession of "the mind of Christ" is not experienced from a distance. The Old Covenant was a covenant of distance. It postulated a vast chasm between the people and God. Although God intended to do them good, He could not do it, for they were not close to Him. For this reason, laws were imposed upon them that kept them from wandering even further. In a sense, those laws forced the people to consider life with God in mind. Infracting those laws often meant death, and thus the people "through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb 2;15).
How gloriously different is our condition in Christ Jesus! Instead of being far from God, we are "are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13). Instead of the Law being imposed upon us, it is written upon our hearts and put into our minds. That is a provision of the New Covenant. "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts," and "I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Heb 8:10; 10:16). A unanimity between God and man is wrought in redemption that has never before been experienced.
The closest of all fleshly relationships is that of husband and wife. Of that union the Lord says, "the two shall become one flesh" (Matt 19:5; Eph 5:31; Gen 2:24). Separate identities are preserved, yet there is a merging of the two. The identity of Christ with His people is even closer than this!
The involvements of being "one spirit" with the Lord are challenging. We have actually been united with Christ, and He with us! Thus, Scripture affirms we are "in Christ." "But by His [God's] doing you are IN CHRIST JESUS" (1 Cor 1:2,30). Also see 1 Cor 16:24; 2 Cor 1:21; 5:17; Eph 2:10; 2:13. They also declare Christ is in us. "Know ye not your own selves, how that JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU" (2 Cor 13:5). Also see Rom 8:10; Gal 4:19; Col 1:27. That is being made "one spirit" with the Lord.
The truth of the matter is that our minds can be spiritually productive only when they are united with Christ. That experience is involved in being "joined to the Lord," and thereby possessing His mind.
PRAYER POINT: Father, although I am not able to fully comprehend what is involved in being joined to the Lord, I thank You through Jesus Christ for revealing this reality. I confess that whatever advancements in understanding and living I have experienced, are because I have been joined to the Lord.