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Having the Mind of Christ
"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 object of this study is to consider what is meant by Paul's phrase: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We will use the method of comparison and contrast to come to our conclusions. By comparing the mind of Christ with the mind of Adam (after he fell), we can note the differences and thus the deficiencies in our own minds. In this way we can determine what is needful for the "renewing of our mind" that will "transform" our characters. |
Scripture for Our Present Study
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8. |
The Mind of Christ |
The Mind of Adam |
Who is Christ? —
Christ is God, the Son; one with the Father, who has an eternal existence; His character and work is identical to God the Father |
Who is Adam? —
Adam was created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:26, 27); having by creation the character traits of God; Adam was "created a little lower than the angels" (Psalm 8:4-6); but Adam was given the upright moral character and freewill of the angels |
His Choice —
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God"
Christ had no inclination exploit His position, for any reason; to do so would be contrary to His nature of agape—self-emptying love |
His Choice —
Enticed by the lies of Satan acting through the serpent at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam regarded being created in the "image of God" something to be exploited
Adam freely chose to aspire to greatness beyond what was given to him by his Creator, and thus by choice assumed the characteristics of the Tempter, Satan (see Isaiah 14:12-14) |
His Obedience —
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men"
In response to the need of Adam, now turned into a rebel, Christ became Adam’s Saviour, He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8) |
His Disobedience —
Seeing that he was created in the "image of God" by having the form of man, Adam exalted himself and thereby became disobedient to the will of his Creator
Adam's disobedience immediately caused a barrier to be erected between himself and God, and between himself and his wife; he was now alienated from all that he formerly loved
Adam's next heartbeat and breath were by the grace of God extended to him by the blood of Christ, who stepped between the dead the living (cf. Genesis 2:17) |
The Result —
"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
In due time, Christ left His exalted position and assumed that which He was not: in His incarnation, He took upon His sinless nature, the fallen nature of Adam, that thus encumbered, He might work out perfect obedience in behalf of the human race
Having perfected obedience in fallen flesh (Hebrews 5:8-9), Christ took that flesh to the cross of Calvary where He "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
The "death of the cross" is a phrase used by Paul to indicate that Christ's death bore the curse of God (cf. Deuteronomy 21:22-23); Christ suffered the death that mankind should have suffered when Adam sinned, and which the wicked, because of their unbelief, will eventually suffer when they are destroyed |
The Result —
Adam's nature was now in a fallen state in which strife replaced peace, selflessness was replaced by self-seeking and self-preservation; in short, Adam became totally self-centered
Adam and Eve were expelled from their perfect home, and were condemned to suffer hardship and anguish which they were never intended to experience
Death (the first death) became their heritage, and was passed on to their progeny
Even the ground and all other life on earth was cursed because of Adam's fall; every thing on earth became alienated from their Creator because of "one man’s sin" (Genesis 3:17-19; cf. Romans 5:12)
All who through unbelief throw away the gift of salvation will suffer the wrath of God against sin (Romans 1:18; Revelation 20:11-15) |
See articles related to this subject: "No Greater Love"; "Lesson of the Cross"; "He Tasted Death for Every Man" |
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