Let This Mind Be in You

Do you wonder why the “christians” of our day make so many wrong choices, wrong decisions, and wrong turns? The Lord saved me fifty-one years ago; but it is so different in the church today. Lifestyles, habits and interests of the church’s members have changed so radically that I’m not at home with many professing believers any longer. As I read statistics from the leading pollsters, it appears that the church is almost exactly like the world, maybe a few steps behind. The church is actually leading the world in some areas, like, same-sex marriage, abortion, and even in godless attire and the pursuit of pleasure, wealth and fame.

It’s very simple what has happened. We are desperately missing “the Mind of Christ” in our lives. To be a Christian has been transformed from a total supernatural New Birth to a powerless mental affirmation. Apostle James dealt with this very same religious weakness in his Epistle. Individuals were apparently promoting a powerless conversion that was void of the miracle of total change. James stood against such religious emptiness and said, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20)

The ministry of the Holy Ghost in our experiencing the New Birth and in our Sanctification, that is to normally follow the New Birth, is to manifest, “The Mind of Christ” in us. We are invited to allow the Spirit of Christ to transform our way of thinking. It is not a work of the flesh but a work of the Spirit of God and Christ making us new creatures (a new creation) in Christ Jesus. Paul said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Phil 2:5). His mind in us will cause us to think His thoughts and live His righteousness. You may say, “That will demand that we are saints.” The answer is, “His disciples are His saints”. If we are not, something is wrong and the church has got to start admitting that truth.

This beautiful place of the “Mind of Christ in us” does not happen easily. We are babes in Christ at the beginning of our walk of faith, but we are commanded to “desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby.”(I Peter 2:2) His grace does not just save us, it cleanses and perfects us, but only if we “go on unto perfection” (Hebrews 6:1). Paul to the Philippians showed them the results of allowing the Holy Ghost to cause the “Mind of Christ” to fill their mind until they thought His thoughts. This cannot happen but by the mighty work of His Holy Spirit. He is ready to do it if we totally surrender to Him and seek His face with our whole heart.

Here is Apostle Paul’s description of that person where “His mind” has been allowed to become “their mind.” “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” (Phil 2:15-17)

The Spirit of God has made it plain to us that we are to have the “Mind of Christ.” Anything less is sub-New Testament and must not be tolerated in the “Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the truth”(I Tim. 3:15). His Blood, the Blood of the only begotten Son, is able to redeem us from all iniquity and the carnal self and to work this work in us. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) Please pray with me, “Nothing shall stop me, Lord, until I think Your thoughts.” “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” (Heb 3:14) As we grow in His likeness and experience “His thoughts in us” never forget it is maintained by His sacrifice for us. John Wesley, the great Methodist said,

“Every moment Lord, I need the merits of thy death.”