‘These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:13-16).’
On the face of it, and particularly from the viewpoint of those who are outside Christ’s body, i.e., unbelievers; they say that for us to claim we ‘have the mind of Christ’ is presumptuous, even arrogant! But what do they know about it? They don’t believe in God. So how can they have that view? They have no spiritual discernment (v 14) and they are unable to judge (v 15). Paul writing in the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21) affirms that we believers have ‘the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We know this is true; for God’s Word is true (2 Corinthians 6:7; Colossians 1:5), and there is nothing false in it.
So What is the Mind of Christ?
The *body has a mind and a soul (cf. Matthew 22:37). That’s the way God has made us individually, but He has also made us to have a special **relationship with Him. Not only is there an individual relationship between Him and each one of us, but there is a collective relationship (John 15:14, 15). This is best experienced when individuals join together to worship Him on a Sunday or any other day of the week for that matter. As we do so, we are His body. He is there with us (Matthew 18:20). We are His temple, where His Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16).
There’s more to it than that. Christ’s holy body, His Church, does not operate without His mind (1 Corinthians 2:16), nor does it operate without the Holy Spirit. Christ leads His Church (2 Corinthians 2:14) through His Spirit and directs (1 Thessalonians 3:11) it through His mind.
He is the head of the body (Colossians 1:18). He is the One who equips (2 Timothy 3:17) and directs the Church for the fulfilment of His Father’s will. His will is done here on earth, irrespective of what appears to be happening in the world where there is chaos, conflict and confusion, but all things are being held together and function according to God’s predestination (Ephesians 1:11; cf. Romans 8:28). Nothing can frustrate His design. He will accomplish what He has decreed (cf. Philippians 1:6).
This sure hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8) in Jesus Christ brings us great ***joy. By faith we know that our present and future lives are secured in Him. He loves us to the extent that He gave Himself to die on a cross (Ephesians 5:2) to bring us into union with Him. We are no longer estranged from the Father, lost and condemned to everlasting hell (Luke 12:5). For this great mercy, our praise and adoration of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit never ceases (Psalm 145:2).
The Mind of Christ in Action
‘In the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5)’ we ‘speak’ of ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified (v 2)’. In ‘the power of God’ and ‘the wisdom of God (v 7)’ we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15).
If we truly have the Spirit of the Lord Jesus dwelling within us, we are made sufficient as ministers of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6). We are enabled to obey His command to make disciples ‘in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).’
This is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2: 7) operating through ‘the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).’
*Mind, Body and Soul
https://thebiblicalway.blog/2018/07/23/mind-body-and-soul/
**God?Man Relationships
https://thebiblicalway.blog/2017/11/17/relationships/
***Joy
https://thebiblicalway.blog/2018/02/19/joy/
***Happiness and Joy
The Biblical Way 