Communion With the Christ:: The Same Mind

“Let the same mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus” Philippians: 2:5

St. Paul in writing his epistle to the Christian Church at Philippi Greece and giving the congregation needed instruction regarding the Christian life incorporates into the body of the epistle lines from one of the ancient Apostolic Church’s Creedal Hymns which were sung in the Church during the first century.

St. Paul reminds the Philippians of their shared connection with one another and himself all through their Lord Jesus , who is the true source of all good which they were experiencing and every blessing which they have been given and the true basis for all human relationships.

“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love,” Philp:2:1-2a

The Apostle then speaks about the preservation of this relationship among them, and with all Christians.

“being one in spirit and of one mind” (2b)

Having this “being one in spirit and of one mind” is the way that unity and all human relationships are preserved and even made better. This “being one in spirit and of one mind” goes far beyond the acceptance of a particular set of doctrines, theology, tradition or anything else. It is a union and sharing in the person of Jesus, not just the fact that he had assumed our humanity, but because he became fully human with a whole human “person-hood” just as we do, yet, Jesus still is fully God without any diminishing to his deity.

Mind of Christ

Jesus then showed us what the life of deity looks like and how it would be lived out in the natural world in which we live. The life which Jesus demonstrated and lived out in our natural world however is the same life which is lived out in eternity within the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

St. Paul is reminding Christians that Jesus has not just accomplished our salvation unto eternal life, he is also showing that Jesus has brought salvation into human relationships here and now not just in eternity.

Jesus showed us the mind of God lived out through a “human personhood” revealing God’s eternal intent and purpose for humanity. Jesus is showing us what God’s life looks like in everyday living. This is what St. Paul is writing to the Church throughout the ages, not just in Philippi.

Jesus’ “personhood” was, and is, the mind of God being expressed in a wider community of and in relationships and interactions with other persons. The mind of which St. Paul admonishes Christians to have is the very mind given expression in and by Jesus, which builds human relationships and makes these relationships fruitful and filled with joy.

St. Paul gives instruction on how these joy filled salvation relationships are fulfilled and lived out here and now. He begins with the individual person and each and all of our relationships and where they find their origins, within the human heart and mind.

The Motivation of the Heart

St. Paul address the very motivation of the heart that it should not be self-focused only for the self-good, but rather, looking to needs of others. Now, understand, there is a difference between self-preservation and the preservation of the self, one is necessity the other is vanity.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.” (3a)

This over coming of selfishness which often motivates the behavior of humanity, and from the fact that St. Paul is led by the Holy Spirit to mention it, shows, that, even among Christians there can be posturing and actions taken to establish an echelon of relationships wherein one dominates others for their own desires and purposes or advancement.

It is very unfortunate that as a pastor I have seen first hand and know of circumstance in which fellow believes in Jesus falsely accused others. Insulting other believers , gossiping and cause division within a Church and have lied to and about others. I know of Christians praying against other Christians asking God to shut down Churches and attempting to get people to leave a Church. One situation that I know of a person said that they would do anything to get people to leave a particular Church and see it shut down. This type of behavior is a far cry from the admonitions of Scripture. I have seen these things and even worst things.

St. Paul is led to present the proper approach which Christians should have with all whom we interact with.

“Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (3b)

The Apostles is saying that when we value ourselves more then others, then there can be problems which arise between and among us and bring disunity. The solution is to see others as having a higher value then ourselves. We should look out for others and even choose to sacrifice what we want for the good of those around us.

“not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”. (4)

St. Paul is not selective in this instruction, he states it as a blanket approach to all with whom we interact. There are no qualifiers, we are to deal in this way with all persons in and out of the Church. This was the way Jesus related with all.

Jesus acted always for the good of others, for all humanity. He was the one “person” who truly could claim a greater value above all others, yet, Jesus did not conduct himself in that manner. Jesus walked in humility and selflessness looking out for the interest of us all, even to the death and shame of the cross all to demonstrate that our God has acted for all of our good in and through Jesus.

