Having the Mind of Christ

Having the Mind of Christ
By John Woodward
August 31, 1998

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). Since the Exchanged Life is essentially Christ living His life through us, we need to practice Christ's way of thinking. Although we "have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16), we are responsible to have His mind set (Phil 2:5). Our tendency is to look on our circumstances from a humanistic perspective instead of God's perspective.

Peter fell into this trap when he protested our Lord's prophecy of His crucifixion, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" (Matt 16:22). Jesus corrected Peter who was not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men (Matt 16:23). God's perspective is the true perspective--it is in accordance with reality. It is not time-bound, but encompasses His eternal purposes. For these reasons God's ways are typically "higher than our ways" (Is 55:8,9).

As redeemed ones through faith in Christ, we are to continually renew our minds with God's truth (Rom 12:1,2). We are not to dwell on thoughts of doubt, self-pity, and guilt which rob us of a Christ-centered focus. A critical or ungrateful attitude is incompatible with "looking unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1,2).

How can we renew our minds so as to practice Christ's mind set? We must be "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor 10:5).

Preston and Anabel Gillham identify four steps for resisting fleshly thought patterns:

"a) Through His WlSDOM I recognize these thoughts as Sin in my life. Through a knowledge of His word I see that these thoughts are not His way for me.

b) Through His POWER I refuse to accept thoughts of disappointment, despair, bitterness, hopelessness, self-pity, self-fulfillment, self-destruction, resentment, anger, unhappiness, defeat and unbelief. These thoughts are presented to me by Satan, "...the father of lies" (John 8:44), through the Power of Sin, who then tempts, deceives and accuses me.

c) By His AUTHORlTY I reckon myself dead to Sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. I do not have to obey Satan, speaking to me through the Power of Sin, because I have considered myself or reckoned myself dead to Sin.

d) in His GRACE I rest. Many times I go through the first steps but never experience victory because I do not feel victorious. I must walk in the complete assurance, the firm conviction--that He has taken care of the situation. . . whether I feel any different or not." (A Study of the Mind p.10)

The primary focus of our quest for progressive sanctification is the soul (1Pet 2:11) which features the mind, will, and emotions. God's design is for the Holy Spirit to control our will, which should direct the mind. This is why the Scriptures command the believer to direct the focus of his thought life: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." (Phil 4:8).

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. "(Psalm 19:14).

JBW

August 31, '98

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