1Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified) says, "For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart."
We understand from this scripture that the wisdom of Christ is beyond anybody being able to instruct or teach Him anything. God's wisdom is beyond anything that man has to yield. Even with all out earthly wisdom combined, we are far from knowing the wisdom of God. We can't instruct Him or teach Him anything. But, the above scripture goes on to say, "God has (by the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit) given us Jesus' Own mind and wisdom." So, it's not that God has withheld His wisdom from us, but through Jesus has made it available to us.
Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amplified) says, "And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude." Verse 24 goes on, "And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's Image (God like) in true righteousness and holiness."
This indicates that we are the ones who, by faith, are to put the "mind of Christ" to work in our lives. God has already placed the mind of Christ and His wisdom in us by the Holy Spirit. We've been slow to understand the scripture because of a sin conscience that continues to dwell with the unrenewed or carnal mind of the old man.
Romans 8:5 (Amplified) says that, "For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the (Holy) Spirit."
So you see how even a born again man who is still carnally minded, has set his mind on the things of the flesh. The things of the flesh and it's desires don't always mean sinful things like we think of sin. A carnal mind is one that still tries to justify one's self by trying to interpret the Word of God through its own understanding and reasonings.
Those who are after the Spirit are walking in God's wisdom and have the mind of Christ. And, have the revelation to understand the mysteries of God by faith in His Word. We've seen what carnal thinking (the natural mind) has done to a spiritual Word. Because of an unrenewed mind, we have done away with the wisdom of God found in the scriptures. We've done away with the gifts of the Spirit like the new language (or tongues) of the born again spirit because of carnal thinking. We're still sin conscious and continue to declare ourselves unrighteous even after the cross. We say that God no longer speaks to His children, healing ad miracles have ceased and no one can know for certain if they're going to heaven when they die.
These things are the results of a mind that has never been renewed by the truth of God's Word. Man's idea of God's revelation comes without ever consulting the wisdom or mind of Christ that's been deposited within us by the Holy Spirit at our new birth. We were more religious minded than righteous minded. Even as born again people, we were still controlled by the mind of the flesh.
Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) sets a standard and way to judge whether we are spiritually or carnally minded. Verse1 says, "Therefore (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." Verse 2 goes on, "For the Law of the Spirit of life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the law of our new being) has freed me from the law of sin and of death."
According to the first verse, those who walk after the Spirit (the mind of Christ) no longer have any sense of condemnation or guilt of wrong doing. Those who walk after the dictates of the flesh (even if they're born again), still walk under guilt and bondage and consider themselves sinners and unrighteous.
Only a renewed mind (one that has the mind of Christ) can, by faith in the finished work of Jesus, walk in the wisdom of this portion of God's grace. The unrenewed mind reads what Paul wrote concerning the potter and the clay and determines God makes people just to damn them. Paul was really talking about the potter taking Gentiles and making them righteous outside the Law. Paul wrote, "Can the clay (those under Law) say to the potter (the God of Grace) you can't do that?"
God took us (those who were without God) and without covenant, put us on His potter's wheel and made us into vessels of honor in the Master's house. The carnal mind only sees death and wrath, but the mind of Christ sees grace and honor. He has made us all in Adam and He's made salvation available to all in the last Adam (Jesus). Even though God (the Master Potter) has made all of us, some of us will eventually end up as vessels of honor and dishonor.
The Potter has fashioned the vessels (us), but we determine by our faith in Jesus, what's being poured from the vessel. Will we be vessels of honor in the Master's house or will we remain filled with self? Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified) says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
As we renew our minds by the Word, we allow the mind of Christ to manifest itself in us. We will see things and think like He thinks from heaven's viewpoint rather than the earth bound viewpoint of the carnal mindset.
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