Jesus sacrificed his whole life, his whole life, all his life, all his life, for the interest of us all. This way of living was manifested in all Jesus’ interaction, this way of living reflected the mind of God in action. The very mind which guided Jesus' life is the very mind which St. Paul admonishes Christians to live out in relationship with all others.

The Creedal Hymn

To bring clarity to his point and perspective, St. Paul quotes from one of the Apostolic Creedal Hymns which were sung in the early Church, it’s words speak of Jesus, who being fully God, willingly and in great humility and lowliness condensed to the low estate of humanity and divested himself of the glory of deity, yet without diminishing of his very deity, all so, that we might come to see the mind God and come to know our God and as a result believe that Jesus is the very Son of God.

This belief in Jesus as the Son of God would free humanity to relate to God and one another in a way of unity and love preserving all our relations with God and humanity. This where true unity is found.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!” (5-8)

After presenting the first stanza of the Hymn, which reveals the humility of Christ, St. Paul tells us through the inspired lyrics that this valuing of others higher than oneself led Jesus to the cross and to death. Why? because he valued humanity higher than he did his own self, the Apostle does this to emphasizes that we too should live this same way toward others.

The cross reflects how Jesus thinks of us all, and the high value which he assigns to each and all.

St. Paul then tell Christians in the second stanza of the Hymn what the end result of Jesus’ valuing others higher then self, that this humanity found in the very mind of Jesus ultimately led to the highest place of exultation of the name and person of Jesus by the Great God.

“Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.” (9-11)

The Apostle presenting the glorifying and exaltation of Jesus is showing all believers the end result of their living out of the mind of God, of having the mind of Jesus, seeing others of higher value and looking out for others best interest, the result is experiencing and sharing in the glory of Jesus, as beloved Children of God all through Jesus.

St. Paul is saying, so-to-speak, that when we have the mind of Christ and suffer momentary humiliation it ultimately will lead to great glory in eternity to come. This is a way for St. Paul to prevent posturing and negative ambition which breeds contention and disunity among believers; preserving harmony among brethren.

St. Paul is ,by inserting the Hymn, showing that Jesus is no mere “good example” that we follow , but rather, Jesus is the means to accomplish what God has purposed in him for us.

Work it Out

St. Paul reminds Christians that he is giving this admonished with authority as an Apostle of the Lord. He then, as if knowing, that there will be some who will either disregard his words or find them too great a thing for them to experience, address both issues before transitioning into other matters fond in his epistle of which this served as natural bridge. He starts with his admonishment to take serious what he has written and then gives them hope that God himself will render all needed assistance, reminding Christians that salvation is the work of God alone, of which, we provide nothing but our reception and acceptance of the salvation accomplished for us in and by Jesus, and even this acceptance is given to us by God, we on our own selves could not receive it.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—” (12a)

St.Paul then gives them and us the admonishment that they should “work out your salvation”, this at first glance, may seem to suggest that somehow salvation is in question, however, when read in proper context it is understood that what he is admonishing is for Christians to “live it out” or to “give it expression to the salvation” given to us already.

St. Paul is not speaking about earning of salvation given through works, but works because of salvation is given, “work it out”, live it out, give expression to the mind of Jesus in your life in “fear and trembling”, that is, true humility.

St. Paul then gives assurance that God himself will act within the believer and will bring each Christian’s life to a successful conclusion and accomplish his “good purpose”, that it is not left up to us.

“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (12b-13)

This all should give us great peace with God and others as we live out the life of our Lord Jesus as we read the Holy Word of God, as we worship with fellow believers, fellowship and pray, as we do the mind of Christ grows with us and fosters unity and the building up fellow believers whom we value above our selves.

Jesus had a mind which looked out for the interested of others and valued others higher than himself. This is mind that all Christians are called to share in.

“Let the same mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus” Philip 2:5

Benediction: May we each and all have the mind of Christ, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.