LIKE MINDED

LIKE MINDED

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,.” Phil. 2:5

The entire word of God points us to a perfect example in Christ so as to see in Him what we ought to be now. 1 John 2:6. 1 Pet. 2:21-23 we need the whole Bible here, not merely the gospels Cf. Phil. 2:5-7. And also to see in Him what we shall be in the future 1 John 3:1-2; Rom. 8:29.

The teaching of Jesus, considered and followed to its final conclusions, brings the mind into contact with the infinite wisdom of the Eternal God. The deeds of Jesus, correctly appreciated, reveal the activities of God as to purpose and method.

The Incarnation is first a revelation to man of man as to first Divine intention. It is therefore also a revelation of God, for perfect man is the image of God. In Jesus there has been revealed to the race God's purpose for every human being, a mind of royal and loyal love, and the activity of self-emptying service, as expressive of that loyalty. The greatest injunction laid upon Christian men by the writers of the New Testament is that of the apostle, "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Phil 2:5) His mind was the mind wholly actuated by the principle of love. It was submissive and regnant, submissive to the dominion of love, reigning in the power of love.

As followers of Christ, we should try to think as He would think, walk as He walked (1 John 2:6) and love as He loved (John 13:34). With renewed minds (Romans 12:2), we can and should have “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16).

Be thus minded, which means, Let your habit of mental activity be that of the Christ. The word there refers to an exercise of mind, an emotional exercise, and, consequently, an inspirational exercise, creating an activity: the mind of Christ, that emotional activity which was the inspiration of His self-emptying, His descent to the human level, and His final ascent to the throne of universal empire.