Our Mind

As Christians, we have been born of God in our human spirit (John 3:6). Jesus Christ now lives in us (II Cor. 13:5). His Spirit and our spirit have become one spirit (I Cor. 6:17). This is a fact and this is eternal. Although we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and forgiven of all our sins, we still possess the sinful flesh; this fallen nature remains in our mortal bodies (Rom. 6:12). Because of this, there is still the potential for Christians to live a sinful life (I Cor. 3:3). A genuine born again believer in Christ can chose to live, walk, and act in the flesh and not according to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

This is our struggle; this is our fight. Will we live according to the Spirit or according to the flesh? This will be determined by the position and condition of our mind. To live a Spirit-filled overcoming life, our minds need to be continually set on the spirit and daily renewed by the Spirit (Rom. 8:6; 12:2; Eph. 4:23). This is both a daily moment by moment exercise and a lifelong ongoing process. If we do not intentionally set our mind on the spirit, it will automatically gravitate to the flesh. The more we set our mind on the spirit, the more our minds will be renewed and function according to Christ.

Although we are eternally one with the Lord, we can still be alienated from Him and a hindrance to Him if we continue to operate out of an unrenewed mind set on the flesh. We have the mind of Christ because He lives in our spirit (I Cor. 2:16). But if we allow our mind to be set on the flesh and on the things of earth and man instead of the spirit, we will not have the mind of Christ in our daily practical application and experience (Matt. 16:23; Col. 3:1-2). Just because you have something doesn't guarantee you will use it.

The more we set our mind on the spirit, the more it will be renewed. As such, we will practically think and live according to the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is a sober mind; it is a mind that is consciously and continually aware of the need to deny itself and live according to the leading and will of God (John 8:28-29). The mind of Christ is a humble mind; it is not one that puts himself above others; it does not think more highly of himself above others; it is a mind of sacrifice for serving others (Phil. 2:3-8). God gives grace to those with lowly minds (I Pet. 5:5). This grace empowers believers to live Spirit-filled overcoming lives (I Cor. 15:10). An overcoming life is a life lived according to the mind of Christ.

The mind of Christ should also be the "one mind" in the Body of Christ (I Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:2). The greatest frustration to the building up of the church for the past two millennial has been that there are too many minds. As the mind is the origin of most of our words and actions, so an unrenewed mind, which is according to the flesh, is a great hindrance to the building up of Christ's church. How many dear saints over the years have acted and reacted, spoken and gossiped, functioned and operated, led and followed, worked and served, taught and preached, fought and submitted etc. according to the flesh with an unrenewed mind? And how much damage, division, and disgrace has the church suffered as a result, and often with good intentions.

The mind of Christ is the only mind that should have preeminence in the church. Therefore, only those who live and work according to this mind, that is, according to the Spirit, bring true blessing and genuine building up to the Body of Christ. It is only in this way that there can be an adequate, practical, and genuine expression of the church. So, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!