The Mind of Christ
by Jody L Apple

Introduction

    It is God's desire that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9). In order to accomplish that goal, Christ appeared to provide salvation to those who would obediently follow him. (Titus 2:11; John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Heb. 5:8-9). Briefly, salvation is obtained when man, through faith, accesses God's grace and receives salvation through Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1-2). Faith, man's part in salvation, includes a recognition and conviction of the authority of God's word, as well as submission (obedience) to it (Heb. 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:20-22; Rom. 1:5; 10:16; 16:25). Faith is the principle, for the unsaved, that culminates in the obedient act of baptism into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16; 2:38; Rom. 6:17ff). Grace (God's part) thus allows that the blood of Christ cleanses us of our sins (Rom. 6:1ff; Eph. 1:7; 2:8ff; Col. 1:14). Via this process we become children of God (Gal. 4:1ff), partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:1-4), and saved (Acts 2:41, 47). [E1] We are then in a relationship with God that did not exist before (Eph. 2). We wear the name of the one who saved us, Christ-we are Christians (Acts 11:26). We are His followers (1 Cor.11:1). As such, we are to show forth Christ in all that we do (2 Cor 3:2-3; Phil. 2:15), and we are to do all in His name (Col. 3:17)

    This process of salvation, which includes both continual as well as initial obedience, is not to be perceived as a natural progression in the affairs of all men. Rather, it stands in marked contrast to what most of humanity does. Matthew 7:13ff declares that while many choose to follow a way that leads to destruction, only few choose to follow the narrow path. Thus, strong, separatist, and radical language is used of all who turn to follow “the way.” They have been truly changed-they are converted (Acts 3:19). They have been changed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). [E2] They are new creatures, for the old things have passed away (2 Cor 5:17). They are born again (John 3:3, 5; 1 Pet. 1:22). They are regenerated (Titus 3:5).

    All of these, and other, terms indicate the nature of the change that we undergo when we become Christians. It is drastic. And it is, fundamentally and principally, a change of mind. Everything that is accomplished, in both the process of obtaining and maintaining salvation, not only includes the mind of man, but it is impossible without such involvement. It is to the mind of man that the message of salvation, the word of God, is directed.

The extent of this involvement of mind is indicated in Romans 12:2 which declares that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. The word translated as “transformed” (metamorphoomai) is the term from which we get the word metamorphosis, the process a caterpillar goes through which turns it into a butterfly. [E3] The butterfly's is a change in form outwardly (and our change includes such) but only because it first begins with an inward change of mind. In becoming a child of God we first change inwardly, in our minds. [E4] And, to remain Christians, we must further develop the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5; 2 Cor. 10: 5).


The Importance of The Mind

    Contrary to the precepts of Calvinism, the mind (including the emotions, will and intellect) of man is very much involved in the process of salvation. As we examine the Bible we note: (1) The mind is involved in the perception of the gospel message (hearing). (2) It is involved in the evaluation and analysis of that message. (3) It is involved in the acceptance or rejection of the gospel. (4) It is involved in the trust, commitment and dedication made to Christ as a result of the faith produced by the gospel message. (5) It is involved in the obedience to Christ produced by adherence to the gospel. (6) Furthermore, it continues to be involved in the process of walking the Christian life.

It is obvious then that Christianity is a “mental” exercise in that it is first and foremost a discipline that involves the mind. Our thoughts, speech and actions as Christians are all mental activities or derivations of such. Because of this, we should not be surprised to find that every aspect of Christian faith and practice emanates from the mind. It is imperative, therefore, that attention should be directed toward the mind of man


The Mind: Influence For Good, Influence For Evil

    Proverbs 23:7 declares: “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he:...” This general statement simply affirms that our thoughts (mind) affect the way we live. Romans 8 teaches more specifically that the mind, as it is good or bad, is involved in determining our salvation or condemnation (cf. vs. 5-7). Concerning such, J. Goetzmann notes: “This passage makes it abundantly clear that the way one thinks is intimately related to the way one lives, whether in Christ, in the Spirit and by faith, or alternatively in the flesh, in sin and in spiritual death. A man's thinking and striving cannot be seen in isolation from the overall direction of his life; the latter will be reflected in the aims which he sets himself.” [E5]We should expect, then, that the Bible would be consistent in emphasizing this principle throughout, and this is exactly what we find. The Bible teaches: (1) that possessing the wrong mind leads to condemnation, while (2) possessing the right mind leads to salvation.

