“The Mind Of Christ”

I Corinthians 2:2-16

2) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3) And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

N

atural man (or man not allowing himself to be directed by the Holy Spirit) tends to try to “get away” with things. He will try to follow his fleshly desires as closely as possible. What this translates to is that when it is convenient, we are spiritual. However, when troubles arise and we need an excuse, we will readily acknowledge that our understanding is limited.

Sadly, despite what we have come to know, what we have been taught and what the Lord has promised, some of us are determined to follow our own way. We are often determined to believe what we will and want to believe and to think what we will and want to think. Often, this is despite the fact that we know our emphasis is wrong.

Perhaps most tragically, we are being taught the truth and, in many cases, not abiding by it. In this, we find Scripture either liberating or damning. Of course, the Word clearly states that one who knows his Lord’s will, yet neither prepares himself nor acts according to it, will be beaten with many stripes. However, one that doesn’t know these things and commits acts worthy of stripes will be beaten with few stripes.

There is no excuse of one who has been enlightened by the Spirit of God to have to be beaten. One who is committed to the truth of the Word of God automatically does what he is called to do and does not err.

The focus of salvation must be to win others to Christ. For too long, redeemed man has conducted himself as if it were possible to be covered by truth, yet not abide by it. It is the unregenerated mind that will not accept truth. But, in that the Holy Ghost is invested in us, He is invested that we might be given the “mind of Christ.” Without it, we cannot be privileged to know the mysteries of God.

We, as saints, err greatly when we attempt to go to unsaved family and friends with problems. In that they have not the Spirit of God (and hence the mind of Christ) they cannot give us spiritual advice. The mind of Christ is a right mind. We must realize that the rest of the world is operating without a mind able to discern good from evil. Having a stable mind makes all the difference. Having a stable mind means that everything can and will be all right, for the mind “knows in whom it has believed…” This mind has confidence in the God Who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. One with a “right” mind realizes that He who possesses those qualities will give to those who believe Him the ability to serve Him.

Being like a computer, the mind must be “programmed.” It often seems easier for us to accept the bad than the good. This is why it is best to practice to accepting the positive, for whatever we are not prepared for, we “kick out.”

Those not saved sometimes feel they can blame pastors, who have not received the Holy Ghost, for not teaching the truth. But what we must see is that it is up to us as parishioners to seek what we need to know. After all, a Pastor can only lead and guide by what he knows and without the Holy Ghost, His knowledge is incomplete.

The bottom line is that we are not to continue to live according to the flesh. The infilling is designed not just to help us break bad habits, but also enable us to live holy 24 hours a day.

The mind of Christ is a mind of humility. If we never knew that before, we know it now. In that the epitome of humility was and is Jesus, we too must find ourselves submissive unto Him in all areas and aspects of our lives.

Humility is neither an option nor request, but vital to our very survival.