The Mind of God

“For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV)

Who are Christians? They could be described in many ways, at least hundreds of them. One that Paul describes in the Epistle to the Corinthians has captured the image of Christians so transcendently in a nutshell. Christians are those who have the mind of Christ, the mind of God.

What a wonderful description that is! We are not left alone here on the earth to defend/advance the gospel at all, while the invisible God of our Lord Jesus Christ is in some remote far way space, just watching over what’s going on here. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b NIV) Jesus has promised to His disciples, “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b NKJV)

Our Lord God has never left us alone but is always with us. That’s what the angel Gabriel said to Joseph when he pronounced the birth of Jesus Christ. The angel said, “They shall call His name Immanuel, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23)

Paul has revealed the long awaited mystery of God which had been hidden from ages and from generations to His saints. That is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:27-29 NKJV)

That is the hidden secret for life that is excitement and vitality in Christ Jesus. Abraham the patriarch of faith also had received the same promise, the promise of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:29). We are given and provided all the resources, every spiritual blessing, in the heavenly realms by the Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Therefore, we have the mind of God within.

Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV)

Why do we have to eat every day? Even after a scrumptious meal with all kinds of goodies, drinks, desserts, and all, why do we have to drink a cup of coffee next morning? There may a thousand and one different reasons to think about.

Why do we come to eat over and over again? We work hard to eat, fulfilling the hunger and thirst of body and mind. Why do we work hard to eat? It sounds silly, but there may be something that God wants us to learn and that may be significant in our life.

It perpetually tells that the visible and tangible food never satisfies us in full. Of course, it satisfies us bodily and psychologically, provisionally even. Here is the problem, very serious defect in them. Food and work cannot touch the most sacred part of humanity, spirit. Until the human spirit is filled, man is restless and agitated always. No matter how man tries hard to fill the cup of spirit, it avails not, because only the Holy Spirit can fill that cup in man.

So, it is a reminder that man needs something much deeper and higher to be filled and satisfied. When does the appetite cease anyways? It terminates when man dies. Crucifixion, the death of Christ, the bloody sacrifice for the sin of mankind is the new beginning of true life, the resurrection life. Christ’s death is the substitutionary death of mankind. He died, so we died with Him also. He buried, so we buried with Him also. He rose again, so we rose again with Him also.

Bodily and psychological hunger and thirst for food, sex, sleep, and anything is the reminders that we all need Him, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness (Romans 3:25).

What we really hunger and thirst is to be clothed with the righteousness of God, the wholeness, the sense of worth all the time, so that we can stand boldly in His sight without shame and guilt. We really hunger and thirst for wanting to be what God intended man to be even before the creation of everything. It is deeply and inherently inscribed in human race.

In Christ Jesus, a way to righteousness is open for us who believes in Him in truth and spirit, God willing.  

Male and Female

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NKJV)

Human beings are fundamentally and essentially sexual according to the truth of God. From the beginning God made male and female in His image and His likeness. God never changes His mind. In Him, there is no second thought. Why then are we made to be sexual? History proves that sex has changed the world. It is a great and powerful force in humanity. It even endangers at times the civilization on the brink. Although there are a lot of unspeakable dark sides caused by the sexual drive in humanity, God allowed it to run through the generations to generations. Pulling away sex in humanity is like removing all the excitements and enjoyments in life, because there is no better entertainment than that. God risked by allowing this powerful drive in our lives in order to teach us something very significant.

God strictly bounded sexual intercourse only, yes only within the marriage between one man and one woman. God blessed the union of one man and one woman to become one body. By means of sex husband and wife experience exquisite joy and happiness which is possible not only through the physical union, but through the psychological and spiritual one. Whatever happens in physical level is a picture and manifestation of what’s happen in heaven. Sex is the expression of deep seated hunger and thirst for possessing and being possessed each other. God says to His people that we are His treasured possessions (Deuteronomy 17:6). We are not our own but were purchased with the price of the Son’s blood (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are His possessions and He is ours. God wants to teach us through sex what kind of relationship between God and His children is. God wants His children to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  

Search the Heart and Test the Mind

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

 Why the Law was given to humanity? It wasn't given us to keep with whatsoever cost and might we muster, but to teach us whatever we think and do in the flesh is wrong and how corrupt and selfish in heart we are. No matter what, we must abide in the Law, otherwise there is no life. The problem is that we don't have power to keep it. Here, in due time, our Lord Jesus Christ has offered a way to obey it through His death, burial, and resurrection. He gave His own life unto us, demonstrating the love that frees the enslaved humanity in full. The Law spells out what the true love is. In Christ Jesus the Lord, we can abide in the Law because we are under grace, not under the law. Love fulfills the Law. To love God is to obey His commandments by grace He provides. His commandments are love one another. Love the unlovely, forgive the unforgivable, accept the unacceptable, endure the unendurable, forebear the scruples of the weak, not with our own might, but with the resurrection power.

