The Christ Mind

Arthur Peterson

Philippians • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Text: “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

Introduction: I want to urge you to lose your mind. Now, before you say, “Too late; that’s already happened,” let me clarify. You need to lose your mind so that you might take on the mind of Christ.

We are working through Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. We have already learned that this was perhaps Paul’s favorite church. He was instrumental in its establishment. It was in Philippi that Paul was imprisoned and miraculously released. It was the church in Philippi that had responded to his personal needs at a critical time. He writes this letter to “the elders, deacons and all the saints.” He’s in prison again; this time in Rome. From there he sends word that he is praying for them often and hopes to see them again. While this letter is a joyful letter mentioning “joy” and “rejoice” no less than 14 times in this brief letter, he also senses that there may be some troubles also brewing. One of Paul’s concerns for every church he was connected with was that the church be healthy. So today we consider one of the most important things any Apostle ever said to any group of Christians.

So, we read in verse five of chapter two, “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” And we have titled this message, The Christ Mind.” So...

I. What Does Paul Mean by the term the “Mind of Christ”?

Note the title of our message this morning, “The Christ-Mind.” I would imagine that in some of your minds there’s a question that you have already asked, “What is the meaning of such a title, The Christ Mind?”

Do we mean by that title that we’re going to consider the intelligence aspect of the mind of Christ? Or his capability to learn? His IQ? Surely when we look at God’s Word it reveals clearly that Jesus was the divine Son of God and as such would have supreme intelligence. However fascinating such a study may be to consider; that’s not what I mean by the Christ Mind.

Maybe we’re referring to His knowledge. He was the Son of God you know. He knew all things. And we might even get a brain strain thinking about all that He knows in His omniscience. He knew and knows all things just as God, the Father does.

However fascinating that may be that is not the intent of our consideration of The Christ Mind. So maybe we should consider His perception of things. The Bible indicates that he knew men’s minds. He knew the thoughts and intents of those he talked with. He knew their motives even though they many not have said a word. So, the perception of the mind of man was divinely keen.

However fascinating that may be to us as a mental exercise to think about the perception of Christ, that is not our intent of study this morning. Maybe we could think just about what He thought about. What were his thoughts as He roamed the Galilean shores? What were his thoughts as he sat on the mountain side preaching and teaching? What were His thoughts when He looked over His shoulder and saw the multitudes following Him? Surely Jesus thought much about God, because we see him retreating time after time for long periods of time to be in solitude and prayer with His Father in heaven. We may say that His thoughts were the exact will of the Father and that would be true. He had the most intimate relationship when He was here on planet earth with His Father who reigned in Heaven.

However inspirational that may be to us, that is not the intent of Paul’s use of the term in his letter to the Philippian church.

To have a right understanding of this term Paul used we must have an understanding of the situation in the Philippian church. If you look at verse one of chapter two you’ll notice that the first thing Paul says is, “If therefore...” That opening word really tells us a lot about what Paul is preparing to say. Every time you are reading the Bible and you come across the word “therefore” or “so” you always need to reflect upon what was just said because it has a lot to do with what is going to be said.

So, let’s see what he says, “So, if there is any encouragement in Christ...” Now that doesn’t really tell us much until we reflect back to see what he’s talking about. That word “therefore” or “so” goes all the way back to verse 27 of the first chapter, where Paul said, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” So we understand that Paul is talking about the worthy life. He’s referring to the kind of lifestyle that Christians are to have. The kind of behavior that befits our claim to be a follower of Jesus. That would also include the kind of attitude that we have as we live day by day. In this sense, the Philippian letter is a lot like the letter of 1 Peter because both are concerned with the behavior pattern of Christians amidst an ungodly environment. Both are concerned that we realize that we are Christian citizens of God’s Kingdom even though we may live in man’s world.

Therefore, our manner of life as Christians, our pattern of lifestyle, must take on a certain kind of quality and characteristics. That’s what Paul is getting at when he writes, “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Paul was concerned with the type of witness the Philippian church was living before a watching world.

A paraphrase of verses 27 and following might go something like this: I have one single desire, and it is that your daily life matches the worth of the gospel. Without such a life you will never be able to face the world and hold your ground. Strengthened by what God has done for you, now, work together for the faith. Such steadfastness brings worthwhile results. It will convict the world and also yourselves, though in different ways. The world it condemns, the church it confirms. Therefore, my beloved brethren, make my joy full be being of the same mind.

Paul’s concern for the unity of the believers in Philppi is also the concern God has for the believers of Burnham Christian Church. The world in which we live is fragmented. Society is shaky. The church, therefore, in order to have an effective witness must be unified and firmly established on the solid rock. That rock is Christ.

Toward the end of chapter one and verse 2 of chapter 3 Paul is saying, in effect, I would need no further happiness if I can only hear that you are a united church! Paul said that to the Philippian church. He was in prison yet what he says is that the only thing that will complete my happiness is to learn that you are a united church. That was the attitude and the hope of the Apostle Paul. It was expressed from a heart that is concerned about the body and the health of the church. He was concerned about people just like you and me. God’s desire for this church and every church is that it be a healthy body. Did you know that there is a “gang” in our body. Actually it’s proper name is ganglia.

