In
1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes
Isaiah 40:13 and then makes a statement concerning all
believers: “We have the mind of Christ.” Having the mind of Christ means sharing
the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ, and it is something that all
believers possess.
Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s plan in the world—to bring
glory to Himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide
salvation for sinners. It means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and
to save what was lost” (Luke
19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility
and obedience (Philippians
2:5-8), compassion (Matthew
9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke
5:16).
In the verses leading up to
1 Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the
mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses
5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed
(verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses
10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse
14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse
15).
In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ
(John
1:12;
1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life
under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer,
infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility
to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians
4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his
mind (Romans
12:1-2).