The Mind of Christ

THE MIND OF CHRIST
(Philippians 2:5). Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (KJV)

We want to consider the mind of Christ in this study.
I. CHARACTERISTICS.
Here we can only note a few of its characteristics:

1. IT WAS A MIND OF SELF-ABASEMENT.
Though He is the Creator, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Lord of angels, the only true God, yet he became a servant, yea, the servant of servants.
(John 13:5) After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (NKJV)
This was a lowly servants work in the Bible times. People then wore sandals and walked where ever they went and the roads were dusty. When people came to your house you would have your servant wash their feet.
Perhaps he started with Judas, the disciple that was to betray Him, so that it would speak to Judas’ heart one more time and so that looking back His disciples would remember how He treated even His enemies.
(Matthew 8:2-3) And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (KJV)
In that touch Jesus lowered Himself to that of the leper. This man had a dreaded disease, a disease that was highly contagious and people of that day stayed far away from the lepers. But Jesus reached out in love and touched that man and healed him.
Are we willing to touch someone who is revolting and sinful so that they might be reached and changed by the Gospel?

2. HIS MIND WAS A MIND OF INFINITE CONDESCENSION; HE STOOPED FROM THE HIGHEST GLORY TO OUR LOW ESTATE.

3. HIS MIND WAS A MIND OF HOLY OBEDIENCE.
He loved God's law, His every desire and purpose and thought was to please God.
(John 6:38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (KJV)
His only desire in this world was to please His heavenly Father.

4. HIS MIND WAS OF UNPARALLELED MEEKNESS.
When reproached, when classed with demons, when associated with publicans, harlots, thieves etc., He never reviled. He wept over His vilest enemies, and prayed for His murderers.

5. HIS MIND WAS OF-UNEXAMPLED BENEVOLENCE.
He gave His life a ransom, and thus manifested to the world a benevolence without a parallel and beyond description.
(1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (KJV)
(John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (KJV)
His words, His thoughts, His prayers, His miracles, His death, all attest His love.

6. HIS MIND WAS A MIND OF PURE AND FERVENT DEVOTION.
He held the closest communion with God; spent whole nights in prayer; He prayed when baptized, when tempted, when transfigured, when in the garden, when on the Cross.

7. HIS MIND WAS A MIND OF HOLY PATIENCE AND RESIGNATION.
He was resigned to all His Father's will; He drank the bitter cup, was led as a lamb to the slaughter, endured the contradiction of sinners etc..
(Hebrews 12:2-3) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (KJV)

II. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.
It is necessary:
1. ON THE GROUND OF CONSISTENCY.
If we bear His name, and profess to be His disciples, we must have His mind.

2. ON THE GROUND OF COMFORT AND HAPPINESS.
There is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

3. ON THE GROUND OF USEFULNESS.
Without being all He desires us to be we can neither be happy or useful.

4. ON THE GROUND OF SAFETY.
Without true obedience we cannot be saved or safe.

5. ON THE GROUND OF FUTURE GLORY.
To be with Him we must be like Him.

IV. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST?
To have Christ's mind is to have His view of things.
1. HIS VIEW OF THE SOUL.
How much do you value your soul? or the souls of others? He thought it worth shedding His blood for.

2. HIS VIEW OF SIN.
He hates sin so much that He gave His life to put it away.

3. HIS VIEW OF THE WORLD AND ITS GLORY.
He treated Satan's offer with contempt.
(Matthew 4:8-10) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" (NKJV)

4. HIS VIEW OF TIME.
(John 9:4) "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (NKJV)

5. HIS VIEW OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF RELIGION.
(Luke 2:49) And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (NKJV)
(Matthew 10:37-39) "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (NKJV)

6. HIS VIEW OF WEALTH.
(Luke 9:58) And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (NKJV)

7. HIS VIEW OF GOD'S WORD.
(Luke 4:4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (KJV)

8. HIS VIEW IN REGARD TO HIS ENEMIES.
(Luke 23:34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (KJV)

III. HOW IS THIS MIND ATTAINED?
Notice the text we read at the beginning of this discourse. Look closely at the first word.
(Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (KJV)
"Let."

1. LET HIM SAVE YOU; NOTHING BUT A GENUINE CONVERSION WILL DO.
(1 JOHN 1:9) IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. (NKJV)

2. LET HIM FILL AND INDWELL YOU - FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT.
(Philippians 2:1-2) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (NKJV)

3. LET HIM LEAD YOU; WALK AS HE WALKED. (Ephesians 5:8 ). ".. Walk as children of light."
If you are going to have the mind of Christ you are going to have to do His will as He reveals it to you by His Spirit and through His Word.

Reader, do you have the mind of Christ?

Very good message. As to your question, I pray for the mind of Christ. I also pray that God will allow me to see others through his eyes. Thanks for the message.