The ganglia nerves are the tiny nerve branches which go out from the main nerves. The ganglia nerves so cover our body that we cannot stick a pin into the body without a message flashing to the mind to warn us of an invasion to our body. This is a fantastic warning system that protects our very life. Spiritually, we must have the same sensitivity which warns us of harmful danger to our spiritual life. That’s why we need the “mind of Christ.” The health of the Body of Christ is in serious danger if we don’t. Which leads to...

II. Paul’s Counsel to the Church

Now, let’s come back about to the first verse of chapter two: “Therefore, if there is any encouragement...” That little word “if” is going to occur four times. Now let me clear something up. Paul’s use of that word here...the way he uses it, is not to express uncertainty. No, Paul knows exactly what he’s talking about. He’s not being uncertain by any means. What he really says as far as the language and grammar is concerned is, If there is any encouragement in Christ, and there is. If there is any incentive of love, and there is. If there is any participation in the Spirit, and there is. If there is any affection and sympathy, and I know that there is. Paul was concerned that these Philippian Christians be acutely aware that those things were present in their lives. It was an affirmation of what they had in Christ.

Let’s go on and read verses 2 and 3, “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself...” Again, and again Paul comes at the theme of unity. He is concerned that the Philippian Christian church be a unified church. They are counseled to do nothing with selfish or conceited motives but in humility counting others better. In other words, really look to others and in humility count others better than yourselves.

Surely you noticed the phenomenon of the support group. What is the theory behind it? It is hoped that those who have been brought through a problem (e.g. childlessness, cancer, phobias, addiction, etc.) can be of help to others going through the same problem. The Bible describes this very thing as a ministry and outreach of the church. No one understands what you are going through like someone who has been there. We are called as Christians to bear one another’s burdens.

Shalom Aleichem tells the story of an old man who was afraid of getting involved in other people’s lives. The man was standing on a bus when a young man next to him asked for the time. The old man just turned away and refused to reply. After the young man moved on, the old man’s friend asked him why he refused such a simple request. The old man answered, “If I had given him the time of day, next he would want to know where I was going. Then we might talk about our interests. If we did that, he might invite himself to my house for dinner. If he did that he would meet my lovely daughter. If he met her, they would both fall in love. I don’t want my daughter marrying someone who can’t afford a watch!”

As absurd as that reasoning is, some Christians are capable of employing such logic when they seek to keep themselves free of being involved in the lives of others.

A word of caution: This concern for others within the church is to be balanced with a genuine concern for others outside of the church. We are the church but the church has a mission...to share Christ with the non-believer. We dare not allow our focus on evangelism to be swallowed up in our joy of fellowship. Dr. Ironside used to tell about a group of believers who thought only of fellowship. They had little concern for reaching the lost or defending the faith. In front of their meeting house they hung a sign that read JESUS ONLY, but the wind blew away some of the letters. Now the sign read US ONLY.

Paul is urging these Christians to not be selfish. Remember that the world does not revolve around you. Our orbit is to be around Jesus Christ. He is the hub. This means being different from the world that is so often motivated by selfish ambition and one-ups-manship. Paul is trying to get rid of the attitudes that are expressed like:

• I’m on my own...I don’t need anybody else

• I’m always right and everyone else is wrong

• Notice me, see what I’m doing

• If we don’t do it my way, I’ll not play

• I do all the work around here and nobody seems to care

Paul is saying, “Don’t be selfish minded. Don’t have the attitude that you are the only one. To the contrary, be humble.” Jesus call to discipleship should get rid of all that selfish garbage when He said, “If you want to be My disciple, you must deny your self, take up your cross and follow Me.”

Lawrence Bass once quipped, “I think tragically we have one foot in heaven and the other foot is on the banana peel of self interest.” To counteract such a tendency Paul...

III. Paul Reveals the Mind of Christ

Rather than just provide counsel on these matters Paul presents the Philippian church with a vivid picture of the worthy life we are to exemplify. He points to the greatest example in one of the greatest statements in Scripture about the Mind of Christ and His unselfish ministry. “If the Bible was a mountain range, this would be one of the two or three highest peaks.” (This is so important we plan to preach on this paragraph again next week...you don’t want to miss it!).

“Have this mind in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of me, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (2:5-8).

That my friend is the pivot of the Philippian letter. Not only that, but if we really understand what Paul is saying, we understand that is also the pivot of the Christian life. It’s a clear understanding of the Christ Mind. Paul urges us to translate that mind-set and attitude in our own flesh and blood, committing to that way of living. That’s the attitude of the unselfish suffering servant, Jesus Christ. His attitude was to not count His position in heaven something to hold on to, even though it was His by right, but he gave that up to come down here so that He might give us something that we do not really deserve—our salvation and eternal life. We cannot earn it. It’s a gift. Jesus Christ left the glories of heaven to come down and be God’s servant here in human form, born of a virgin, living as a man but without sin, and going to the cross of calvary, dying there, becoming obedient even to the shameful death on a cruel cross.

