A Christ
Centered Mind
Multiple
Passages
Having your mind
in subjection to Jesus and allowing Him to be at the front and center in our
thinking is key to having a Jesus Centered Life
1. Possessing the wrong mind leads to worldliness
·
The right mind and its benefits
(Mind of Christ) 1 Pet.
4:1– Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he
who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
(Sound mind)
2Tim.
1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and
of love and of a sound mind.
(Humbleness) Col. 3:12– Therefore, as the elect of God,
holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,
longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone
has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must
do
(God’s will) Heb. 10:16–
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the
LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write
them
(Pure
minds) 2 Pet. 3:1– Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both
of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful
of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior
(Loving
God)
Matt. 22:37 - Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
2. Possessing the
right mind leads to Jesus Centeredness
·
The wrong mind and its consequences
(Reprobate
mind) – Romans 1:28 (And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting
(Blinded
minds) 2 Cor. 4:4– whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not
believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine on them
(Hostile
minds) Col. 1:21– And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked
works, yet now He has reconciled
(Haughty minds) 2 Tim. 3:4–
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of
God
(Defiled
minds) Titus 1:15– To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are
defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are
defiled.
Matthew 12:34-35 – Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak
good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings
forth evil things
Matthew 15:19-20 – For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man
Developing the Mind of Christ
1. We are to have the mind
of Christ
1.1. 2 Cor. 10:5 – casting
down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
1.2. Phil. 2:5 - Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a
man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross
·
To have the mind of Christ is to involve every aspect of
the human mind in service to Christ.
·
Emotions
·
Every emotion of man is mental in origin
Hate, love, jealousy, anger, joy, compassion,
envy, etc
All of these must cultivated and practiced, overcome and discarded as
Christ would have us to do.
·
Intellect
The intellect of man must also be Christlike
Thought, reason, meditation, trust, faith, and memory must be
centered on spiritual things.
·
Will
The will of man, the most difficult aspect of the mind to tame must
surrender to the will of Christ.
Our commitment, dedication, hope, humility, justice, mercy,
forgiveness, gentleness, self-control, holiness, and righteousness must all
reflect the nature of Christ in our lives.
2. Having a Jesus Centered Mind is to :
·
Set our mind above Col. 3:1 – If then you were raised with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the
right hand of God
·
Think pure things Phil. 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever things
are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things
are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these
things
·
Hope for spiritual things Heb.
11:1-6
·
Speak of spiritual things 1
Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God
in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good
conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good
conduct in Christ may be ashamed
·
Implement spiritual practices James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves
(Sources Are from different areas on the internet)
