Mind of Christ Bible Study, Part 1
Rom 12:1-2
2 Tim 1:7
Isa 26:3-4
Phil 2:5
So what does it mean to have the mind of Christ? Think about this question for a minute. When you think of the ‘mind/character’ of Christ, what do you think about? What qualities come to mind?
*John 7:16-17 Know doctrine, be of God – Do HIS will
*1 Cor 2:12-16 We can only perceive the things of God because of having His Spirit in us, giving us the mind of Christ.
I like how Gal 4:19 describes it, as ‘Christ be formed in you.’
*1 Cor 10:2-5 – Bringing thoughts into captivity, power over strongholds, walk IN the world, but NOT of it.
Paul again mentions about being renewed in the mind in Eph 4: 22-24
Prov 23:7 reminds us that ‘as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Our minds are extremely powerful.
Paul gives us a list of things to focus on:
*Phil 4:8
*Col 1: 21-23
*Col 3:1-10 (If we were to go further in the chapter, we would read the characteristics demonstrated by someone who has the ‘mind of Christ.’
*1 Pet 1:13 Gird: brace up, don’t allow your mind to hamper your work. Vs 14-15 continues about not following the lusts of the flesh, but to be holy, which means without sin.
Another verse in the same book, 3:15 talks of ‘sanctify the Lord God in your hearts’ this means to make the mind holy.
*1 Pet 4:1-2 Again, no more having the mindset of sin; living according to the lusts of the flesh.
Jumping back to chapt 1:22 – Peter talks about our ‘souls’ are purified by obeying the truth. The word for souls is psuche, which means the seat of ‘affections/will.’ It’s what makes us an individual.
So how are we to become purified in mind?
*1 John 2:6 says that we are to walk as Jesus walked.
*James 1: 5-6 tells us that we only need to ask, without doubt. God will bless us with His Spirit which will transform our minds and hearts.
*2 Cor 3:18
Rom 8 has a lot of meat in it, which we do not have time to dig into this morning. But it would be a good reading for this afternoon.
EGW tells us in:
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900), Lt 124, 1900, par. 44
The only way man can become elevated is by receiving the righteousness of Christ. We are individually perfected by the beholding of Christ’s image. (This is focusing on Christ, His actions, His words.) By beholding we become changed to the same likeness from glory to glory (from character to character). We become sons and daughters of God, equal to the angels. It is our privilege to be complete in Him who is our power, our purity.
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902), Lt 3, 1902, par. 13
We are not always to retain the same mold of character. (We are not to stay at the same level we are. Paul talks of baby Christians remaining on the milk of the word, rather than learning to eat ‘spiritual meat.’) By beholding we become changed into His likeness. We must get out of self, and become one with Christ. Every member of the church may do a good work in the service of the Lord if he will make diligent efforts to work in Christ’s lines. Truth has triumph in itself because it is truth, with no error in it.
Closing:
Eph 1: 17-18
Phil 1:9-11
And this, I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement;
That you may approve (put to the test) things that are excellent (of more value, surpasses); that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.