Being of the Same Mind

2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind

We saw that there are four parts to Paul’s exhortation to unity in verse two:

1- be of the same mind

2- maintain the same love

3- be united in spirit

4- be intent on one purpose

Let’s think today about what it means to be of the same mind.

The first thing to say is that there is a Christian mindset, a Christian way of thinking about and looking at things, a Christian attitude toward life. It started with Jesus Himself (see 2:5 where we are urged to "have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" - the word translated "attitude" is the same Greek word as "mind" in our verse), it was passed on to the apostles, and it is supposed to be the mindset of every Christian person down through the ages. This is what Paul means in 1Cor.2:16 when he refers to "the mind of Christ."

God wants believers in Christ to be united by more than love. He wants us to be united also by the way that we think, by the common perspective we have. Just as there is one body and one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Eph. 4:4-6), that unite us together in the body of Christ, so there is to be one mindset, one attitude, one judgment, one way of viewing and interpreting reality.

Listen to the words Paul uses in 1Cor.1:10 to rebuke the divisiveness of the Corinthian Christians, "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment."

What is this mindset like? How is it different from our natural way of thinking? These are questions that we will answer soon when we get to Phil. 2:5ff.

How sad it is, O Lord, to see all the divisions and schisms in Your church. If it grieved Paul, how much more must it grieve You! I know, Lord, that it is a result of sinful human thinking, thinking that is man-centered instead of Christ-centered. Forgive me for my sinful thinking, thinking that is earthly and not heavenly. Please, Lord, move in me by the power of the Holy Spirit and give me the mind of Christ, that I might no longer think according to the flesh. And I pray this not only for myself, but for all of Your people, that Your church might come to a profound sense of agreement through the revival of hearts and the transformation of minds.