The Bible says a Christian has the mind of Christ. What does that mean?

1 Corinthians 2:16b says, “But we have the mind of Christ.” That’s a sweet verse to put on a t-shirt, but what does it mean? How can you have the mind of Christ?

It means you think like Christ, and you can know how Jesus thinks by reading what He said and, more importantly, what He did in the Bible.

Let’s look at a few of the red-letter words to help us get our minds right about the mind of Christ.

9 Essential Aspects of a Christ-like Mindset

1 – Work Like It Matters

Just like Jesus, our minds should be set on doing God’s will.

My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:34

Jesus was born for a purpose. God has a plan for our lives, too. The Apostle Paul was clear that God cares about the Kingdom work we do, and He’ll judge us for it.

He said in 1 Corinthians 3:12–15, “Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials — gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”

Jesus’ brother, the Apostle James, crystallized the thought even more.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:17

Having the mind of Christ means realizing God cares about how we spend our time.

2 – Live To Please God

Who do you live to please? Jesus said:

…for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30b

We should live to please God as Jesus did. This mindset got Jesus crucified, and Jesus said we’d be mistreated if we lived for him.

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15:20

But Jesus also said we’re blessed when people hate us because of Him. Our reward is great in Heaven. (Matthew 5:10–12). I struggle to get my mind around these words of Jesus. I don’t like to be disliked, but I want to live a Godly life, and Paul warned Timothy, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12.

Perhaps one of the most pointed things Jesus said was:

Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

The mind of Christ prioritizes pleasing God over avoiding persecution.

3 – Teach Truth and Beware of False Teachers

Jesus didn’t have his own agenda. He lived and taught as God directed Him.

Jesus answered, My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. John 7:16

Jesus goes on to say in verse 18, “Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” 

A person with the mind of Christ isn’t seeking fame and Facebook likes. Christ-minded people promote the glory of God.

Some of the most dangerous threats to the church arise from within – false teachers who distort the truth. Men who twist the Truth for personal gain while leading followers straight to Hell.

Jesus didn’t mince words about false teachers in Matthew 7:15, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” 

Two thousand years later, not much has changed. A person with the mind of Christ should be able to discern false teachings like Doppler radar detecting a storm.

4 – Love One Another

You don’t have to dive too deep into the mind of Christ to understand His words in John 13:34-35:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34–35

As Christ-followers, we’re to love one another. The world would be much better if all Christians, including me, put our best efforts towards this command.

Jesus followed up this statement a few minutes later with, “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15

The mind of Christ is about love.

5 – Take Comfort in the Holy Spirit

Jesus told us the world would hate and persecute us because of Him, and then He said not to worry about it. Say what?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

How do you wrap your mind around that?

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have a superpower the world doesn’t have — the Person of the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. Jesus told us about Him.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever — The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.  John 14:16–17 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

The Holy Spirit is our superpower to have peace during persecution, calm in a storm, and joy through trials. He comforts, counsels, helps, intercedes, fights for, and strengthens us.

The mind of Christ is impossible without the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.

6 – Sacrifice For Others

Jesus said in John 15:13 –

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

A man of action and not mere words, Jesus modeled this statement to the ultimate degree. Paul summed it up in Romans 5:6–8, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I think of firefighters who run into burning buildings to save lives; soldiers dropped into enemy territory to protect our freedoms; police officers who respond to volatile domestic violence calls; individuals who rescue people from modern-day slavery; and missionaries who spread the Gospel into hostile nations. The list goes on of brave, selfless people who risk their lives to help others.

Paul said our reasonable act of worship is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Romans 12:1.

He adds in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…”

Developing the mind of Christ isn’t for the timid.

7 – Forgive, Even If It Hurts

Perhaps this element of the mind of Christ is the hardest to accept and adopt. Jesus said:

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34

Let me set the stage because Jesus wasn’t talking about hurt feelings from religious leaders’ insults.

Jesus was hanging on a cross when He made this shocking statement. Roman guards nailed Him to it with 12″ spikes. But that’s not all. The Romans tortured Jesus in these ways:

• Spat on Him
• Slapped Him
• Beat Him with a leather whip entwined with broken bones
• Stabbed Him in the side with a spear
• Mocked Him.

The amazing thing? Jesus knew and told His disciples these things would happen.

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matthew 20: 17-18

Yet, He willingly suffered through these events and forgave the ones who did them. Jesus loved, forgave, and prayed for His enemies. We should do no less.

Yes, it’s hard.

8 – Go and Spread the Word

Jesus gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

He came to earth with a mission.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jesus)

He came to live a perfect, sinless life so imperfect sinners like you and I can confess, repent, and accept Him as our Savior. Jesus wants this Gospel message spread to the far corners of the planet, and for some reason, I don’t really understand; God assigned the duty to me and you.

A person with the mind of Christ always has the Word of Christ on his lips ready to share.

9 – Soften Your Heart Because of a Hard Truth

Yes, Jesus also said the following words.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John: 14:6

These words of Jesus are a hard truth for many people, including some Christians. But Jesus said it, and I don’t see any wiggle room with “no one,” so I believe Him.

What does this mean for you and me?

The mind of Christ embraces Christ’ exclusive claim and cares about pointing people to “the Way.”

Wrapping Up the Mind of Christ

Fed Ex doesn’t drop off the “mind of Christ” on your doorstep the day you’re saved. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you have the power to develop Christ’s mindset, and you can “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2.)

Retrain your brain with Scriptures and start with these 15 verses. Tell it what to do. If you don’t train your mind, it will go off the rails, and you will never have the mind of Christ.

Get your mind right, boss.

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