The Mind of Christ

In 1822 there was a baby girl who was born into slavery, her name was Araminta Ross and she was born in Maryland separated from her family at birth. This girl would eventually be known as Harriet Tubman.

Harriet went through many hardships as an enslaved young black girl in America in the 1800’s. She was abused and sold several times to different slaveholders. At the age of 12 she almost died after a slaveholder threw a weight at her hitting her in her in the head, this caused her to have lifelong seizures and severe headaches.

When Harriet was 17 years old she escaped from her enslavement, she traveled over 90 miles to Philadelphia. She made it her work to help free as many enslaved people as possible returning to the south 13 times helping to rescue over 70 relatives and friends.

Harriet was willing to risk her life and do whatever it took to achieve her goal of helping to free others.

This story of Harriet shows what it looks like to go all out for something. To set a goal and go through whatever was necessary to achieve it.

Today we are going to talk about the mindset that believers should have in this world and in this life.

Big Idea- Believers are to be like Christ, having selfless attitudes working to do Gods Will over all else.

Take Aways

Being in Christ Changes the mind.

The Supreme Lord became a servant for our sake.

Because of Love, Loyalty and Liberation we serve Christ to the fullest.

Our main text today is coming from Philippians 2:5-18. That is Philippians chapter 2, verses 5-18.

Now we will begin with Philippians 2:5

Philippians 2:5 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Here in the King James and New King James version the translation does not give justice to the weightiness of what Paul is saying here. The writing out of “Let this” in our language says it in a softer way almost seeming like its an optional thing that we should do if its convenient.

But no, this is a much stronger statement and it is a command. See in the original language that this was written, in Greek a stronger translation would be more like the statement “For this thinking is in you”, telling believers that their Mind is like or becoming more like the Mind of Christ.

So the question here is why? Why would the writer say this, as if it were that easy?

The reason why He says this is because having a mind like Christs is not something that we do on our own.

Having a mind that is changed from thinking and focusing on our sinful desires and doing our own will , to desiring and living to please God is one that is done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Becoming a follower of Christ is not done by simply saying a few words with your mouth and then in your own power willing yourself to live a perfect life for Christ.

On our own without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit we cannot live for Christ.

To have the mind of Christ or for the Mind of Christ to be forming in us we must have a true salvation experience.

So what does that mean? What is a salvation experience?

What this means is that we must be saved!

The way that we are saved is that the Holy Spirit draws us to himself convicting us of Sin showing us our need for a savior. This causes us to place our faith in Christ as Lord, and we Repent and to follow Him, and in this process God changes our hearts and minds to want to serve Him and to want to Please Him.

When I was a kid I had made up in my mind that I would live the life that I wanted to live, and eventually on, right before I died, when I was old on my deathbed I would repent and give my life to Christ so I could die and go to heaven. But until then I would be Lord of my own life.

We grew up going to church and many times there would be an alter call and my mom would say go up to the alter. So we would think, ok so were supposed to go up and “get saved”, so I would go up to the alter absent of any conviction or drawing of the Holy Spirit and I would “say the prayer”.

Then throughout the week I would continue with my sinful, unconverted ways. My mind was not changed and was not being changed because I had not had a true conversion, I only went through the motions.

This is an example of not having the Mind of Christ, of one who is a part of the visible church but is not part of the body of Christ. This is an example of an unrepentant sinner who may be deceived believing that they are in Christ because they went through the motions and “said the prayer”.

Believing that Jesus was a real historical person and that He died and rose again is not enough. Christ must be recognized as Lord of all including ourselves. See even the demons believe and they tremble, but they rebelled against God and His Lordship.

So if that's not a Christian then what is?

I’ll share a bit more of my testimony to show the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and true conversion. When I was a young man in my early twenties I continued to go to church although I had not placed my faith in Christ. But I thought it was a good thing to do and it would make my parents and grandparents happy knowing that I was going to church regularly.

However one Sunday night I went to a service and heard the Gospel as I always had, then there was an alter call that I sat through. But then I went home to my apartment and I was heavily convicted of all of my sin, all of the offenses that I had done against God and people. The Holy Spirit showed my that I was filthy and sinful and that there was nothing that I could do about it and that I needed a savior. The Holy Spirit brought me to my knees in humility and let me know that I needed Jesus. Right there and then I repented and placed my faith In Christ and acknowledged Him as Lord of my life.

Right then my mind was changed. I saw people differently, I had a different level of Love for people and I desired to Please God. By the Power of the Holy Spirit I had a new mind that was being made more and more like the mind of Christ.

Being in Christ, truly being in Christ changes the mind of a believer to being like the mind of Christ.

We will go back to the main text, Philippians 2:6-8

Philippians 2:6–8 NKJV

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Earlier I mentioned Harriot Tubman and how she escaped from her enslavement but then left her place of freedom to return into the south and to help liberate other enslaved people and this is a significant part of her story. This makes her a liberator for those people from their bondage.

Just like those people that she rescued were enslaved we were all born into slavery. Spiritual slavery, slaves to sin.

And the ultimate redeemer Jesus came to save us from being slaves to sin and instead following Him.

So the Son of God came down from His Heavenly Kingdom, and lowered Himself, He put on flesh living among mankind suffering and living a perfect life in obedience to the Father, even dying so that we could have eternal life.

Jesus did this because of His Love for us.

