Having the mind of Christ means sharing Christ's perspective, purpose, and plan. It involves understanding God's plan to bring glory to himself, restore creation, and provide salvation for sinners. It also means sharing Christ's humility and obedience to God. Developing the mind of Christ requires having faith in Christ for salvation, yielding to the Holy Spirit's leading in one's life, and allowing one's mind to be transformed by the Spirit.

1. The mind of Christ – 26th July 2017
“…for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of
Christ.”(1 Corinthians 2:16).
The phrase “mindof Christ”or “mindof the Lord” comesfrom Isaiah40:13, “Who can fathomthe Spirit
of the LORD,or instructthe LORD as hiscounselor?”Havingthe mindof Christmeanssharingthe plan,
purpose,andperspectiveof Christ,anditissomethingthatall believers should possess. We canread
fromwhere Paul quotes the above andthenmakesa statementconcerningall believers:“We have the
mindof Christ…” as we can read in 1 Corinthians2:16, “…for,“Whohasknownthe mind ofthe Lord so
as to instruct him?” But we have the mindof Christ.”
What does‘Havingthe mindof Christ’mean?It isto say that the believerunderstandsGod’splaninthe
world.Broadlyitisto bringglory to Himself,restore creationtoitsoriginal splendor,andprovide
salvation forsinners.Itmeanswe identifywithChrist’spurpose“toseekandto save whatwas lost” as
we can learnfrom Luke 19:10, “Forthe Sonof Man came to seek and to save the lost.” It alsomeans
that we share Jesus’perspective of humilityandobedience toGod. Thisisfurtherexplainedwhenwe
readPhilippians2:5-8,“In your relationshipswithoneanother, have the same mindsetas ChristJesus:
6
Who,beingin very natureGod,didnot consider equalitywithGodsomethingto be usedto his own
advantage;7
rather, he made himselfnothingbytaking the very nature ofa servant, beingmade in
humanlikeness.8
Andbeing foundinappearance as a man,he humbledhimselfby becomingobedient
to death—evendeath on a cross!” In additionthe mindof Christalsorefersto compassionand
prayerful dependence onGod as Jesusdidalways.Thisisfoundin Luke 5:16, “ButJesus often withdrew
to lonelyplaces andprayed.”
In the versesleadingupto 1 Corinthians2:16, we note more truthsconcerningthe mindof Christ:
First: We can knowthat the mindof Christstandsinsharp contrastto the wisdomof man so that your
faithmightnotrest on humanwisdom,butonGod’spower. We can learnthisfrom 1 Corinthians2: 5-6,
“…sothat yourfaith mightnot rest on humanwisdom,but on God’spower.God’sWisdomRevealed
by the Spirit 6
Wedo, however, speak a messageof wisdomamongthe mature, but not the wisdomof
this age or ofthe rulers ofthis age, who are comingto nothing.”
Second:The mindof ChristinvolveswisdomfromGod,once hiddenbutnow revealed asstatedin 1
Corinthians2: 7, “No,we declare God’swisdom,amystery that has been hiddenand that God
destinedfor our glory before time began.”Third:The mindof Christisgivento believersthroughthe
Spiritof God as saidin 1 Corinthians2: 10-12, “…these are the thingsGodhas revealed to us by his
Spirit.The Spiritsearches all things,even the deep thingsof God. 11
Forwho knows a person’sthoughts
except their own spirit withinthem?In the same way noone knows the thoughtsof Godexcept the
Spiritof God.12
Whatwe have received isnot the spiritof the world,but the Spirit who isfrom God,so
that we may understandwhat Godhas freely givenus.”

2. Forth: We needtounderstandthatthe mindof Christ cannotbe understood bythose withoutthe Spirit
as statedin 1 Corinthians2: 14, “The personwithout the Spiritdoes not accept the thingsthat come
from the Spiritof Godbut considersthem foolishness,andcannotunderstandthem because they are
discerned onlythroughthe Spirit.”
Fifth:The mindof Christgivesbelieversdiscernmentinspiritual matters aswe can learnfrom 1
Corinthians2: 15, “Theperson with the Spirit makesjudgmentsabout all things,but sucha person is
not subject to merely humanjudgments…”
One may inquire astohow one couldI developthis. The mindof Christisgiventobelieversthroughthe
HolySpirit. Havingthe mindof Christmeanswe “lookat life fromourSaviour’spointof view,havingHis
valuesanddesiresinmind. We readabove thatno one knowsthe thoughtsofGod except the Spirit of
God. It alsotellsusthat whatwe have received throughone’sfaithinChristasonessaviour, the Spirit
whois fromGod; so that we mayunderstandwhatGod has freelygivenus. Thereforeitmeansthatour
thoughtsshouldNOTbe as the worldthinks butas how Christthinks.Itis a sharedperspective of
humility,compassion,anddependenceonGod.
In orderto have the mind of Christ,one mustfirsthave savingfaithinChrist.Thisisto have faithand
believeinChristasonessaviour,repentforonessinfuldeeds,seeksalvation andthuswe become anew
entityinChrist.We are renewedinHislikenessandeven the righttobecome Childrenof God.We can
learnthisfrom John 1:12, “Yet to all who didreceive him,to those who believedin his name,he gave
the right to become childrenof God.” Thisisfurtherexplainedin 1John 5:12, “ Whoeverhas the Son
has life;whoever does not have the Son ofGod doesnot have life.” Aftersalvation,the believerlivesa
life underGod’sinfluence.The HolySpiritindwellsandenlightensthe believer,infusinghimwith
wisdom—themindof Christ.
But as believerswe needtoknowthathe or she bearsa responsibilitytoyieldtothe Spirit’s
leading…nottooppose it!Because we canlearnfrom Ephesians4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit
of God,withwhom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Until the dayof redemption! Thisisa
reference tothe future time whenthe Christiansreceive theirresurrectedbodies. Oursalvation
includesthe future glorificationof ourfleshlyabodes.Thisisexplainedin Philippians3:20-21, “Butour
citizenshipisin heaven.And we eagerlyawait a Saviorfrom there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21
who,by the
power that enableshim to bringeverything under hiscontrol, will transformour lowlybodiesso that
they will be likehis gloriousbody.”
As Christianswe needtounwaveringly allowthe Spirittotransformandrenew ourmindas saidin
Romans12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you,brothers and sisters,in view of God’smercy, to offer your
bodiesas a livingsacrifice,holyandpleasingto God—thisisyourtrue andproper worship. 2
Do not
conformto the pattern ofthis world,but be transformed by the renewing ofyour mind.Then you will
be able to test andapprove whatGod’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will.”