WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST?". Josimar Salum

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST?”

Josimar Salum

“For who has known the Lord's mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16

This is a very misunderstood text.

Notice in the entire chapter that Paul sometimes speaks in the singular first person and sometimes speaks in the plural first person.

“My word and my preaching were not persuasive words of human wisdom, but a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not be based on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2: 4-5 

Here he speaks in the first person singular referring to himself. His word, his preaching...

“However, we speak wisdom among the perfect; not, however, the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that annihilate themselves; ” 1 Corinthians 2: 6

Then, see the following verses, he writes "we speak".

“these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

God has revealed this to us ... He has not revealed it to me, He has not revealed this individually, but to us. Whoever receives a revelation does not contain it by himself.

“For who has known the Lord's mind, that he may instruct him? But * we have the mind of Christ.”* 1 Corinthians 2:16

You don't have the mind of Christ. nor do I have the mind of Christ. * WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. *

No one has the total revelation of God! We will always depend on our brothers and sisters. For this reason, living as the Church is the path to maturity. This is tremendous, as it neutralizes any individualism that may manifest itself. Living as the church doesn’t not mean at all meeting on a building, it means having relationship with brothers and sisters on a daily basis, wherever we are.

But how can you say that "we have the mind of Christ" and then say that the Corinthians were carnal?

“Because you are still carnal, for if there is envy, strife and dissension among you, are you not carnal and do not walk according to men?” 1 Corinthians 3: 3

But really who were they?

“Because we are fellow workers with God; you are God's crop and God's building.” 1 Corinthians 3: 9

No one is by himself in the Church and in the Kingdom. You are not alone. We have to overcome any individualism that may exist, to understand that the wisdom of God is only fully manifested through the Body, the Church, the people of God.

You are not the temple of God nor am I the temple of God.

“If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; because the temple of God, which is you, is holy. ” 1 Corinthians 3:17

We are the Temple of God and whoever destroys the Temple of God, the Church, which is us, God will destroy as well.

Everything is ours, everything! Not mine, not yours, but ours. If you understand the depth of these words you will be amazed, to know that everything converges to Christ and God.

“Therefore, let no one boast in men; because everything is yours: be it Paul, be Apollo, be Cephas, be the world, be life, be death, be the present, be the future, everything is yours, and you, of Christ, and Christ, of God." 1 Corinthians 3: 21-23

#ASONE

Partnering with God

By Dr. Paul Taylor

I spoke to you last week about the Greek word "poieo." It is a word that signifies partnership or working together. God longs to work with us. I want to continue to share about this Kingdom truth because it is crucial for us to understand the importance of working with God. Not simply doing things.

I believe I have shared with you before that early one morning as I was getting out of bed I heard the Lord say, "Paul, are you looking for Me or are you looking for something to do?" Immediately I knew He was speaking of Proverbs 8:34,35 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;

It is so important to understand:

1. You were created to work with God!

It was in Genesis 2:5 that God said that there was no man to "till" the ground.

That word "till" means to work, labor, but also means to worship.

This is why it is so important for you to know your purpose because when you do what you were created to do, with God you are worshipping Him!

This is what poieo is all about!

It was then in Genesis 2:7 that God created man by breathing life, a mental disposition, the mind of Christ into dust and created man, a living being! Now here is the fascinating thing. Even after man was separated from God by sin, he still could "do" things. The tower of Babel is an example of that in Genesis 11.

This is why we have to be so careful to listen, watch and wait for God and not just look to do something. Man can do things without God, but you and I were created to work with Him.

Jesus restored what was lost in the garden due to sin when He died on the Cross. Before ascending to His Father He breathed on the disciples and they received the same life that was breathed into Adam (John 20:22).

Watch this. In Mark 16:20, after Jesus has ascended it says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs." That word "working" is not poieo here, it is "synergenos", which is where we get the English word "synergy."

Synergy is a word of multiplication.

One person can accomplish some things and another person can accomplish some things, but together they accomplish more than the sum of what they could do by themselves. In other words 1+1 doesn't equal 2 with God! God says one can set to flight a thousand, but two can set to flight ten thousand! This is the way you were created to work with God and with man.

2. You have a choice whether you will work with God or choose to work alone! Philippians 2:12-16 shows us the power of choosing to work with God.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Notice "as you have always obeyed." Obedience is first and foremost! The working out of your salvation is not about you going to heaven or confessing your sins continually, but it is about understanding this restored relationship with God and how to work together as One! Look what happens!

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." The word "work" and "do" are the same and they mean to be active, efficient, be mighty in, and powerful! That is the advantage of working with God. Your choosing to work with God brings God great pleasure! The very next word is "Do!" Verse 14. That is poieo! Our doing should be the result of partnering with God! This is the synergy that we want to experience in life!

3. Finally, our choice to work with God produces a covenant with Him.

It is the restored covenant that God and Adam lived with. Verse 15 says, "That you may become blameless and harmless, children (sons) of God without fault…" Now we are back to the original plan that God had for each of us before the foundation of the world. This working together produces a covenant between a man and a woman.

Is it any surprise that God says, "It is not good for man to be alone?" Why? Because we were created to work together, with God, our spouse, and with others. In the Psalms God declares a blessing over those who dwell together in unity (Ps. 133:1).

So now you understand better why we need to work together with God. You were created to work with Him. Your choice brings great pleasure to God and great blessing to you. It brings covenant as you walk as sons of God on the earth!