The Root of the Mind: A Life Yielded to Glory

The Root of the Mind: A Life Yielded to Glory

The mind of Christ is a distinct spiritual disposition characterised by a total absence of selfish ambition and an instinctive drive toward the well-being of others. It is a state of being where one is perfectly joined together in the same judgment, possessing a love that does not fluctuate based on personal preference (1Cor.1:10; Php.2:2). This mindset is defined by a lowliness that naturally esteems others as better than oneself and looks outward at the needs of the body rather than inward at personal desires (Php.2:3-4). However, it is vital to recognise that this is not our mind; it does not originate within the human heart, nor is it an extension of our natural temperament.

The mind of Christ is entirely foreign to our corrupt nature. It is not a collection of our best thoughts or a refined version of our own desires; it is the very life and thinking of Christ Jesus Himself. We do not produce these thoughts by trying to think more "spiritually" or by exerting our self-will. Instead, these thoughts enter our mind as we read and study the scriptures, internalising the doctrine of grace. As we spend time in the Word, His thoughts begin to fill the spaces where our own used to dwell, renewing our thinking from the inside out (Rom.12:2). The more we occupy ourselves with His truth, the more His perspective becomes the lens through which we view the world.

God's Forbearance and Righteousness revealed in Christ

God's Forbearance and Righteousness revealed in Christ

Rom.3:24-26  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  (25)  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  (26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Imagine I told people that the only way to be justified with God was to jump across the ocean to another country; obviously, that would be impossible. Without God's grace, this would serve as a good illustration of how unattainable it is for us humans to be justified before God. However, what does the human heart do? What about sinners who believe they can earn their salvation through their efforts? In their ignorance, they attempt this challenge regardless—one person jumps two feet and falls far short, while another jumps twenty feet and, instead of acknowledging how far he still is from the other side of the ocean, turns around and says, "Look how much better I am than that guy."

The point of the matter is, the man that jumps the furthest is in the deepest water. It's the people in this world who compare themselves with drug addicts and serial killers and pedophiles that are in the most trouble because they're comparing themselves to everybody around them and refusing to acknowledge how far short of the glory of God they've fallen. They think they are in a different category because they are not as bad as those people. They seem to ignore the fact that in the sight of God, they are as guilty and vile as addicts, murderers and pedophiles. What does John say, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1Jn.1:8. People who think they are more righteous than the person next to them are deceived and lie to themselves. The scriptures say that all have sinned, and all have come short of the glory of God. 

Clearing up misunderstandings concerning, repentance vs. confession of sins, and remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God

Clearing up misunderstandings concerning, repentance vs. confession of sins, and remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God

STATEMENT:

You say, “we do not practice confession of sins because our salvation and fellowship with God are not dependent of OUR performance”, and further in the post you also say, “How many times can we be forgiven of "all unrighteousness?" Only once. In Christ, now and forever, we are forgiven of all sins ----past, present, and future!” 

So, answer me these. 

1- If Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, why did he write, “…and then to the Gentiles, that they should REPENT and turn to God, and DO WORKS meet for repentance”, Acts 26:20. You should know that repent is also known as ‘confession of sins’. 

2- Future sins? “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God” Rom 3:25

RESPONSE: