How Can Christians Achieve the Mind of Christ?
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The ability to have the mind of Christ is a mysterious wonder of God’s love that offers us the capacity to perceive life through a Gospel-focused lens. Thinking like Jesus revolutionizes how we see daily life, marriages, work, injustice, and uncomfortable topics plaguing our culture.
Where Does the Bible Talk about Having the Mind of Christ?
The Bible speaks to having the mind of Christ in several passages, like 1 Corinthians 2:16:
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
To fully appreciate Paul’s rhetorical question, let’s consider the context. Paul wrote his beloved church in Corinth after learning of serious issues in the church that included disunity, pride, and sexual immorality. He writes to those who are “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy” (1 Corinthians 1:2), so we know they’re believers but spiritually immature and in need of Paul’s guidance. Paul writes to instruct the members on how to grow in their maturity, impacting their decisions and actions.
In doing so, Paul reminds them of when he first began preaching the gospel in Corinth and how his message was not with “wise and persuasive words, but with the demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:5). Paul, though fearful and trembling (v.3), spoke plainly, “so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (v. 5).
Paul clearly distinguishes between human wisdom and a message of wisdom among the mature, declaring the “secret, hidden wisdom of God, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began,” mentioned in verse 7.
Human wisdom is limited to what is observed. A person knows their thoughts, but knowing the thoughts of God must be revealed by the Holy Spirit, who explains “spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (v. 13). If the Holy Spirit does not reside within a person, it’s impossible for them to understand and discern spiritual matters. Still, the recipients of Paul’s letter have the Holy Spirit, yet in their immaturity, they depend more on their wisdom than God’s. Their choice leaves them weak and vulnerable to the culture’s sway and the enemy’s lies. (It’s easy to see why churches today fall prey to similar sins as those in the Corinthian church.)
Becoming spiritually mature is only possible with God’s wisdom. In verses 15-16, Paul contrasts the natural man with one indwelled by the Holy Spirit:
“The spiritual man judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one. ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
Paul writes the spiritual man judges all things but cannot be judged by others. The ability to judge is given to the spiritually mature believer who continues to grow in the knowledge of the Word and obeys the Holy Spirit’s guidance. In doing so, the mature believer knows the mind of Christ.
No believer possesses all knowledge. Still, in having the mind of Christ, spiritually maturing believers know what is ethically and morally right or wrong and can make wise and discerning judgments. When we speak truth, we are making a rightful judgment, according to Scripture, on what is false. Truth grounded in Christ and illuminated by the Holy Spirit cannot be challenged by the world.
In the final verse (v.16), Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, who speaks to God’s people in captivity in Babylon because of their arrogance and refusal to listen and obey God (see Isaiah 40:13). Did they have hope of a future with God again, or would He turn away from them? How could God correct their many failures?
In Isaiah 40, God proclaims hope and forgiveness to His people through the prophet. The same Sovereign LORD who comes with all power is also our Shepherd who gently gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart (v. 11). Isaiah praises God for being all-knowing and His desire to make all things new, offering hope to a people desperate for comfort.
After praising God, the prophet asks who has understood the mind of the Lord, instructed Him as his counselor, or enlightened Him. Paul answers in 1 Corinthians 2:16: “We have the mind of Christ.”
When we accept Christ as Savior, the Spirit of God gives us the mind of Christ, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, allowing us to see life from God’s perspective, understand spiritual truths, and mature in our faith. However, we do not instruct or counsel God, for His thoughts and ways are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9).
In addition to 1 Corinthians 2:16, the Bible talks about the mind of Christ in Philippians 2:1-5 where Paul speaks to being like-minded as Christ, “having the same love, being in one spirit and of one mind,” being humble, and valuing others before ourselves. We are to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus in our relationships.
Also, in Romans 8:5, Paul again draws an eternal line to make a clear distinction: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
What Gives Christians the Mind of Christ?
Reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture is foundational because we find Christ’s thoughts, actions, and perspectives there. We continue to increase our capacity for God’s wisdom as we develop spiritual disciplines such as cultivating a consistent prayer life (Luke 5:16), serving others sacrificially (Matthew 20:28), being active in our local church, and seeking accountability.
How Can Christians Grow into the Mind of Christ?
In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul encourages the church by calling them brothers and sisters, reminding them of their identity in Christ before boldly addressing their lack of spiritual maturing. “…I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.”
When Paul first preached to the church in Corinth, he didn’t begin by teaching the more difficult passages because they were too young in their faith and too immature to understand them:
“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Corinthians 3:2)
It’s one thing to have access to the mind of the Spirit but be complacent and another to have access and pursue it. One produces an immature Christian, unable to understand the more profound riches of God’s Word. The other creates a spiritually mature Christian who continues to grow in their faith and can enjoy the “solid food” Scripture offers (v. 2). All believers possess the Holy Spirit, but not all believers access Him and the wisdom and guidance available.
Based on Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3, we grow into the mind of Christ as we:
- Spiritually hunger for “solid food,” refusing to be satisfied with “milk.” Is it possible to physically develop into strong, healthy adults by drinking only milk? Our bodies require more nourishment, as do our souls. The Shepherd of our souls will give us this spiritual hunger if we ask.
- Remain alert to our thoughts, words, and choices as they reflect either a godly or worldly mindset and heart (Matthew 15:18). Thoughts of jealousy, lust, and pride cannot be conquered without a consistent diet of prayer and meditation on God’s Word, strengthening our desire to speak, think, and act in a way that reflects the mind of Christ.
- Remember that our identity is in Christ. Paul ends Chapter Three by exhorting the Corinth church to grow up for the wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight. (v. 19) The petty arguments amongst themselves are futile because “All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (vs. 21-23)
Though not directly mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3, there are two essentials for growing the mind of Christ:
- Continually pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten, lead, and guide us into all truth.
- Continually renew our minds (Romans 12:2) to create a pattern of spiritual transformation, guarding believers against conforming to worldly views. Renewing our minds isn’t about becoming a better person but a new person. As we study Scripture, the Holy Spirit encourages us by revealing sin and thought patterns that once held us captive but no more. Now, with the mind of Christ, we refuse to be bound by condemnation (Romans 8:1) as we read the Bible. We’re excited to learn the truth, knowing we can ask the Holy Spirit for strength to replace harmful thought patterns with godly ones and sin with repentance, shifting our perspective to see life anew.
How Can We Know When We’re Operating from the Mind of Christ?
We can know we are operating from the mind of Christ when our thoughts, actions, and choices reflect the characteristics of Christ, and Galatians 5:22-23 is an excellent place to start. We, as well as others, will know we have the mind of Christ when we:
- Love like Christ—sacrificially, unconditionally, and tenderly.
- Possess joy that exudes in and through the lives of believers despite circumstances because Jesus’ joy is in us and is complete (John 15:11).
- Live a life of peace—with God and others, desiring restoration in broken places.
- Patience with ourselves and others, choosing to bear up under trials for God’s glory.
- Show kindness to all as we seek their good over ours without expecting human applause.
- Goodness is displayed as we reflect Christ’s characteristics of humility, grace, and forgiveness toward others.
- Faithfulness is evident in those with the mind of Christ. We are trustworthy and faithful in all areas of life, as Jesus modeled for us.
- Gentleness, tenderness, and humility describe our way of life.
- Self-control restrains us from acting according to our fleshly desire, desiring God’s will over ours.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own.” (Philippians 3:12 ESV)
A Prayer to Have the Mind of Christ
Heavenly Father,
Like the Israelites held in captivity, I ask myself how You can forgive me, giving me hope and a future, freeing me to live a life of freedom in Christ. It’s impossible to comprehend the depth of Your knowledge, tenderness, and love toward me. I am eternally grateful and long to live in a way that reflects this gratitude by refusing to be satisfied with the “milk” of Your Word. Increase my spiritual appetite, Lord, as I seek Your Spirit’s leading. Help me to have the mind of Christ.
Amen.
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