The poet put it like this:

Under an eastern sky, amid a rabble cry,

A man went forth to die, for me.

Thorn crowned His blessed head,

Blood stained His every tread,

Cross laden, on He sped, for me!

Jesus Christ died for me and He died for you. That’s the Christ Mind. Humility, suffering servant, serving even His enemies. He died that we might live. So there we see Paul’s Hymn to Christ. The mind of Christ...it’s really a poem...a song par excellence...divinely inspired.

In one brief paragraph of 40 words the whole pre-existence of Jesus and His coming to earth, his living on earth in human form, His going to the cross and His resurrection and exaltation again. In 40 Greek words His whole life is encapsulated so that we might be able to digest in for ourselves to follow His example.

His was a life of humble service. See that in His teaching. See that in the compassion He had for those who were hurting. See that as He loved those who were unlovable. See that as He forgave the sinner. See that as He knelt before His family of disciples and washed their feet...a task that was relegated for a common slave to do. See His servant mind as He willingly suffered and died for the sins of all mankind. See that as He submitted to crucifixion on a Roman cross. The most humiliating death a man could die.

For Paul the cross becomes not only an expression of the way Jesus died...it was the way that He lived.

So what then, is the Christ Mind? It’s the mind of service, of humility, and of selflessness. Jesus saw His life as something to be given up...blood to be poured out. He didn’t just talk about self-denial...He lived it. He illustrated it by everything He said and everything He did.

The climax of this great Hymn to Christ is how God honored His sacrificial obedience. That’s what verse 9 is about: “Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name.” I’m convinced that the Name God bestows on Him is the a culmination of all that is contained in Lord, God, Messiah, Yahweh...the Great I Am.

Verse 10 continues, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

You see, this Hymn to Christ tells us how God viewed the life and ministry of His Son, Jesus. God considered it worthy enough to give Him His own name that is above every name. To point to Jesus as the object of universal worship. That the glory would go to the Father through Jesus Christ His Son. Which leads us to consider...

IV. What Does That Mean for Me and For You

But we can’t stop there can we? We also have to consider in light of His example, what is my mind...my attitude? What is your mind? What is the mind and attitude of the Christian? It is an objective question and a very worthy question to ask what is the Mind of Christ. But the follow-up question is, “Is that the same attitude and mind that I have?”

That’s why in verse 14-18 Paul writes, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among who you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”

Then he illustrates his point with specific examples. Mark Twain once wrote, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” In addition to the supreme example of Jesus Christ, Paul also provides us with three others of the Christ Mind. I don’t find these annoying Mr. Twain, I find them inspirational.

A. Paul, himself (2:17, 18) Obviously Paul has the “Mind of Christ”. He reveals that in his persistent attitude of care for all the churches he has served. Paul was “all in” for the Kingdom of God, even to the point of his own suffering for the cause of Christ. He shares more of his servant attitude in (3:7-11). In another place he writes, “Be imitators of me even as I imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1). I can hear someone say, “I can’t follow such great examples as Jesus and Paul!” Okay, then here’s a couple of other fellows, men just like you for you to emulate.

B. He points to his “son in the faith”, Timothy. 2:19-23. Timothy has proven himself to have the “Mind of Christ.” Like Paul, Timothy demonstrates a servant attitude. Timothy grew to be the kind of servant that Paul could trust and God could bless.

C. Then Paul points to Epaphroditus (2:25-30). The Philippian Christians knew Epaphroditus personally. As far as we know he was a full Gentile. He was sort of a liaison between Paul and the church and has served well...even amidst trying circumstances. Paul referred to him as “my brother”, “my companion in labor” and, “my fellow soldier”.

Paul seems to be saying, “You can see the mind of Christ as a servant mind by looking to the life of Jesus. I have committed myself to follow His example. Timothy and Epaphroditus are also committed to that same life-style.

Conclusion: So, what about you? What about me? Do we exhibit a servant heart in our walk with Christ? That’s our challenge. That’s what will bring health to our relationship with Him, both personally and corporately as the church. It will also bring health to the relationships we have within the church. Do you have the mind of Christ? That is not just an option for the Christian...it is essential for our walk with Christ.

My prayer for you today is “Let God’s Spirit produce the mind of Christ in you.” My prayer for myself today is, “May God’s Spirit produce the mind of Christ in me.”

Let us pray: Together we have spent precious time on a precious passage of Scripture. Father, our prayer is that You help each of us develop the Mind of Christ in ourselves. Help us be so close to You that our will becomes swallowed up into Yours. Please be patient with us in that process. Our desire is that You be glorified in who we are; what we think; what we do and what we say! Through Jesus Your Son we pray.

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