23. Discernment, Judgment, and the Mind of Christ. 1 Co 2:15–16

Let's summarize the passage into four points:

· A spiritual person can discern, scrutinize, and evaluate all things.

· A spiritual person cannot be rightfully scrutinized or fully understood by anyone else.

· The mind of the Lord is beyond the complete knowledge and comprehension of any human being.

· Believers have been bestowed with the mind of Christ.

A spiritual person can judge all things.

In this passage, the apostle Paul affirms that a spiritual person can judge everything. However, it is crucial to clarify that this does not imply a license for the personal judgment of others in the sense of where their eternal destiny will be. Nor can we make judgments on people’s hearts or intentions.

Paul is not suggesting that individuals who claim to be spiritual can freely criticize and condemn others without consequence. Unfortunately, there have been instances where some individuals within the church have misinterpreted this passage and used it as a justification for their own judgmental behaviour. Such a misunderstanding is completely unfounded.

In this passage, Paul means that spiritual believers, those guided by the Holy Spirit and who possess deep spiritual understanding and insight, can evaluate and discern the things of God. They have a keen discernment for truth and righteousness. But what is the basis for their evaluation and discernment?

The answer to that question can be found in the preceding verses. Paul discusses God's wisdom and the Holy Spirit's indispensable role in guiding believers. Spiritual believers are equipped to evaluate and discern God's things because they recognize God's surpassing wisdom, even if it appears foolish. They rely on the revelation and guidance of the Holy Spirit in understanding spiritual truths. Moreover, they have access to the mind of Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

No one can rightly judge a spiritual person.

When Paul states that no one can rightly judge a spiritual person, he conveys that the true judgment or evaluation of a person's actions and motivations ultimately rests with God alone. It does not mean that spiritual individuals are exempt from all forms of accountability or criticism, but rather emphasizes that human judgment alone cannot fully comprehend or accurately assess the inner workings of a spiritual person's heart, mind, and alignment with God's wisdom.

Paul highlights the unique relationship between a spiritual person and God. Spiritual individuals, guided by the Holy Spirit and possessing a deep understanding of spiritual matters, have their actions and motivations aligned with God's will. Their discernment and decisions are based on the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Since God knows the depths of their hearts and the fullness of their intentions, human judgment is limited in its capacity to evaluate their spiritual state rightly.

While this may come as a shock to the reader (or listener) and those one may even be offended at the following statement, nevertheless, it is true. Ready for it? We are not the best judge of our own spirituality. Consider the following text:

Paul acknowledges that even he does not have full knowledge or understanding of his own spiritual condition. He says, “My conscience is clean, but that does not mean I am not guilty or that I am not doing anything wrong; God will be the ultimate judge.” So, Paul recognizes that ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord, not human beings. We would all walk a little lighter; if we truly understood the point made here by Paul.

So here, friends, the question put to us. Do we promote ourselves as spiritual giants in our desperate times? Or do we see ourselves as spiritually legendary in our own minds? Perhaps, we should consider agreeing to find agreement with the following text:

let anyone who thinks that he stands to take heed lest he falls - 1 Corinthians 10:12

For those following our series, you will remember our study of Colossians 2:16. There the Apostle says:

Paul advises believers not to let others pass judgment on matters that pertain to their spiritual practices. This suggests that the judgment of others may be insufficient or misguided when it comes to understanding the nuances of a person's spiritual life.

No human can fully know or comprehend the mind of the Lord.

Regarding this point, Isaiah 55:8-9 powerfully expresses the distinction between God's thoughts and ways compared to those of human beings. The verse declares, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." It serves as a reminder of the vast disparity between the mind of God and our limited human understanding. It emphasizes that God's thoughts and ways are beyond our comprehension.

We must recognize that we are not God. His ways, thoughts, and actions surpass our understanding in every aspect, except for what He has chosen to reveal to us. This is why we have the concept of "revelation." God, in His grace, has chosen to make certain aspects of Himself known to us. The most comprehensive revelation of God to date can be found in the person of Jesus Christ and the historical reality of His resurrection. Through Jesus, we gain a deeper understanding of God's character and His redemptive plan for humanity.

We must humbly acknowledge our limitations as human beings and rely on God’s revelations, particularly through Jesus Christ and His resurrection. These serve as profound insights into the mind of God and His purposes for humanity.

Believers have been granted the mind of Christ.

Paul is expressing that those who are spiritual, guided by the Holy Spirit, have access to the mind of Christ. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers receive divine wisdom and insight, enabling them to think and discern as Christ would. This does not mean that believers possess the exact knowledge and understanding of all things as Christ does, but rather they have the capacity to think and perceive in alignment with His character and teachings. Paul discusses the renewal of the mind in Romans 12:2, where he encourages believers to be transformed by renewing their minds, which leads to a deeper understanding of God's will. This transformation occurs through the work of the Holy Spirit within believers, shaping their thoughts and aligning them with the mind of Christ.

Believers are indeed granted the mind of Christ through the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to think, discern, and understand through the wisdom and perspective of Christ. The real question before us today is not whether we have it but whether we want it.

What is that mind of Christ ?

• Humility: Paul emphasizes the importance of humility, pointing to Christ as the ultimate example. In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul encourages believers to have the same mindset as Christ, who humbled Himself, taking on the form of a servant and obediently submitting to the will of God.

• Selflessness and Love: Paul highlights the selfless love demonstrated by Christ. In Galatians 2:20, he speaks of Christ's sacrificial love, stating, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

• Compassion and Mercy: Paul emphasizes Christ's compassion and mercy towards others. In Ephesians 4:32, he encourages believers to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving, just as Christ forgave them.

• Obedience to God: Christ's obedience to the will of the Father is a central theme in Paul's writings. In Philippians 2:8, Paul highlights Christ's obedience, even to the point of death on the cross.

• Servanthood: Paul teaches believers to adopt a servant's heart, following Christ's example. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, he speaks of Christ's voluntary poverty and, stating, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor so that you, through his poverty, might become rich."

The mind and attitude of Christ encompass humility, selflessness, love, compassion, mercy, obedience to God, and a servant's heart. Today, let us reflect on these qualities and rely on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to conform us into the likeness of Christ.