Crucified
Harry Blamires writes in The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think?: “The Christian mind is the prerequisite of Christian thinking. And Christian thinking is the prerequisite of Christian action.” We must reconstruct the frame by which we understand daily events and change the criteria by which we evaluate them. The Apostle Paul tells us how in Galatians 5.24-25 (AMP throughout): “And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]” (My underline for emphasis.)
A. The Christian Mind
- Paul would write some eight years later, AD 56, that believers must “transform” our minds to think differently; “its new ideals and its new attitude” (Romans 12.2). What new “ideals” and “attitude” have “transformed” your mind? Do you judge the world by the Bible or the Bible by the secular world? In the different contexts of each day?
- This is possible because we are “a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come” (2 Corinthians 5.17)! What is “fresh and new” in your perspective of life? What verses are the sources of this? 1 John 2.15-17? Hebrews 11.6? James 5.16b?
- This is possible because “we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart” (1 Corinthians 2.16). This is the potential into which we grow (Ephesians 4.11-13). As Jesus said in His Lord’s Prayer: “That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us” (John 17.21). Paul clarifies: “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17.28). How do you know? Romans 8.16 & 1 Corinthians 2.11! These validate our close walk with the Holy Spirit.
- Therefore, remember Solomon’s imperative: “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4.23). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Hebrew Old Testament language defines ‘springs’ as the ‘issues, outgoings’ we think about and which are lived out in our lives.
- We must reconstruct the frame by which we understand daily events and change the criteria by which we evaluate them.
B. The Christian Mind Produces Christian Thinking.
- Paul adjures believers to “crucify the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires” (Galatians 5.24).
- He tells us how to crucify the flesh in 1 Corinthians 5.13 (“Drive out that wicked one from among you [expel him from your church”) and Colossians 3.8 (“But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips”) and Hebrews 12.1 [“let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us”]. If your friends express “encumbrances”, what should you do? Isaiah 33.14-16.
- Peter reminds, too, in 1 Peter 2.1: “BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.” Be like David: Psalm 19.14!
- Paul encourages, in Philippians 4.8: “whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” Psalm 8.3-4, 33.4-5; Proverbs 21.21; Micah 6.8; Jeremiah 9.24-25; 1 Peter 1.2-8!
C. The Christian Mind Produces Christian Thinking Expressed in Christian Action.
- Paul contrasts Galatians 5.19-21 with verses 22-23: “But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].” Nine fruits from one Seed! Seen in you! John 17.21.
- Romans 5.3-5: “Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” This is what Paul means in 2 Corinthians 2.14, 12.9-10, and Hebrews 5.14.
- Romans 12.1-2: “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” God described this in Isaiah 58.6-14.
- Jesus described this as one of our final test questions in Matthew 25.34-40. How will you measure?
Blamires: “The Christian mind is the prerequisite of Christian thinking. And Christian thinking is the prerequisite of Christian action.” Christian thinking uses the Bible as a lens through which to view the world, as we see in offices, schoolrooms, and homes and on the television and movie screens and in books, magazines, and periodicals. How must we train our children and grandchildren to do this, too? (Deuteronomy 6.7; Proverbs 22.6) When do we simply turn the power off? How must we train them to walk with the Holy Spirit toward the things of God and away from the deceptions of satan? This is our responsibility and opportunity! 1 Thessalonians 2.19-20!
Praise God!!! Copyright by Maurice L. Painter, 2016. www.sozoclass.com