    The wrong mind, and its consequences, is mentioned in the following verses: (a.)reprobate minds (Rom. 1:28); (b.) blinded minds (2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4); (c.) hostile minds (Col. 1:21); (d.) haughty minds (2 Tim. 3:4); and (e.) the defiled mind (Titus 1:15). These passages (and others) mention specifically what Matthew 12:34-35 (“out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh....”) and 15:19 (“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:...”) teach generally.

    The right mind, however, and the benefits of such, is seen in the following contexts: (a.) the mind of Christ (Phil 2:5; cf. 1 Pet. 4:1); (b.) a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7); (c.) humbleness of mind (Col. 3:12); (d.) forwardness of mind (2 Cor. 9:2); (e.) God's law (will) in our minds (Heb. 8:10; 10:16); (f.) oneness of mind with brethren (Gal. 5:10; Phil. 2:2; 3:15; 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:8; Rev. 17:13); (g.) having a renewed mind (Eph. 4:23); (h.) a mind kept by God's peace (Phil. 4:7); (i.) pure minds (2 Pet. 3:1); and (j.) loving God with all of our mind (Matt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27).


Developing The Mind of Christ

    Of the numerous passages cited above, perhaps none is more powerful than those which indicate we are to have the mind of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5; Phil 2:5; 1 Pet. 4:1). To have the mind of Christ is to involve every aspect of the human mind (emotions, intellect, will, conscience and behavior) in service to Christ.

    Every emotion of man is mental in origin: hate, love, jealousy, anger, joy, compassion, envy and so on. All of these, and more, must be cultivated and practiced, overcome and discarded, as Christ would have us to do. We must learn to love what God loves (e.g. truth - 2 Th 2:10) and hate what God hates (Deut 12:31; 16:22; Amos 6:8; Mal 2:16)

    The intellect of man must also be Christlike: thought, reason, meditation, trust, faith, and memory must be centered on spiritual things (Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:1ff).

    The will of man, no doubt the most difficult aspect of the mind of man to tame, must surrender to the will of Christ. Our commitment, dedication, hope, humility, justice, mercy, forgiveness, gentleness, self-control, holiness and righteousness must all reflect the nature of Christ in our lives. To have these qualities we must learn to control our vain desires and imaginations. We must make the thoughts and intents of our hearts and mind to be identical with the will of God.

    Our conscience, which initially answers the will and word of God in baptism (1 Pet 3:21), must continually be in harmony with the will and word of God in living the Christian life so that we will always be without offence before God (Acts 24:16). Though it is possible to have a “clear” conscience and be wrong in God's sight (cf. Acts 23:1ff), it is not possible to be right in God's sight without a clear conscience.

    Our behavior must be such that it reflects Christ to the world (2 Cor 3:1-3). The Corinthian Christians were Paul's “letter” of commendation because they demonstrated Christ in their lives.

    Having the mind of Christ in us is to set our mind above (Col. 3:1), to think pure things (Phil. 4:8), to hope for spiritual things (Heb. 11:1-6), to speak of spiritual things (Eph. 4:15; 1 Pet. 3:15), and to implement spiritual practices (Acts 1:1; James 1:22ff; 4:12).

    Every aspect of becoming a Christian, and living faithfully as a Christian, entails the mind of man. The more that we strive to develop the mind of Christ in our lives, the more we will be like Jesus, and the greater our hope of eternity will be through him (1 Jn.3:2).

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Endnotes

[E1] The term addedis the same in English, as well as in Greek. People were addedby baptism (vs. 38, 40), but they were also addedby the Lord (vs. 47). The addition was not performed by two separate methods, but only one. When man obeys God's will by being baptized, he is, by means of that single action, added to the body of Christ by the Lord.

[E2] The term used here for changeis the same as that translated as transformedin Rom. 12:2. See following footnote.

[E3] The term metaphoroomaiappears four times in the NT. Twice it is translated as transfigured(Matt. 17:2; Mk. 9:2), once as transformed(Rom. 12:2), and once as changed (2 Cor. 3:18).

[E4] Romans 1 indicates that a three-fold change occurred in the lives of the lost: a. they changed the nature of the incorruptible God into corruptible images; b. they changed the truth of God into a lie; and c. they changed their “nature” (their way of living). Of these three, the first two cannot actually occur. God's nature and God's truth do not change. The change was in the minds of those who moved away from God. Thus, in order to move back to God, another change of mind has to occur.

[E5] J. Goetzmann, “Mind” in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, ed. by Colin Brown, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House/Regency Reference Library, 1976), Volume 2, p. 617