This is the good news. Lord Jesus invites us to the way of the cross in order to give us rest and dynamics to obey Him now and forevermore. He searches and tests the depth of heart and mind.

The Veil of the Temple was Torn

"And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (Mark 15:37-38)

Human beings are three fold beings, body, soul, and spirit. However, when Adam fell, the human spirit collapsed and died, resulting in the terrible condition that they are not functioning in three fold but only two. This causes destination disease. No matter how they succeed, achieve, and/or possess, there is no full satisfaction, no happiness, no fulfillment, but just empty shell and frustration. Why? It's because the human spirit died in transgressions and sins. But Christ died for our sins in our place and opened a way to enter into the long forbidden area, the Holy of holies, through the faith in Him. Now, in Christ, the believers can function in three fold because we are made spiritually alive. But we do not automatically grow in fully functioning maturity. To grow, feeding the proper food and doing exercise are necessary. The food is the word of God and the exercise, faith.

A Gift

Abraham in the Old Testament received a promise from God the Lord of hosts when he was called to go to the promised land. What he received as the promise of God has been revealed by the pen of Apostle Paul and that is the Spirit of God. It is a gift that all humans are desperately in want since the fall of the race. Here it is the revelation according to Paul.

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:10-14 NKJV)

His Commandments Are Not Burdensome (1 John 5:1-5)

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:1-5 NKJV)

How do we know that we are born of God? We are born of God if we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Promised Messiah. Jesus was promised to come, how to be born, how to live, what to do, and how to die and live again. He was the Word in the beginning. He was with God and the Word was God. But the Word became flesh and dwelt among the people of His own in the first century.

Apostle John wrote in his epistle how Jesus intimately was close with the people He made. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:1-4 NKJV)

Jesus tells His disciples that He came by the door according the promises and prophecies given in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10:1-2 NKJV) The Great Shepherd appeared on the earth according to the Scripture and died and buried and rose again from the dead according the Scripture. There is nothing Jesus did what was not foretold and prophesied in the Scripture. With a long preparation of His coming as the Son of Man, the Christ, the Redeemer, the Savior for some four thousand years or more, finally the promise of God has been fulfilled by the birth of a baby laid in a manger, as the son of Mary. His name is Immanuel, God with us. He is the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Then how do we know that whether we believe in Him or not? We know that we believe in the Christ of God by loving one another, obeying the commandments of God. God is love. God never stops loving His children, even in the midst of discipline and training. If we don’t jump into conclusion too quickly by judging every situation with bitterness, growling, and murmuring and mumbling, we can see how much our God patiently loves us as Dear Father, full of mercy, grace, kindness, generosity, and long suffering. In Him, there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning (James 1:17). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s the good news. Is it not? God loves us now and forevermore.

As God loved us first, we now respond to His love in obedience to His commandments, love one another. His commandments are not so burdensome as many think. Jesus invites people to give true rest. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)

Obeying the commandments of God is not burdensome because otherwise we must take the cross of ego, the undying chunks of desire and lust, wanting ever more. The ego and selfishness sitting in our body all the time never satisfy with no matter how much you earn, achieve, or climb the ladder of success. Apostle Paul is a good example. He thought he was doing the right thing for God, arresting and persecuting the cult of Nazarene, the follower of Jesus. But when he saw a great light, he decried, “Who are you Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 9:5 NKJV) He was in complete unrest and confusion. He was enslaved by his ego centric motivation and got lost completely until Jesus rescued him.

In his epistle to the Philippians, he wrote that what he desired the most was to know Jesus and the resurrection power. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV)

In this way, we overcome the world by faith in Jesus Christ. By keeping on obeying the commandments of God, loving one another by the gift of faith given from heaven above, we overcome the world as Jesus Christ obeyed the Father unto death. Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

No Fear in Perfect Love (1 John 4:17-20)

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:17-18 NKJV)

If we love one another, the love of God has been perfected among us. It doesn’t mean God’s love is imperfect at all. His love is perfectly perfect from the beginning to the end, eternally. When it says that love is perfected, it means the genuine love of God is glorified in our midst. We are bold and confident in standing before the Lord of Hosts, even in the Day of Judgment. Why? It is because as He is, so are we in this world. If we love one another, God abides in us, and we in Him. When we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is not us who love but God does in us. How could he judge what he did on the Day of Judgment?

