1Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. 4They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. 5They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.
7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer. 8And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. 13But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. 16But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God? 18“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?” 19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.
The Mind of Christ
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking that Jesus had. This means how you feel about the whole idea of suffering. Do you believe that you are immune to suffering? To arm yourself means to PUT ON PROTECTION. And with what can you protect yourself? We can prepare for suffering by adopting an attitude that equips us to endure it. In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and tells all believers, "We have the mind of Christ." This means you participate in and share in the plan, purpose, and perspective of Jesus. It means seeing things from His perspective. That is way easier said than done. But Peter and Paul both tell us that it is possible to arm ourselves with the same mind, and to have the mind of Christ. Paul fleshes this out in the following passage.
13 We also speak these things, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. 14 Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind. (1 Cor 2:13-16 WEB)
Having the mind of Christ means we have an intimate understanding of God's plan for the world: to bring order rather than chaos, to bring redemption rather than condemnation, and to reconcile all of humanity to Him. It means understanding that God "seeks and saves the lost" (Luke 19:10). It means we have humility, compassion, and a love for one another that the world cannot understand.
To have the mind of Christ, one must first come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. After salvation, we come under the influence of the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, enlightens us, and empowers us with wisdom and the Mind of Christ. We have one discipline that we must follow: yielding ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and allowing Him to do transformative work in our lives. (Romans 12:1-2) That yielding is where we perform our part, making the hard choices to say "not my will but thine." The same mind that was in Christ Jesus is within every believer. Reader, ask God to help you to see things from His perspective. In doing so, you will have the Mind of Christ.