Let This Mind Be In You

LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU

Philip. 2:5-8 says, “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.”

If the mind that was in Christ is to be in us, we must humble ourselves and become obedient; obedient even unto death – the death of the cross. Not my will, Father, but thine. Christ suffered death on the cross for us, so that we could be brought to God. But we must become partakers in His death, burial, and resurrection – our flesh must be put to death and then we must be made alive again in Him. We must suffer with Him if our flesh is to die.

· Romans 6:4-6 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. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

· Philip. 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” Then, continuing in 1 Peter 4:1-2, we are told that as Christ suffered in the flesh, we are to arm ourselves with the same mind He had, because the person that suffers in the flesh ceases from sin – no longer living in the fleshly lusts of men but according to the will of God.

Hebrews 12 tells us to lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, running with patience the race that is set before us. How can we do this? Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. So, too, must we look at the joyful outcome – the going to death of the lusts of our flesh so we too can be raised to new life. We must strive against the sin in us until it comes to blood – to the death. The “race” Paul is speaking of, this “fighting the good fight of faith,” is very simply becoming obedient to the suffering of the cross. “The flesh must die.” Only after the death of the flesh will the peaceable fruit of righteousness ever be found in us.

As Jesus became obedient unto the death of his very flesh, we must “Let this mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:6). We all love our personal demons, and it is only by faith in our loving Creator that we can humble ourselves and submit to this death so that we can be raised to new life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).

While the suffering of the Cross is indeed painful, we must resist the temptation to grow bitter against those who seem to make us suffer and allow God to work the death of the Cross in us. The longing to take a shorter route by dealing with our troubles in our own strength is another temptation oh so very common to humanity! Or we want to run from the Cross – to draw back – by yielding to fleshly comforts, thereby defeating the very purpose of the Cross. The work of the Cross is to put to death our desire for these same fleshy comforts, and the Lord has no pleasure in those that draw back from it (Hebrews 10:38). All the earthly things that we would foolishly seek solace and satisfaction from will never be able to bring contentment. We must come to the place where all our desires become a desire for the Lord alone, for true comfort is found only in Him. We must steadfastly resist all these temptations and instead allow the Cross of Christ to accomplish its’ perfect work in us.

As Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, so too must we. Christ came “that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death; that is the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Only when the sinful nature that dwells in our very being is crucified will the power of eternal death that the devil holds over us be broken. The fleshly nature that dwells in all of us must be delivered unto death if the life of Christ is ever to be made manifest in us (2 Corin. 4:11).

Do you think the Scriptures say in vain that the spirit that dwells in us is full of lusts, jealousy, and malice (James 4:5)? O! my dear brothers and sisters, don’t grow weary at the chastening of the Lord! Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus. Humble yourselves to the death of the Cross. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God; submit yourselves before Him and go boldly to the throne of grace for help in time of need, resisting the temptations in front of you (James 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:16, 2 Peter 5:6-9)…And the Lord, who is always faithful, will give grace and strength for obedience

And the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make
you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever Amen.
2 Peter 5:10-11

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*All emphasis mine.
Written October, 2007 Revised 2010