What the Bible Contains: Pt. 2 The Mind of God Revealed to Man!
Good Morning....
1 Corinthians 2:-8 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.
The mind of God was hidden according to the purposes of God. He hid it because if it had been readily discernible so the princes of this world could know it, they would not have crucified Christ.
Today we will learn how God has chosen to reveal His mind to us. In our last post we noted that the mind of God is unknowable to mankind in general and that God has turned the world's wisdom into that which is foolish. We also saw how the mind of God consists of those "deep" things which cannot be searched out by man.
The deep things are from a word connected to deep diving research vessels used today. We learned how a bathyscaphe is used for diving into the deepest part of the ocean and subject to tremendous pressure per square inch at those depths.
The picture is that no man can search out these things of God and it reminds us that we need Divine help in order to understand the mind of God.
Only the born again can know the mind of God.
The picture is that no man can search out these things of God and it reminds us that we need Divine help in order to understand the mind of God.
Only the born again can know the mind of God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Paul asks the same rhetorical question about who can know the mind of the Lord? The only possible answer is that no one can unless God permits it. The mind of God is otherwise unknowable.
In this text the apostle makes it clear that the born again, regenerated believer in Jesus Christ can indeed know the mind of God. Not in its full glory of course, for we remain finite creatures after the new birth.
This is great news for us. God intends to communicate His mind and His will to you and to me through His Word and the ministry of His Holy Spirit. "We have the mind of Christ" not in the sense that we somehow know everything that the Lord Jesus knows, for that would be impossible.
Rather, the idea is that we begin to perceive His mind. God has enabled us to possess it, to consider it and reflect upon His mind as it relates to governing our thoughts and actions. God has given us all the help we need to understand the mind of God by sending His Holy Spirit to indwell each born again child of God.
Paul asks the same rhetorical question about who can know the mind of the Lord? The only possible answer is that no one can unless God permits it. The mind of God is otherwise unknowable.
In this text the apostle makes it clear that the born again, regenerated believer in Jesus Christ can indeed know the mind of God. Not in its full glory of course, for we remain finite creatures after the new birth.
This is great news for us. God intends to communicate His mind and His will to you and to me through His Word and the ministry of His Holy Spirit. "We have the mind of Christ" not in the sense that we somehow know everything that the Lord Jesus knows, for that would be impossible.
Rather, the idea is that we begin to perceive His mind. God has enabled us to possess it, to consider it and reflect upon His mind as it relates to governing our thoughts and actions. God has given us all the help we need to understand the mind of God by sending His Holy Spirit to indwell each born again child of God.
The Mind of God was a closely guarded mystery.
1 Corinthians 2:-8 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.
The mind of God was hidden according to the purposes of God. He hid it because if it had been readily discernible so the princes of this world could know it, they would not have crucified Christ.
Who are these "princes of the world?"
Daniel 10:13-14 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
The prophet Daniel saw a troubling vision of the end times and he prayed for understanding 21 days. An angel came to help Daniel understand the vision and notice what the text says about the unseen battle between good and evil.
Michael told Daniel that he was sent to the prophet right away but the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" stopped him until the angel Michael came to assist him.
The princes of the world spoken of by Daniel are not political leaders. Satan is called the prince of this world by Jesus in John 14:30. Paul calls him the prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2:2.
When Paul writes to the Corinthians about the princes not knowing the mind of God in the text above, he is referring to the demonic kingdom ruled by Satan.
Michael told Daniel that he was sent to the prophet right away but the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" stopped him until the angel Michael came to assist him.
The princes of the world spoken of by Daniel are not political leaders. Satan is called the prince of this world by Jesus in John 14:30. Paul calls him the prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2:2.
When Paul writes to the Corinthians about the princes not knowing the mind of God in the text above, he is referring to the demonic kingdom ruled by Satan.
The devil seeks to subvert God's rule. If the devil knew what God's plan was for saving men (Christ dying on the cross) he would have done everything possible to make sure Jesus was not crucified.
Because God hid His plans from the devil in a mystery, Satan thought he gained the victory when Christ died on the cross. However, when Jesus rose from the dead, Satan's victory was ripped to shreds (Colossians 2:8-15). Praise God!
What is the mind of Christ? Deity.
Philippians 2:5-8 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: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
In writing to the church at Philippi Paul describes the mind of Christ in terms that the same mind needs to be in our hearts.
First, the mind of Christ teaches us that the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ is not up for debate. He is declared to be the Son of God and declared His unity with the Father in the Godhead many times.
John 5:17-18 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
John 10:30-33 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Christ was a co-equal member of the Trinity acting in perfect communion with the Father and the Spirit. The deity of Jesus Christ is debated today by theologians and even some professing Christians. However, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus was an equal member of the Godhead.
There is no debate about this truth. This is the mind of Christ and we must anchor here because many attack His deity today and if Jesus was not God in the flesh, then we do not have a Redeemer! Praise God "the Word was with God and the Word was God!"
What is the Mind of Christ? Humility.
Jesus Christ set aside His glory and His honor so that He could be born into great humility. Instead of hearing the Cherubim worship Him in heaven with resounding Holy, Holy, Holy, Jesus was born in a stable listening to various animals make their noises.
