Having The Mind Of Christ

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Philippians 2:3-5
Psalters: 394, 68, 381, 186
Confession of Faith
  1. The calling.
    1. What fits with the gospel of Christ is a standing fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith (1:27).
      1. Implied is a unity in the gospel of Christ, with those one in Christ.
      2. The fundamental attitude is the same love (for God in Christ and hence for fellow-members) aiming at unity.
    2. To be ?likeminded? (2) we must be lowly in mind, i.e., humble.
      1. The enemy of unity is a constant thinking of self.
      2. Lowliness of mind is that spiritual virtue of grace, according to which we have a proper evaluation of ourselves, with respect to the talents and labors God has given to us in the midst of Christ?s church.
    3. This lowliness occurs when all the members esteem others better than themselves (Rom. 12:10).
    4. Further, we are to consider whatever gifts we have are for the sake of serving, being helpful (Rom. 12:6ff).
  2. To show the source of the strengthen needed to fulfill this calling, Paul points to the example of Christ.
    1. Jesus? example is that He constantly set His mind on His Father and on us (not on Himself).
      1. We are called to be constantly setting our minds on what characterized Jesus? mind.
      2. Other passages which present Him as our Example: Mt. 11:29; Jn. 13:12-17; 13:34; 21:19; I Cor. 11:1; I Th. 1:6.
    2. Jesus emptied Himself and made Himself to be of no reputation.
  3. Let this mind (as exemplified by Christ) be in you.
    1. Every elect believer has the mind of Christ given to them in regeneration.
    2. This mind, which is in you, means that you deny yourself, never looking out for own interests in this body.