There is no fear in love, but perfect love expels every particle of fear, because fear involves torment, the torture of feeling guilty. Natural man, even the finest man in history and time, cannot love perfectly without spot. All natural man is wicked and fallen and sin-stained born of Adam. Only the saints born of God can love others with His love. Since it is not the love of natural human but that of Him, there is no particle of feeling guilty. God is righteous, just, and faithful forever and ever. Those who are born of God are righteous all the time and there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, not because of our merits or qualities but because of His blood on the cross shed in our place. We enter into the throne of grace through the blood of Christ Jesus the Lord. “But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

“We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:19-21 NKJV)

This is a test whether we love God or not. We love Him because He first loved us. He manifested His love as the public spectacle on the cross by bruising His own begotten Son. So, we love Him as the response to the first love. However, if someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. How could he love the invisible God if he does not love his brother whom he has seen? The commandment of the Lord is this: love one another. If we say, “We love God,” then we ought to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus Christ identified Himself with the saints by saying, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:5)

If We Love One Another (1 John 4:12-16)

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:12-16 NKJV)

No one has seen God at any time, not even Moses and Elijah, but Jesus Christ. If we love one another, God abides in us, because only God can love unconditionally. If we manifest such a love among brothers and sisters in Christ, God indwells in us by means of the Holy Spirit. More amazingly, if so, His love has been perfected in us. God’s love is always perfect, without an iota of stain or spot. It means that if we love one another, His love is fully manifested and glorified in our midst.

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:13 NKJV) By loving one another, we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, just as Jesus Christ was in the Father, and the Father in Him during His earthly life. God has given us of His Spirit when we were born again by the Spirit. We died with Christ and buried and baptized with Him and were raised up from the dead with Him. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24 NKJV)

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:14-15 NKJV) Those who are born of God have known that God sent His Son as Savior of the world, the Messiah. Jesus Christ was born of Mary who was conceived by the Spirit. He became the Son of Man, a perfect human with flesh and bone, in order to be the High Priest of ailing and groaning humans. He must be a man just like us to be the Savior of the world. Not only so, but also He is the Son of God, the Godhead. Jesus Christ is God Himself. Whoever confesses that Jesus is God, God abides in him, and he in God. That’s what John testifies in his gospel.

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31 NKJV)

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16 NKJV) We have known and believed the love God has poured out for us, even continually pouring out now and forever. We have known and confessed that God is love. We are continually and eternally loved by Him and abide in love, because God in us, and we are in Him. We died and were purchased back with a price, not without blood, and belong to Him, in order to have what He is.

Ought to Love One Another (1 John 4:7-11)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:7-11 NKJV)

Christians ought to love one another, brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s a sensational command for not all brothers and sisters in Christ are lovable, some (maybe many), even difficult to get along with. Nevertheless, we ought to love another, for love is of God. We did not love God first but He did. He loved us first not because we were lovable but because He is love. We were even the enemies of God when He still loved us by giving His Son Jesus Christ unto us. He who is born of God and knows God loves one another. He who doesn’t know God cannot love, for God is love.

We came to Christ Jesus through His love that we might live through Him. When we continually remain in Christ, we can manifest His love. Since we have been in Christ, we no longer live our life but His life in us. He is in us and we are in Him. What He has is what we have and what He is, what we are. What we do by faith in Him is what He does within us.

 God loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Once we were loved and liberated from the dark power of evil by the Father through Christ Jesus, there is nothing which can break off our love relationship with Him. We still fail and make mistakes. Yes, we sin. But even the falls and failures cannot cancel out the sonship because Jesus Christ is our propitiation for our sins continually. It doesn’t excuse our faults nonetheless. It doesn’t say that we can continue to sin. What it says is when we handle our sins rightly Jesus Christ is the propitiation forever. Repentance with contrite heart is to lead a way to Christ Jesus and His grace over and over again.

Apostle Paul says in Romans why we have such a wonderful Savior forever. “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:15-17 NKJV)

It’s a free gift forever. Just like we are so loved by God, we ought to love one another.