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
John recorded the priestly prayer of Christ shortly before He went to the cross. In this prayer to the Father Jesus speaks of the glory that He set aside in order to be born as a human. He speaks of having His glory restored after His work on earth was complete.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was made lower than the angels in heaven. The Creator was made lower than created beings.
Hebrews 5:6-8 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Look at all that Christ endured during His ministry before the cross. He prayed ceaselessly to His Father with supplications and strong crying. Jesus shed many tears in His prayers to the Father.
A good example is Christ's final time of prayer in the garden just before He was betrayed and arrested. (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46).
What is the mind of Christ? Obedience.
Jesus humbled Himself and submitted to the Father's will in all things. He chose to obey His Father no matter how difficult the work was that He was called to finish.
Hebrews 5:8-10 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Paul tells us the mind of Christ was to humble Himself in order to obey the Father even to the point of dying on the cross.
Thoughts to Ponder....
When Paul tells us that we have the mind of Christ we must go to the Word of God and read it.
Christ's deity. We find Jesus forcefully and clearly articulating that He is God in the flesh. His words and works bear witness of this truth and the Father spoke from heaven bearing witness of this truth.
Christ's humility. We find that Jesus was greatly humiliated by being made lower than the angels. He was humiliated by the way that people despised and scorned Him. We noted the many ways Christ was humiliated in our recent studies in Isaiah 53.
Christ's obedience. We find that Jesus was obedient to the will of His Father even though it meant He had to hang on a cross and die for us as our sins were put upon Him.
How does the mind of Christ apply to you and me?
First, we must be steadfast and unyielding in our Biblical conviction about the deity of Jesus Christ. It is the central doctrine of the Bible. Do we believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh?
Second, we must ask the Lord to empty us of our pride and that He fill us with the humility of Christ so that we too, are meek and lowly of heart. Are we becoming humble?
Third, we must ask the Lord to help us be obedient to our Father's will in all things that He has commanded us. Are we seeking to be obedient children of God?
Bob
Because God hid His plans from the devil in a mystery, Satan thought he gained the victory when Christ died on the cross. However, when Jesus rose from the dead, Satan's victory was ripped to shreds (Colossians 2:8-15). Praise God!
What is the mind of Christ? Deity.
Philippians 2:5-8 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: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
In writing to the church at Philippi Paul describes the mind of Christ in terms that the same mind needs to be in our hearts.
First, the mind of Christ teaches us that the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ is not up for debate. He is declared to be the Son of God and declared His unity with the Father in the Godhead many times.
John 5:17-18 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
John 10:30-33 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Christ was a co-equal member of the Trinity acting in perfect communion with the Father and the Spirit. The deity of Jesus Christ is debated today by theologians and even some professing Christians. However, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus was an equal member of the Godhead.
There is no debate about this truth. This is the mind of Christ and we must anchor here because many attack His deity today and if Jesus was not God in the flesh, then we do not have a Redeemer! Praise God "the Word was with God and the Word was God!"
What is the Mind of Christ? Humility.
Jesus Christ set aside His glory and His honor so that He could be born into great humility. Instead of hearing the Cherubim worship Him in heaven with resounding Holy, Holy, Holy, Jesus was born in a stable listening to various animals make their noises.
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
John recorded the priestly prayer of Christ shortly before He went to the cross. In this prayer to the Father Jesus speaks of the glory that He set aside in order to be born as a human. He speaks of having His glory restored after His work on earth was complete.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was made lower than the angels in heaven. The Creator was made lower than created beings.
Hebrews 5:6-8 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Look at all that Christ endured during His ministry before the cross. He prayed ceaselessly to His Father with supplications and strong crying. Jesus shed many tears in His prayers to the Father.
A good example is Christ's final time of prayer in the garden just before He was betrayed and arrested. (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46).
What is the mind of Christ? Obedience.
Jesus humbled Himself and submitted to the Father's will in all things. He chose to obey His Father no matter how difficult the work was that He was called to finish.
Hebrews 5:8-10 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Paul tells us the mind of Christ was to humble Himself in order to obey the Father even to the point of dying on the cross.
Thoughts to Ponder....
When Paul tells us that we have the mind of Christ we must go to the Word of God and read it.
Christ's deity. We find Jesus forcefully and clearly articulating that He is God in the flesh. His words and works bear witness of this truth and the Father spoke from heaven bearing witness of this truth.
Christ's humility. We find that Jesus was greatly humiliated by being made lower than the angels. He was humiliated by the way that people despised and scorned Him. We noted the many ways Christ was humiliated in our recent studies in Isaiah 53.
Christ's obedience. We find that Jesus was obedient to the will of His Father even though it meant He had to hang on a cross and die for us as our sins were put upon Him.
How does the mind of Christ apply to you and me?
First, we must be steadfast and unyielding in our Biblical conviction about the deity of Jesus Christ. It is the central doctrine of the Bible. Do we believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh?
Second, we must ask the Lord to empty us of our pride and that He fill us with the humility of Christ so that we too, are meek and lowly of heart. Are we becoming humble?
Third, we must ask the Lord to help us be obedient to our Father's will in all things that He has commanded us. Are we seeking to be obedient children of God?
Bob
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