The Mind of Christ

The Mind of Christ

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” Jas. 1:17.

How comforting and good it is to know that this is how our heavenly Father is. He loves us, and He has chosen us to partake of His divine nature. There is only one light with Him: only perfect and good gifts. In all this there is no variation or shadow of turning. How safe and good it is to be true sons and daughters of God the Almighty and have fellowship with Him. 2 Cor. 6:18.

The average human being alternates between love and hate, gentleness and anger, between good and bad moods. One is happy and unhappy. One does not lead a good life with such a changeable attitude of mind.

Paul rejoiced that the Corinthians mourned in a godly manner. 2 Cor. 7:9. The fact that it is possible to partake of such a mind is a great and joyful thing. With this mind one can get away from everything that is insecure and unstable; away from anxiety and unrest, antipathy and sympathy, as well as everything that is variable because of sin. We have been promised divine nature by fleeing the corruption that is in the world through lust. We are being transformed to this new life and the new, divine nature by the divine power that has been given to us for all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and power. 2 Pet. 1:3-4.

Peter spoke to the people and said, “Repent therefore and receive a new mind, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord . . . .” Acts 3:19. The times of refreshing are a direct consequence of having received a new mind.

Those in Berea “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether the things that were told them were so.” Acts 17:11.

We cannot understand the Scriptures in the right way unless we have this mind of God and of Christ. This requires a wholehearted conversion from the old to the new mind. The result is two widely different ways of thinking and speaking.

In 1 Corinthians 2:16 Paul says, “But we have the mind of Christ.” We can only be one in the body of Christ if we have Jesus’ mind of sacrifice. “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” Rom. 15:5-7. We can be preserved in one mind only with the patience and comfort that is in God. In that one mind we can receive one another after the example of Jesus Christ. Paul exhorts the Corinthians that they should all speak the same thing, that there be no division among them, and that they be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor. 1:10.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus . . . .” In this mind He humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:5-8. Having the mind of Christ results in sacrifice and humiliation, but also in a corresponding exaltation and glory. Jesus received a name that is above every name because He was obedient in His humiliation. Vs. 8-11.

The Gentiles were exhorted not to walk any longer in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened and being alienated from the life of God. Eph. 4:17-18. The Antichrist will fill such empty minds with his many deceptions and powerful lies. Because they did not receive the love of the truth so they could be saved, God Himself will send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie. 2 Thess. 2:10:11.

Now is the time to lay hold of the mind of Christ, which is always receptive to everything that is noble and good, so we can be filled with all the fullness of God. In these days we can see how people’s minds are filled with all kinds of evil from the pit. They have a debased mind so that they will believe a lie. The powers of darkness are active as never before. The devil has blinded people’s eyes so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ cannot shine on them. 2 Cor. 4:4. Both children and young people are sitting in front of video machines and television screens—open and receptive—and their minds are being filled with the most horrendous things.

When we are invited to receive a new mind that does not change between good and evil, but which is always grounded and firm in that which is good, without variation and/or shadow of turning, then we should seek it with all our heart.

“Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isa. 26:2-3.