Since we were born in Sin we were condemned to eternal judgement which is the wrath of God. But in the beginning God gave a solution to this problem, one that allows mankind to be brought back into a right relationship with God and that is Jesus.

He died for our sins in our place so that If we place our faith in Him then we have a relationship with Him and be with Him for eternity.

Back to the text Philippians 2:9-11

Philippians 2:9–11 NKJV

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the end Everyone and Everything will confess that Jesus is Lord. Both those who place their trust in Him now in this life and those who reject Him and make themselves Lord or they worship other false Gods and Idols.

What this does not mean is that everyone will place their faith in Christ. But what this is telling us is the truth that we know and is that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Lets take a look at a passage that describes His majesty and preeminent power.

Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

When Jesus came to this earth to serve and to die for our sins He came out of Love so that we could have a relationship with Him. But when he returns in Judgement every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Both those who will spend eternity in Heaven, and those who will experience Gods wrath for eternity.

Who is Lord of your life today?

Is it you? Instagram and Facebook likes and follows? Your friends? is it seeking for pleasure? seeking for fame? is it found in money or relationships? Who?

If it is anything other than Jesus then you have placed your loyalty and your affections in the wrong place.

What Philippians 2:9-11 is saying is that Jesus is Lord of all whether they acknowledge it or not today, but they will, we all will.

Back to our main text, Philippians 2:12-13

Philippians 2:12–13 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

This is written to believers, those who have truly placed their faith in Christ and are being indwelled by the Holy Spirit. When it says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling it is not talking about fear of Gods wrath.

There is therefor no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Here it is talking about giving your all for the Lord as you live out this life wanting to do everything at a level of excellence because you are doing it for the Lord.

This is living out your life that reflects the fact that God is Lord and you live to do His work placing Him over everything else.

A good example of this would be Abraham when he was wiling to sacrifice his son for God. Abraham lived to do Gods will and since God is Lord of His life He would do what he was commanded.

To work out our salvation with fear and trembling is to Have the Highest level of Reverence for the Lord knowing that we were called to do His will and doing our best to live it out with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The desire to do Gods will and to live it out is given to us by His Spirit when we place our faith in Him. This goes with the Mind of Christ.

Back to the main text Philippians 2:14-15

Philippians 2:14–15 NKJV

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Have you ever been excited to join a team or participate in an event? Lets say you were an athlete and you were invited to join an elite team with an exceptional reputation for the sport that they did. But when you got there and finally joined the team you noticed all of the players were complaining about small things that did not matter and were fussing with each other. How would that make you feel? Would you want to be a part of that group?

No, of course the answer is no.

Christians are called to do the work of God with a servants heart and attitude, working to do everything as unto the Lord.

If believers are mummering, complaining and arguing with one another then those who are outside of Gods people see this and they do not want anything to do with the community of Christ.

Believers should look different than the world because of what God has done in us with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The difference that is seen in believers are the characteristics of Christ that the Holy Spirit develops in us. These are found in Gal 5:22-23 and they are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness and self control.

If you say that you are a follower of Christ, do you see these things growing in you?

If not then take inventory.

Are you walking in the Spirit, doing what God says and not following the flesh letting your sinful desires rule you?

If these things don't show in you, and are not developing in you then it possible that you are not actually a Christian, And you have not genuinely placed your faith in Christ acknowledging Him as Lord of All including you?

Why is this important? Why is it important that we imitate Christ and that we look different from the world?

The transformation that Christ does in us testifies of the Power of the Holy Spirit and glorifies God.

If we are to claim that we are followers of Christ but still live lifestyles of sin and hypocrisy then we are saying that the power of God is not real. We are calling Him a liar and saying that he is too weak to transform us.

The power of God is real and it is the ultimate power. When he calls us changes us with His Spirit we are new creations.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

If you are in Christ then He has changed you to be more like Him. The Holy Spirit is changing your mind continually and gradually to be more like Christ. As our minds change so do our actions.

This change also allows and empowers believers to proclaim the Gospel -to help expand Gods Reign and rule in building His Kingdom.

Back to the text Philippians 2:16-18

Philippians 2:16–18 NKJV

holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Here Paul is letting believers know that he works with fear and trembling to give his all to proclaim the Gospel and pour the word of God into other believers. Here Paul is letting the believers know that he is not only calling them to go all out for Christ but He himself gives His all to do the work of God.

This too should be our testimony.

That the Spirit of God has worked in and through us so much that we work to do the Will of God putting Him over all else pouring ourselves out for Him.

We love the Lord because He first loved us and He sent His Son to die for us.

We obey The Lord because we love Him, not to gain salvation or affection from Him. If we are in Christ He has already given us salvation and we have His affection and He has worked in us the will to please Him.

We are free from slavery and the bondage to sin because Jesus humbled himself and gave Himself for us.

If you are here and you have not placed your faith in Christ then you are a slave to sin and are spiritually dead. But Jesus loves you so much that He came down from heaven, lived a perfect life as a man here on earth suffering and dying and raising again so that we could have eternal life.

If you are here and you say that you are a Christian but you do not show the fruit of the Spirit and the desire to serve Christ is not in you then repent and truly place your faith in Christ and come under His Lordship following Him.

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Take Aways

Being in Christ Changes the mind.

The Supreme Lord became a servant for our sake.

Because of Love, Loyalty and Liberation we serve Christ to the fullest.