THEARTOFCHRIST — Issue 05: The Mind Set on the Spirit How Christ brings about life, and how He supplies it more abundantly. The world sells the mind as the master tool. Train it. Sharpen it. Understand your thoughts, your feelings, your reactions. Exercise it like a muscle and it will develop your character, build positive habits, and lead you to a fulfilling life. The promise is always the same: the mind properly handled can save you. The herald announces a reckoning. The mind is powerful. That is the problem. Anchor: The Set of the Mind For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6). Hear the sentence land. The mind is not neutral. It is set — set on something, aimed somewhere, belonging to something. Power is not the question. Direction is. A set instrument produces what it is set on. Apart from Christ, man is alienated from the life of God (Eph 4:18). His understanding is darkened (Eph 4:18). They walk in the futility of their mind (Eph 4:17). The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God (Rom 8:7, paraphrase). Hostility does not aim at God. It aims away. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:8, paraphrase). Watch what a powerful darkened mind does. It plans theft precisely. It rationalizes adultery smoothly. It builds weapons, propaganda, and idols with perfect logic. The mind is a muscle — and the muscle belongs to the set. A strong muscle aimed at death is not a tool for character. It is a weapon for the flesh. Cleverness is not closeness to God. The contrast that governs this workshop is not "strong mind versus weak mind." It is in Christ versus apart from Christ. Apart from Christ, the mind is darkened and futile — powerful toward death. In Christ, the mind is set on the Spirit — producing life and peace. God Renews the Mind In Christ, God does not wait for the mind to exercise itself into goodness. He gives a new set. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2). The renewing is God's work — He does it. Set your mind on the things above (Col 3:2). The old direction is put off, and the new man is put on, created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph 4:22-24, paraphrase). The renewed mind has a weapon: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5, paraphrase). The mind of Christ is not self-discovery. It is capture. Thoughts are taken — and brought to obedience. In Christ, man is given the very mind of Christ. We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him (1 Cor 2:14). But the man in whom Christ dwells has a mind that can hear. God gives hearing. God gives growth. Notice: watching your thoughts is not the renewing. Observing your feelings is not the renewing. The world says: understand your mind and you will master it. Scripture says: the mind observing itself sees only futility. The renewing comes from outside the mind — from the Spirit who sets it. The Mind Is Physical Every topic in this workshop relates to physical life, and the mind is no exception. Where the mind is set, the body follows. A mind set on the flesh produces a body given to the flesh — eyes wandering, hands taking, feet running to evil (Prov 6:18). A mind set on the Spirit produces a body at peace. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace (Isa 26:3, paraphrase). Peace is not only inward. It is a body unclenched. It is sleep that comes. It is a face without the war. Watch the body under the world's program. The trained mind, aimed at success, drives the body without rest. Anxiety eats the stomach. Ambition steals sleep. The mind that never stops commanding wears out the flesh it commands. But the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6) — and peace goes down into the body. Christ came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). The abundant life reaches the mind — and through the mind, the body. The mind is the body's pilot. Scripture does not train the pilot to fly harder. It gives him a new heading. Set the Mind The world's program says: train your mind and it will serve you. Scripture says: the mind set on the flesh is death (Rom 8:6). Do not be conformed to this world (Rom 12:2, paraphrase). So stop asking the darkened mind to heal itself. Present yourself to God instead. Set your mind on the things above, where Christ is (Col 3:1-2, paraphrase). Take every thought captive (2 Cor 10:5, paraphrase). When the speculation rises, bring it to Christ. When the feeling demands obedience, answer with Scripture. The renewed mind does not follow its thoughts. It judges them. Warning and Invitation Apart from Christ, the mind is the finest weapon the flesh owns: sharp, tireless, and aimed at death. Whoever does not believe stands condemned already (John 3:18). No amount of mental training moves a man from death to life. Yet in Christ, God gives the mind life and peace. Repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28). He who believes HAS eternal life (John 6:47). Come, and your mind will be set on the Spirit — and life and peace will follow. This Week Read Romans 8, Romans 12, and Colossians 3. Watch where the mind is set — on the flesh or on the Spirit. When a speculation rises against the knowledge of God, take it captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5, paraphrase). Thank God that He renews the mind. Then walk in the direction it is set. This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:11).