Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

God wants His people, saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to have the mind of Christ. We are to think like Jesus in a non-Jesus world. In another place the Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 2:16 … we have the mind of Christ

If all that Jesus Christ wanted to do is cover our sins, to save us from the wrath of God, He could have entered humanity as a full grown man. If salvation from sin was the only goal that God had for us, Jesus could have suddenly appeared at the Temple just prior to the crucifixion Passover. He could have surrendered to the Cross, being betrayed and executed on Calvary, all without being born in a manger. The Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For {God} hath made {Jesus} to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Praise God for the Cross. Without the Cross of Calvary we could not be saved. But God wanted to do more than just save us. He wanted to show us the mind of Christ, to teach us how a godly person should live. It was not only to fulfill prophecy that Christ was born in a manger in Bethlehem, and was raised in a nondescript town like Nazareth.

Jesus was born into humanity to show us what God
expects of His Children.

Just as every loving parent has expectations and standards that they want their children to meet, God, our most Loving Father, has expectations and standards He wants us to meet. Jesus was born in a manger, a lowly place, but did not grow up with a chip on His shoulder. So many people are born poor – I remember poor as a child – and then, because of this environment, turn to crime. Some people use their childhood as a reason to act out. But Jesus was born in the lowest of places, and yet, continued to fulfill His purpose in God.

Jesus came to this earth, being born of a virgin, to show how much God loves us. But then Jesus grew up among humanity, showing us all what God expects us to be. Jesus came so that we might have life – abundant life. God wants us to more than just exist.

You must COME TO JESUS if you would have the ETERNAL life
God wants to give you (John 5:40).
You must MODEL JESUS if you would have the BLESSED
life God wants to give you.

Did our Jesus not warn us:

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

There is a thief that wants to rob you of the life God wants you to have. This thief is the devil, the evil one, called in Scripture “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The greatest enemy to the Full Gospel of Christ, the one who seeks to rob us of the life that the True God wants to give us, is the devil and his dark systems of thought. When the Apostle called out the enemy of the Gospel, he spoke against the “god of this world”, saying:

2 Corinthians 4:3-5 …. if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

The devil is in an all out battle to seize the minds of as many people as possible. He wants to nullify the power of the Gospel. The Bible says that,

“As a person thinks in their heart, so that person is” (Proverbs 23:7)

Your Life In Christ Hangs On An IF

The unbeliever cannot know the blessed life that God has for those who believe in Jesus. The believer in Christ, however, has experienced His Grace. We have been in a low place, and God lifted us up. As God has done to YOU, YOU are to do to others. Read with me:

Philippians 2:1-2IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, IF any comfort of love, IF any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

When telling us about the “mind of Christ”, the Apostle reminds the Christian what we experienced when we came to Jesus in faith. In the text the Apostle uses the word IF in three ways:

• IF you, dear Christian, experienced CONSOLATION in Christ. The word “consolation” is the Greek παράκλησις paráklēsis, (pronounced par-ak’-lay-sis), which means “to come alongside and embrace so as to comfort”. When you came to Christ by faith, what did HE do for YOU? Did Jesus condemn you as a sinner, or did He come alongside you, and embrace you? I remember the day I was saved, how lost I was as I reached out to Jesus, how lonely life was. And as soon as I reached out, He reached out and grabbed my hand. He said, “David, I forgive you. David, I receive you. David, I adopt you into the Family of God”.
• IF you, dear Christian, were COMFORTED by the love of God. Didn’t Jesus do the same for you, dear Christian?
• IF you, dear Christian, were given the FELLOWSHIP of God. Didn’t Jesus not only love you in spite of yourself, but also send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God (John 14:16), to lift you up, and to abide with you forever? Didn’t Jesus bring to you “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7)? The genuine Christian has felt the embrace of God at the point of salvation, and numerous times throughout our walk with Christ.

It is the mind of Christ to elevate, to bless. It is the devil’s way to denigrate, to curse. It is the mind of Christ to unite in love. It is the devil’s way to tear apart, to cause division. It is the mind of Christ to forgive, to embrace.

