The Mind of Christ

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ" (I Corinthians 2:16).

The mind of the natural man is "a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:28), a "carnal mind" (Romans 8:7), and a "defiled" mind (Titus 1:15), characterized by a daily walk "in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:17,18).

When a person is born again through faith in Christ, however, he should be "transformed by the renewing of his mind" (Romans 12:2), and should henceforth seek to conform to the mind of Christ in every attitude and every decision.

But what is the mind of Christ? As our text says: "Who hath known the mind of the Lord?" Paul echoed the same question to the Romans: "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor?" (Romans 11:34).

There are many aspects to His infinite mind, of course, but the key is undoubtedly the great attribute of sacrificial love. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who . . . became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5,6,8).

Thus, following His example, we should "in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3). We should constantly "consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds" (Hebrews 12:3). We should "(receive) the word with all readiness of mind" and "(serve) the Lord with all humility of mind" (Acts 17:11; 20:19). Herein is the mind of Christ. HMM

INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH

www.icr.org

December 4, 2007