Mind of Christ
A few years ago, I read that the majority of people never read a book, cover to cover, after finishing formal schooling (whether high school or college). This blew my mind and I had trouble comprehending that most people don’t read books. One of my favorite past times is reading. I have learned more since graduating college, with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Business, than I did through all of my formal schooling. Reading and learning is a way of life for me. I can’t imagine not continually learning.
As Christians we are called to “obey God”, “imitate Christ”, “speak the truth”, etc. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will “bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26b). How can He “bring to your remembrance” what you never heard or seen? How can you obey if you don’t know what God demands? How can you imitate Christ if you don’t know what He did? How can you speak the truth if you don’t know what is true? How do we know these things so we can lead lives that honor God?
Obviously we need to study God’s written word. We need to read the Bible. We need to study it. We need to pray about it. We need to memorize it.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)
To truly understand the Bible, we need to accept Jesus as savior. We need to repent of our sins. We need to follow God. As 1 Corinthians says, God’s word is “spiritually appraised.” We need the “mind of Christ” to be able to fully understand God’s word. Even though the Bible is written clearly, an unrepentant mind cannot accept the truths written in the Bible because “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.”
As we study God’s word, we learn the truth. Our culture today likes to talk of truth as relative. People talk about “my truth” vs “your truth.” They are wrong. The truth is the truth even if not one person believes it. Truth is not dependent on knowledge or opinions. Truth is fact. Truth is immutable. God is truth and God speaks truth.
As Christians, knowing and speaking the truth should be a priority. This means we have to seek the truth. We can’t just sit by and passively expect to know the truth.
Ultimately we need to read, to know and to trust the Bible, but it can also be useful to read or listen to Godly men and women to learn more about the truth. We can learn a lot from those who have devoted years and decades to studying God’s word. We can learn much from those who have seen God’s faithfulness throughout their lives. At the same time, we need to test any teaching of man by the words in the Bible.
This is one reason that reading, studying, and memorizing the words of the Bible is so critical. No matter how good a person sounds, if their words contradict the Bible, their words are false. It doesn’t matter if the speaker is a PhD theologian or a PhD scientist. Nothing that contradicts the Bible is the truth. There are no exceptions. There can be misunderstandings regarding what the Bible means, but usually the Bible speaks clearly. The most obvious meaning is almost always the actual meaning intended by God. (I’m hesitant to use absolutes, but I don’t know of any case where the actual meaning is other than the obvious meaning.) When someone speaks contrary to what the Bible says, the most common reason is the error of the speaker and not some difficulty in understanding the clear meaning of the Bible. There are so many people who try to twist God’s word to mean what they want it to mean whether this is to match a scientific theory or to allow a particular behavior or some other reason.
Knowing God’s word allows us to stand firm in our faith. It allows us to know when someone is speaking intentional lies or speaking untruths that they believe are truth. Knowing God’s word protects us from being misled, whether that person is intentionally trying to mislead us or whether they are misled themselves.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:5)
As we learn God’s word, we can grow in faith; we can speak the truth; we can obey God faithfully; we can imitate Christ; and we can stand firm against the lies of this world.
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:15)
Another reason to know God’s word is because we are told to be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” We need to know God’s word so we can explain Him to others. We need to be able to stand up for the truth. We need to be faithful to the truth. We can only do that if we know the truth and truth comes from God.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Let’s not be lazy and take the easy path. Let’s work hard to renew our mind with God’s word so we can be transformed into the image of God for His glory. You won’t regret it.
Trust Jesus.
your sister in Christ,
Christy
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