Beloved, as you have received, so are you to give. We who are Christians are to be like minded (like Jesus’ mind), having the same love (that Jesus has), being of one accord (as Jesus is with the Father), of one mind (as Jesus is with the Godhead).

You as Christians have experienced the UNMERITED love of God in Christ. As we have received, so are we to give. What are the Great Commandments, according to Jesus?

Matthew 22:37-40 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

When Jesus said “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”, He was emphasizing that THIS is what God our Creator intends us to be like. We are to love, fervently, passionately, as Christ loved and loves us. We are not to be like the world.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Word Study The word STRIFE, the Greek ἐριθεία eritheía, {pronounced er-ith-i’-ah} means to be partisan, electioneering, sneaking about politically, bringing divisiveness or factions. The word VAINGLORY, the Greek κενοδοξία kenodoxía, {pronounced ken-od-ox-ee’-ah}, means “to puff oneself up with empty pride”. A holy people following God cannot be arrogant, or self serving. The Christian, like Christ, needs to be constantly asking themselves:

How Can I Be a Practical Blessing To Others

Small minded “me first” people cannot do great things for God. Small minded “me first” people cannot be used of God. When God offered Israel the Promised Land, the people refused to go. They would rather protect themselves than live for God. The Lord’s response was, “Ok, then you’ll not go. You will wander 40 years until you die out, and your children shall go forth and be blessed”.

Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, BUT every man ALSO on the things of others.

God is not saying that we are not to take any time for ourselves. We should take time to feed and clothe ourselves. We should take time to rest ourselves. But do you see the words BUT and ALSO? Just as important as feeding ourselves is, it is important that we reach out, and do for others. If you have been blessed by Jesus Christ, by God the Holy Spirit, by the Heavenly Father, then you should strive to be a blessing to others.

Holiness Is The Pursuit Of Christ’s Mind

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The phrase “Let this mind be in you” can also be translated “Have this attitude in yourselves”, or “Have the same mindset”. THE CHRISTIAN IS INDWELT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. God is in you (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Christian’s objective in this life is to be like Jesus, to pursue the mind of Christ. We do this by REMOVING anything from our lives that is not of His Will. We are told in …

Ephesians 4:22-24 put off concerning the former {way of life} the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The Christian is called to a new life in Christ. The old hateful ways are to be taken off, like old, dirty clothes. When we sin, we confess our sin to the Lord, and are restored to a right walk with Christ.

We who are Christians do not give ourselves over to fear or foolishness, we give ourselves over to faith.

Illustrate I was talking to a fellow the other day who was worried that he had the Coronavirus. I told him, “You can go to the Maury Health Department. They have a drive through testing area – you don’t even need to get out of your car!” His reply first was to look at me with wide eyes, saying, “Have YOU been tested?” I told him, yes I have. It’s a simple test. Go get it. He replied “I heard they push the q-tip up your nose so far they hit your brain! I’m not going!” I assured him that this was not the case, as I and my wife had been through the test. He wouldn’t listen. He would rather sit and worry, rather than take the available help. This is NOT THE MIND OF CHRIST.

Dr. Joe Pettigrew recently illustrated how we can drift from the mind of Christ. He wrote:

“The following article turned up in a newspaper: “A lady took my seat in church. She’s very nice… a good friend, in fact. I can sit anyplace; no big deal. My seat’s on the right as you enter the sanctuary. I can rest my arm on the end. It’s a good seat, but I wouldn’t raise a fuss about a seat… never hold a grudge. ACTUALLY, it was three months ago she took it and I really don’t know why. I’ve never done anything to her… never taken her seat. I SUPPOSE I’ll have to come an hour early to get my seat. She took it because it’s one of the best seats in the house. She’d no business taking it… and I’m not going to church two hours early to get what’s rightfully mine.”

