HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST.
By Walter E. Gillis
IN the primeval days of earth, when man first presumed to question his Creator's wisdom, and partook of the forbidden fruit, the direct circuit of life was broken. Man's only hope then lay in the mercy of God his Creator. In this he was not disappointed. But little he knew the throes of anguish his salvation would cause. The severed current of life could only be reunited through the tomb of the Son of God. Since that day of disgrace man's natural mind has been reprobate and at enmity with God. Every thought of the carnal mind has been of carnal things and the exaltation of self, until God has declared of him that, in his unregenerate condition, 'it is impossible to please Him.' Rom. 8:8. But a way of escape was found. The life of God was in His Son, and love for man induced Him to 'bring life and immortality' to light by being born of a woman, and, by a life of humility and a death of shame, to re-establish the life-current for man. 'Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' For in His life He ever lived above the carnal mind, giving voice to the most generous and unselfish precepts, and at last forever settling the dispute by slaying the enmity upon the cross. Eph. 2:13-16. The Christ-man had come to demonstrate the possibility of living the life of the Spirit in habiliments of flesh. For thirty years the mind of the flesh battled with the mind of the Spirit. Eternal vigilance and unfaltering faith made possible complete victory over foes within; and the foes without yielded the victor's palm to the dying Christ on Calvary's cross. No more is it possible to say that God requires more than man can give. For 'God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself;' and now the invitation is freely given to all mankind, 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.' This mind which was in 'the Man Christ Jesus' delighted to do the will of God. And so it was written of Him, 'Lo, I come. . . . I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.' The love which wrought out a way of escape for man withheld no gift, but freely gave the best. As if in fear that some gift might escape, the Lord said, 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.' Phil. 2:5. And then to close up every avenue of loss, He declares, 'If any man have not the Spirit [or mind] of Christ, he is none of His.' Rom. 8:9. Therefore, 'LET this mind be in you.' And then shall we 'with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.'