The Mind of Christ 4a

Continuing with the characteristic Alive, we come to the second point concerning the power of the Spirit and the human mind.



2. There is the spiritual mind. It is the natural mind of man that has been renewed by the Spirit of God. As we have already seen, Romans 12:2 tells us to not “be conformed to this world: but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to put off our former selves, the “old man” that is corrupted with deceitful desires and that we should be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new man that is created in righteousness. To be renewed in the spirit of our mind is to be spiritually minded, (to phronema tou pneumatos), meaning to be possessed or controlled and dominated by the Spirit. The Spirit of God draws the believer’s mind to focus upon spiritual things. The Spirit of God lives within the believer and works within the believer to both will and do God’s pleasure; He is there to keep the believer focused, with mind and thought, on spiritual things.  Let's look at the following sub-points:


a. The believer keeps his mind on developing spiritual character and fruit, (Galatians 5:22-23).


b. The believer keeps his mind on carrying out the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ, (Luke 19:10; John 20:21; Mark 16:15; Acts1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Peter 3:15).


c. The believer keeps his mind on knowing, believing, and understanding God, Isaiah 43:10; Phil 3:10).


d. He keeps his mind on being conformed more and more to the image of Jesus Christ, Romans 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10; 1 John 3:2).


e. He keeps his mind on casting down imaginations and making every thought obedient to Christ Jesus, 2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 4:8).