Submission of the Mind to Jesus Christ in Christian Living
The submission of the mind to Jesus Christ in Christian living involves a conscious alignment of one's thoughts, will, and actions with Christ's example and teachings. This concept is rooted in biblical calls for believers to adopt the mindset of Christ and to live in obedience to God's law through Him [1, 2].
A foundational passage for this idea is Philippians 2:5, which states, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" [2]. This verse encourages believers to cultivate the same humility and self-denial that Christ demonstrated [6]. Christ's humility was evident in his willingness to take on human nature, his humble birth, his subjection to his parents, his poverty, and his submission to ordinances like baptism [4]. John Gill interprets Philippians 2:5 as an exhortation to lowliness of mind, urging saints to imitate Christ's temper and disposition [6].
The submission of the mind is not merely an intellectual exercise but encompasses the entirety of one's being. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 7:25, "So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law" [1]. This highlights an internal struggle where the renewed mind desires to serve God's law, even as the flesh contends with sin. This internal commitment to God's law through Christ is a hallmark of Christian living.
This submission is closely linked to self-denial, which is presented as a test of devotion to Christ and necessary for following Him [3]. Christ himself set an example of self-denial, as seen in his resistance to temptation and his declaration, "I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me" [3]. Self-denial involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, abstaining from fleshly desires, and mortifying sinful lusts [3].
The act of being "baptized into Christ" signifies a public declaration of having received Christ and having "put on Christ," which means receiving his Spirit, entering into his interests, and copying his manners [7]. This spiritual union with Christ means that believers' bodies become parts of Christ, and they are not free to violate this union [11]. To "abide in Christ" means to continue in a state of salvation, growing in grace, and walking as Christ walked, living a life of devotion and obedience to God and benevolence to others [8].
Receiving Christ involves believing in him, not just intellectually, but with the heart, embracing him in all his offices as prophet, priest, and king, and particularly as Savior and Redeemer [9]. This reception leads to a life lived "in law" in relation to Christ, even while engaging with those who are "without law" in a ceremonial sense [10]. The Christian life is characterized by resignation to God's will, as exemplified by Christ in Gethsemane, and a submission to God's sovereignty [5]. This includes resignation in the face of death, loss, chastisement, and bodily suffering [5].
Sources
- Romans “I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law. -- Romans 7:25”
- Philippians “Philippians 2:5 (KJV) — Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you,.... The Arabic version renders it, "let that humility be perceived in you". The apostle proposes Christ as the great pattern and exemplar of humility; and instances in his assumption of human nature, and in his subjection to all that meanness, and death itself, even the death of the cross in it; and which he mentions with this view, to engage the saints to lowliness of mind, in imitation of him; to show forth the same temper and disposition of mind in their practice, which also was in Christ Jesus; or as the Syriac version, "think ye the”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3:27: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ - All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received baptism as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ - have received his Spirit, and entered into his interests, and copied his manners. To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Ch”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:6: Abideth in him - He who not only professes to have known Christ, but also that he has communion with him, and abides in his favor, should prove the truth of his profession by walking as Christ walked; living a life of devotion and obedience to God, and of benevolence and beneficence to his neighbor. Thus Christ walked; and he has left us an example that we should follow his steps. To be in Christ, Jo1 2:5, is to be converted to the Christian faith, and to have received the remission of sins. To abide in Christ, Jo1 2:6, is to continue in that state of salvation, grow”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:6: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,.... Receiving Christ is believing in him: faith is the eye of the soul, that sees the beauty, glory, fulness, and suitableness of Christ; the foot that goes to him, and the hand that takes hold on him, and the arm that receives and embraces him; so that this is not a receiving him into the head by notion, but into the heart by faith; and not in part only, but in whole: faith receives a whole Christ, his person as God and man; him in all his offices, as prophet, priest, and King; particularly as a Saviour and Rede”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 9:21: To them . . . without law--that is, without revealed law: the heathen (compare Rom 2:12 with Co1 9:15). as without law--not urging on them the ceremonies and "works of the law," but "the hearing of faith" (Gal 3:2). Also discoursing in their own manner, as at Athens, with arguments from their own poets (Act 17:28). being not without law to God--"While thus conforming to others in matters indifferent, taking care not to be without law in relation to God, but responsible to law (literally, "IN LAW") in relation to Christ." This is the Christia”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”