The mind of the secular person is different to the biblical mentality a mature Christian should have. It is so, because the secular person has a worldly vision where the human being is the main character, the protagonist. For the secular mind nothing is as important as human feelings, emotions, thoughts, needs and wants. On the other hand, Christian’s axis of life is God and our world vision, our thoughts and activity in general revolve around the consequent spirituality. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5 KJV)
The Scriptures beseech us to have a mentality according to the will of God: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
The Word of God also states: [emphasis added] : “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2 KJV)
This Chapter 2 is rich in lessons and poses a bold reality: we have the mind of Christ! If we don’t understand this assertion and if we take it out of the biblical context, it could even sound heretic. Nevertheless, the assertion is absolutely true and powerful.
When we accept and recognize Christ as our personal Savior and are then baptized, we die to sin and start a new life: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 KJV) So, saved by grace through faith and receiving the Holy Spirit our eyes are now open to discern the spiritual realm we belong to. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38 KJV)We have been transformed and are reborn in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) We are no longer those with secular mind with the human being as center of the world. So, by becoming a new creature, being born of the water and of the Spirit (John 3:5) our mentality transforms into a spiritual one which is hard to understand by the secular mentality. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV)
To have the mind of Christ means:
a) To have a mind according to the will of God –Jesus, even though He himself is God would yield to the will of the Father: “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” ( Luke 2:42 KJV) Therefore we have to choose to surrender to God’s will.
b) To have a mind that is in constant communication with God so we can strengthen our spirit – Jesus taught us how important prayer is. The Word of God has told us how Jesus would separate from the disciples to pray and would beseech others to pray. “And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:45-46 KJV)
c) To have a mind that embraces forgiveness – Jesus laid his life for the forgiveness of our sins and taught us to forgive: “hen came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV)
d) To have a mind that rejects sin and that wants to transform the sinner – We want to convey the good news of Jesus to everyone so they can participate of the Salvation his sacrifice gifted us with. “But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:12-13 KJV)
e) To have a mind that will drive you to act upon love – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34 KJV)
We are not a body with a soul, we are a soul with a body. We have to understand our spiritual nature and nurture our spirit by reading the Bible, fasting, praying and worshipping. Don’t let the affairs of the flesh alienate us from the matters of the spirit. Don’t let trivialities distract you from your spiritual duties.
