Young People's Group

Thinking the Way Jesus Thought (I)

by Mitchell Tan
September 26, 2018

THINKING CONTRARY TO CHRIST

The tendency for false teachers today is to do things according to their own ways. Their approach is very much focused on themselves and not Christ. In Paul’s epistle to the Philippians, he raised up the problem of people thinking things contrary to Christ. They preached Christ out of envy and strife. Their thinking was very self-centred.

“The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains”
Philippians 1:16

The word “supposing” is the Greek word “oiomai”. It means “to think in a certain way”. These enemies of the gospel preached Christ with selfish intentions in mind. They had wickedly “thought” of adding further “pain” to what Paul was suffering in prison. This was truly a warped way of thinking.

THINKING IN SYNC WITH CHRIST

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus …”
Philippians 2:5

The phrase “Let this mind be” in Greek is actually a verb. It has the idea of “thinking”. The emphasis is on thinking in the way the Lord Jesus thought. Paul had challenged the Philippians to be like-minded (Philippians 2:2). They were to have the same disposition and approach in heart, mind and ministry. They were to focus on the same things. The challenge was for them to be thinking in the same way as the Lord Jesus did. There is an objective idea to the way we should think. Even as the Lord Jesus thought in a certain way, we too should follow Him by thinking in the same way.

ASPECTS TO THINKING THE WAY JESUS THOUGHT

“…Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of bondservant”
Philippians 2:6-7

1. HAVING ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF DEITY

The word “form” in Greek is the word “morphe”. It is a reference to the expression of who the Lord is. The Lord Jesus has all the rights and privileges of being God. He is in no way any lesser in essence to God. Paul also wrote of how He is the image of the invisible God, who created all things. He has absolute power over all things (Colossians 1:15).

2. EMPTYING ONESELF OF ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

The word “emptying” is the Greek word “kenoo”. It means to empty oneself. The Lord Jesus decided and chose not to avail Himself to all His rights and privileges of being God. The fact of the matter is that the Lord Jesus when He came to earth totally deprived himself of all His heavenly rights and privileges. This is indeed a most staggering idea.

3. HAVING THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SLAVE

The Lord Jesus took on the form of a slave. The word “form” is same Greek word as the first one. The word “bondservant” in Greek is the word “doulos”. It means “slave”. The Lord Jesus chose to become a bondservant to mankind. The Lord Jesus, even though He was deity, took on the form of a slave. The lowest social status that a man can have is being a slave. The Lord Jesus from the greatest in essence became the lowest in society. Such great humility! This is something we too should seek to emulate. Let’s seek to think the way Jesus thought. Let’s possess the mindset of a slave.

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