As God’s children, dear Christians, we are not to let the devil hijack our thoughts. We are not to become his pawns. The Scripture reminds us:

2 Timothy 1:7 … God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. … God; 9 who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

Illustrate It is easy to let our minds drift into bad territory. This can happen to the best of believers. The Priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth are very much part of the Christmas Story. You see, before Jesus Christ could come into humanity and be born of a virgin, God had to raise up a Herald who would go before Jesus. That Herald would be John the Baptist. John’s birth was just as carefully orchestrated by God as the birth of Jesus was. John would be born about 6 months ahead of the baby Jesus, and John would begin preaching about Jesus 6 months before our Lord was baptized in Jordan.

Zacharias and Elisabeth are John the Baptist’s parents.

Their story is very interesting. It is told in Luke 1:5-24. As Zacharias ministered in the Temple, serving at the altar of incense, the Bible says:

Luke 1:11-17 there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before {the Messiah} in the spirit and power of {Elijah}, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zacharias had been praying his whole life for a child. Now God promises to give him a child – and not just a child, but a John the Baptist. God told John thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. John received a great gift from God. Did he rejoice?

No, he doubted. Zacharias doubted the power of God.

He asked the Angel, “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” (Luke 1:18). Zacharias had lived in loss his whole life. Now hearing the promise of God, he could not receive it, but doubted. The Angel Gabriel replied:

Luke 1:19-20 I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

God made Zacharias a promise, a promise that he should have been overjoyed with. Instead his mind was trapped into doubt and despair. The Angel took away Zacharias’ voice until the day that John was born.

The devil uses fear and doubt to rob us of blessing.
Reject him. Seek the Mind of Christ!

The Scripture tells us, as Christians, we are to be:

2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

As goes our thoughts, so goes our life. Let us invite God into our minds. Let us turn off the television and the social networks, and open up our minds to the Word of God. Our God will transform us, if we but let Him (Romans 12:2).

Act Like Jesus To Think Like Jesus

Philippians 2:5-7 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

God showed us what a blessed life is in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus is “in the form of God”. Jesus Christ has been and will always be God. He is

“Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)

We are told in Colossians 2:9, “In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in body form” (my paraphrase). Though Jesus Christ is Creator God (John 1:1-3, 14), He entered into this world “the form of a servant”. That little baby born in Bethlehem, was not born in a fine motel, but in a manger. His parents were not rich and powerful, but working class people. Jesus did not live in a big, notorious city like New York, New York. No, He grew up in a tiny place called Nazareth. He made Himself of no reputation. Jesus often said:

Matthew 20:26-28 whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

People, if you want to be happy you must do the things that Jesus has said to do. He told us:

John 13:15-17 For I have given you an example, that ye should DO as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye DO them.

Jesus Christ lived a life of service – not to Himself – but to us, to others. He did good where ever He went. He gave His life for us. The Apostle said:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus Christ came into this world – that baby in the manger – so that He could die for our sins. He gave Himself for us. Beloved, if He has given Himself for you, you are called of God to give yourself to others. The way to a happy life is a life of service. Not being served, but serving, doing, loving as Jesus loved. It is humility and loving service that impresses God. This is the lifestyle that is a polar opposite to that of the world.

Examine Yourselves: Are You Saved?

If you are saved, then you are saved to serve Jesus, to confess Him Lord. As the Apostle speaks of the life of Christ, and how we are to live like Jesus, he makes a very remarkable statement. He says:

Philippians 2:12-13 …. work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure

The Apostle does not tell us to WORK FOR our own salvation. Salvation is something that no one can earn – it is a gift of God. There are so many wonderful verses that explain this:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:5 … (by Grace ye are saved)

Romans 4:16 … {salvation} is of faith, that it might be by grace …

Romans 11:6 … {salvation} is by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

The Bible gives this promise, that

John 1:12-13 as many as received {Jesus}, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, we become sons of God. Following that moment in time we are commanded to obey Him Who saved us, to imitate Him, to “have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). This is what makes a difference in the world, is the Christian WORKING OUT their faith, not WORKING FOR their faith. It you are God’s child by faith in His Son, you have received precious promises from God. Live OUT your faith so that others might see it. Live OUT your faith with fear and trembling. What you, dear Christians, do is what will change the world. If you are saved, be like Jesus. When you fail, confess your sin to God. Get up, and be like Jesus. DO the things He said do, and you will be happy and blessed.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit.