For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
Surely, if we can speak about the mind of Christ, we would do well to discuss the mind of Satan too. I do not mean the one that exists within Satan, his own mind, but our mind when turned in a devilish way. The mind of Christ is what exists among us corporately when together we are the body of Christ and begin receiving his mind. This shared “way of mind” is attuned to that of Christ himself, and is so very different from a Satan-influenced mind.
So, what would be characteristic of our human mind when distorted? It would always deceive us, for Satan is a liar from the beginning and the father of lies (John 8:44). Such a mindset would always be suspicious of God’s goodness, constantly suggesting that God’s supposed good is a ruse and cover for God’s self-interest (Genesis 3:4-5). It would also be characterized by constant accusation, fault-finding, and negativity, regarding ourselves and others, for Satan is the accuser (Revelation 12:10). This mind cannot not be at peace, but is always agitated and discontented. Fear, timidity, and self-centeredness are the marks of a mind that is set on the flesh rather than the Spirit (Romans 8:6).
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. Colossians 1:13
The spiritual journey for us all is the journey from the mind of Satan to that of Christ. We are born into a world under the sway of evil spiritual forces (1 John 5:19), and consequently the first mind we develop will reflect the darkness into which we come. Godly parents and community may mitigate that some, so that we we are also witnesses to the Light in our early life, but we all need a renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). We are children of darkness first.
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11
The Spirit of God brings us to the mind of God which is in Christ. Though this is the work of grace in the Spirit, we must also participate in the renewing of our patterns of thought. Paul’s instruction to think on virtuous and godly things (Philippians 4:8) is obviously a practice which helps to renew our minds and exorcise the negative, evil, accusatory, doubting, distrusting, and malicious mind of Satan. We must not only know the mind of Christ as revealed to us by the Spirit, conscious of the good and gracious way to which our thoughts ought to be turned, but we must know and identify the mind of Satan so that we may recognize when its patterns are taking over our thoughts.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. Galatians 5:19-21
Notice how what Paul calls the “works” or “deeds” of the flesh are also clearly thoughts, ideas, and patterns within the mind. Idolatry is not only the act of bowing to something other than God, but the prior disposition of the mind to give homage to the created rather than the Creator. Even though Paul here describes outward actions, these are the expressions of some source within the mind. Sinful actions do not erupt out of nothing. On the contrary, our behaviors are coming from the fertile field of our inner thoughts. The mind is not sterile nor impotent, but very capable of driving either good or evil behaviors depending on what it entertains and embraces, in terms of patterns of thought, beliefs, or subjects.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
What is raised up against the knowledge of God, and the mind of Christ, is the mind of Satan. As Paul admonishes, all this must be destroyed. Every thought must be harnessed and made to conform to Christ’s own obedience. When our thinking is anchored to Christ’s example of faith, obedience being the practice of faith, then we will, with the Spirit’s work and guidance, grow more of the mind of Christ.
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