How Can We Have the Mind of Christ? Image what Christ would say to you.

This quote I read yesterday has me really thinking. At the end of a teaching about "The Spirit" Paul writes, "But we have the mind of Christ." What an amazing statement! Here are my thoughts on His thoughts. 

In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13. It is best to understand having the "mind of Christ" in context. The preceding context is clearly about the "Spirit." 

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 

Right. My spirit knows my thoughts. And the Spirit of God knows God's thoughts. Apparently there are "deep things of God," too. And apparently "The Spirit of God" knows these things as well. What could these deep things of God be? 

¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 

"The world" has a "spirit" as well. Fortunately, we have not received this worldly spirit. Instead we receive "the Spirit" who is from God. This is all ground work for understanding Paul's statements about us having the Mind of Christ. Paul is explaining "how" it came to be that we can have His mind. The result comes out in the next three verses and are summarized by four words: "speak", "accept," "understand" and "judge."  

¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 

Speak, Understand and Judge. 

Having the "Spirit of God" means we speak Spirit-taught words. But we must check ourselves. This is not the same as repeating someone else's words. This is not about quoting your church leaders. It doesn't matter how smart they are, or how much scripture they can rattle off. Your Pastor, preacher, teacher, Elder, or apostle is NOT the same as the "Spirit of God." Paul did NOT say "but we have received wise leaders." Paul says, "we have received the Spirit." Why? "So that we may understand what God has freely given us." This truth is something you and I own, personally, because it is given to our minds from within, from the Spirit. That means nothing and no-one can take it way from you unless you let them. 

The Spirit produces understanding, fruit, and speech! We understand the beautiful mystery of our salvation through Christ. As a result of the Spirit's power working in us we bear the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. in our lives . And we speak with "Spirit-taught words" just as any believer. If a person is quiet or introverted or unsure, and therefore is not verbal about his or her faith, this does not mean he or she does not have the Spirit of God or the mind of Christ. I've known and admired many less-talkative types who clearly were full of the fruits of the Spirit. 

The "spiritual reality" is one where we grow in our capacity to love. We love because He first loved us. And we pour out that love of Christ on our spouse, children, family, friends, and neighbors. The love coming from hearts is fueled by a mind filled with the thoughts of the Spirit -- it's those "deep things of God" that creep into our minds, clearing out the dark thoughts of the world, and replacing them with His Light. That Light comes on and we know we must love. Thoughts lead to action. The same thoughts lead to repentance and forgiveness as well. The "thoughts" of Spirit begin to prompt us to do things we otherwise would not do. These things, though some of them may not be easy, are all LIFE giving things. Because to love is always to LIVE.

"But I do not hear these Spirit-taught words." I know. I think it takes a little imagination at first, and faith. When I first began to "experiment" with "hearing" God's voice I would simply imagine Him sitting in the room with me, in the flesh, and speaking to me. What would He say to you? First, He would tell you how very much He loves you; how "you are forgiven." He would tell you to let go of the guilt and the shame and to believe you are His child. "There's no need to carry them any longer," He'd say, "because I carried them for you, to the grave." "Your sins are remembered no more. So forgive yourself, just as I have forgiven you." Then with the most gentle movement He would reach out for you. Extending a hand He places it on your head and says, "You are Mine, and I am yours! You are in Me, just as I am in you. Believe this and accept it, for it is true even as I am the Truth. You are FREE -- free to love and be loved. I have healed you and given you a new LIFE. Have faith and be filled to overflowing." Then he would sit back and wait for you to lift your head. You open your eyes and looking through a curtain of tears you see His smiling face -- confident, secure, and SO full of love for you. That's when it happens. You jump to your feet and fall into His arms ... for the hug of your LIFE. 

This is the new beginning -- these are the "deep things of God." 

And this is what is means to have the mind of Christ. 

¹⁶ for,

 “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.