How can I have the mind of Christ?
1Corinthians 2 … so that your faith might not rest
in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Yet among the mature we do
impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this
age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom
of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the
rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen,
nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those
who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For
the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of
that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things
freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human
wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are
spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of
God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because
they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things,
but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of
the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
In 1
Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and
then makes a statement concerning all believers: “We have the mind of Christ.”
Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of
Christ, and it is something that all believers possess.
Having the mind of Christ means we
understand God’s plan in the world—to bring glory to Himself, restore creation
to its original splendor, and provide salvation for sinners. It means we
identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians
2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16).
In the verses leading up to 1
Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses
5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed
(verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses
10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse
14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse
15).
In order to have the mind of Christ,
one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12).
After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy
Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind
of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading
(Ephesians
4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2). GotQuestions.org
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