LIVING WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST: A Portion

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”  (Rom. 12:3)

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor. 2:14)

The Bible tells us that God knows every possible thing that there is to know about us. He knows our innermost thoughts, dreams, and desires. There is not a thought that can be hid from God.

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:2-3)

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psalm 139:4-6)

The Apostle Paul says in the New Testament that:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” (Acts 17:28)

According to the Apostle Paul, we are enveloped by the Spirit of God. To the same extent that God knows us; the Bible teaches there will come a day when we shall know Him in the same way.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1Cor. 13:12)

Until that time comes, we now “know in part.”

The word “know” in the Greek literally means “to be sure, to understand completely”.

The word “part” in the Greek means “a share, a portion”.

So here the Bible is telling us that although God totally and utterly knows us completely, at this present time He has chosen only to reveal to us a portion about Himself.

However, God wants us to know and understand completely that portion about Himself which He has chosen to reveal.

In our present earthly mind and body, we are unable to contain the complete understanding of the enormity of God. As long as we are in this body and until the time of our resurrection, our finite minds cannot fathom the immensity and totality of who God is.

“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12)

The Bible tells us in Isaiah that all of the oceans and seas would fit in the palm of God’s hand. What we perceive to be the expanse of endless stars and galaxies in the universe is the distance between God’s thumb and little finger.

He knows how much the mountains weigh and how many particles of dust there are.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1)

As the chorus declares,

“Our God is an awesome God.

He reigns from Heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love

Our God is an awesome God.”

Moses desired to see the immensity of God:

“And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” (Exodus 33:18)

Here the Hebrew word for “glory” literally means weight. Moses wanted to see how large or immense God is.

God would not allow Moses to see Him in all His glory, but placed Moses on a rock and covered him over with His hand. God removed His hand after He had passed, and Moses was only able to see a portion of God from behind as He passed by.

That rock was a symbol of Christ and God’s hand was a symbol of the Holy Ghost that covers and protects us.

God revealing a glimpse of His glory to Moses was a type and shadow of God revealing a portion of His glory to us through the Holy Spirit.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Cor. 2:9)

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1Cor. 2:10)

Although we are only able to behold a portion of God’s glory while we are in this earthly body of flesh, He has provided for us to be sure, to know absolutely, and to understand completely that portion which He has chosen to reveal.

This is done by having (or accessing) the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1Cor. 2:11)

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Cor. 2:16)

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Next- LIVING WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST: Attitude

All twelve books in the “How to Walk Christian Series” by Raymond Candy are available now in one collection of two volumes for $6.99 each at bn.com for the NOOK, amazon.com for the KINDLE, on iTunes at the iBookstore for the iPad and iPhone, and at Lulu.com for the PC and all e-reading devices