|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOVE THE LORD
WITH YOUR MIND Mk 12:30, 2/22/15 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. USAGES FROM SCRIPTURE (NASB) A. The mind can have
something or someone in mind, have something put in the mind, have something
come to mind, call something to mind, keep something in mind, set the mind on
something, do all in one’s mind, tell all that is on one’s mind or it can be
told “never mind.” It can also be described as the spirit of the mind. B. Obviously, the mind has thoughts. It can
also invent, be intelligent, be wise, be prudent, and be sound. It can
desire, plan, prepare, apply, guide, be stirred up, be renewed, be steadfast,
be directed, be changed, and be fully convinced, C. It can also err, be led astray, blinded,
crooked, depraved, defiled, fleshly, double, hardened, unfruitful, hostile.
It can utter perverse things and devise violence. D. Something can be recalled in one’s mind or
never enter one’s mind. Someone can be out of his mind or he can be clothed
in his right mind. The mind can be haughty or humble, perplexed or
understand, reel in horror or be kept in perfect peace. E. It is the location where God placed revelatory
dreams and visions. It can serve the law of God, be set on the Spirit as
opposed to the flesh, have the mind of Christ, and it can love God entirely. II. THE MEANING OF THE MIND A. The general word for “mind” in the NT is nous and
denotes the faculty of thinking and moral consciousness. It encompasses the
other synonyms for mind: dianoia (knowing, understanding), phroneō (judgments, opinions), noēma (thought, design, device), and ennoia (idea, notion, intent). 1. The Greek word for
“mind” used in Mk 12:30 (and Mt 22:37; Lk 10:27) is dianoia (from
noeō - to perceive or think) and can
specifically refer to (1) as the seat
of perception and understanding of the mind (Ep 4:18), (2) the inner
disposition and attitudes of the mind (Lk 1:51), and (3) the function of the
intellect resulting in insight and comprehension (1Jn 5:20). 2. In Mk 12:30 the idea would be to love God
with all our thinking, perceptions, attitudes, insights, and understanding
(cf. Mk 12:33, “understanding” - sunesis - bring together, comprehend). B. Like
conscience, mind is more specifically a New Testament concept. In the Old Testament heart is usually the word behind the translation
mind. Mind includes both the faculties of perceiving and understanding as well
as those of feeling, judging, and determining. (Ryrie, Basic Theology) III. THE MIND OF THE LORD A. The Lord Possesses a Mind 1. God possesses the eternal infinite mind
of an eternal infinite Being (Ro 11:34; 1Co 2:16). His mind is infinite in
knowledge, understanding, and truth and knows all things in actuality and
potentiality (Ro 11:33; Job 21:22; Ps 147:5). 2. God is described as omniscient and He
knows all things concerning the past, present, and future for both
individuals and events (Pr 15:3; Mt
10:29-30; Job 28:24). 3. God knows every true proposition in every area of knowledge. He also knows and
rejects every false proposition. Therefore, God knows all truth and reality. B. The Lord Searches the Mind 1. Since God is omniscient and omnipresent,
He knows, searches, and tries the minds of all men (Ps 7:9). 2. Since God is righteous, man is
accountable to God not only for his deeds but also his thoughts (Jer 17:10;
20:12; Re 2:23). 3. The response of the believer is to be
transparent before God so that He can reveal our sinful thoughts and renew
our minds (Ps 26:2; Ps 139:23). IV. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR
MIND A. To Love the Lord We must have a New Mind 1. The
unsaved man’s mind is depraved (Ro 1:28; 1Ti 6:5; 2Ti 3:8), futile (Ep 4:17),
defiled (Tit 1:15), blinded (2Co 4:4), hostile (Col 1:21), darkened (Ep 4:18,
dianoia), and does not understand (Ro 3:11, sunesis). 2. When a sinner places his faith in Christ,
his mind is made alive to God and opened to spiritual things (Lk 24:45; 2Co
5:17). The believer’s mind will continue to occupy a central place in his
spiritual development. B. To Love the Lord We must Keep Renewing
our Minds (Ro 12:1-2) 1. Though the believer has a new spiritual
mind, he is still susceptible to the influences of the world (cf. 1Jn 2:16,
temptations as well as world-view) (Ro 12:1-2). Therefore, Paul commands the
believer to “not be conformed” (or “stop being conformed”) to the world. 2. Instead, the believer is commanded to “be
transformed” (metamorphoō) by the
renewing of the mind. The mind is a key element in this spiritual renewal (anakainōsis - new in quality or nature). 3. The mind is predominantly renewed through
the Holy Spirit by meditation on Scripture (Ps 1:2-3; Josh 1:8; Col 3:16; Mt
4:4). 4. This cooperation with the Spirit’s
sanctification is “setting our our mind on the Spirit (Ro 8:5-7) and is the
basis for true worship (Jn 4:23-24 cf. Col 2:18) and true change (Ps 37:31;
Ps 119:9, 11). C. To Love the Lord We must Make the Mind of
Christ our Goal (Col 3:1-2) 1. A believer’s mind is being renewed not
only according to Scripture, but ultimately to the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16).
The mind of Christ is the spiritual mind of the believer through the
indwelling Holy Spirit. The believer’s mind is able to combine spiritual
thoughts (1Co 2:13) and make spiritual examination of all things (1Co
2:14-15). This includes spiritual understanding of the blessings in Christ
(1Co 2:9-12 cf. Ep 1:3). 2. Since believers have the mind of Christ,
they must set their minds on the things above where Christ is seated at the
right hand of God (Col 3:1-2). Inevitably, the believer’s thoughts are
focused on the character of Christ, doctrine of Christ, and the program of
Christ (present (Col 3:5-10) and future (Col 3:3-4). D. To Love the Lord We must Discern Truth
with our Minds 1. The believer must understand that there
is a battle for the mind. He must not only know Christ’s truth (Jn 14:6; Jn
17:17), but be able to detect and oppose falsehoods (2Co 11:3; 1Ti 6:5; 2Ti
3:8). 2. The believer must learn that there are no
contradictions in God, His truth, and His Word (Ps 31:5; Ps 117:2; Nu 23:19;
Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18; Ps 119:142, 160). 3. The believer must comprehend and explain
truths from his Christian world-view and must be be able detect and explain
errors in false world-views (1Pe 3:15). 4. When the
believer is able to articulate the distinction between a Christian world-view
and other world-views, he is able to influence his culture rather than
culture influencing him. Paul stated that Christians were to destroy
“speculations” (logismos - reasoning,
thought) against the knowledge of God (2Co 10:4-5) and bring every
“thought” (noēma - scheme of
thinking) to the obedience of Christ. 5. It is in this way that the believer is
able to “prepare his mind for action” (1Pe 1:13), understand and prove the
will of God (Ep 5:17; Ro 12:2), serve God with a willing mind (1Ch 28:9), and
love Him with all his mind (Mk 12:30). |
|
|
|
|
Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
