Philippians 2:5 (KJV) Let his mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5 (AMP) Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus:

Above I have listed both the KJV and the Amplified renderings of the same Philippians 2:5. As you can note from the Amplified version, Paul here is telling the Philippians that they should maintain the same “attitude” of mind, or “mindset” as was in Jesus when He walked the earth in a human body. The Greek word used here for “mind” is “phroneo,” meaning, “mindset” or “attitude of mind.”

Thus, this “mind to be in you” is a “mindset,” it has nothing to do with memorizing or learning verses, or doctrinal information. It is speaking of the mindset or attitude of mind that Jesus of Nazareth maintained throughout His sojourn on earth; this includes the mindset that He held in His daily living as well as when He endured the suffering of the cross.

We are never commended by any Scripture to imitate Jesus of Nazareth in the things He said or did, except the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, does make a commendation that we adopting Jesus’ mindset. Have you ever noticed that the Apostle Paul never once refers to anything Jesus of Nazareth said or did? Paul only refers to Jesus’ suffering, death, burial, and resurrection, which is the key to all the blessings that we have been blessed with “in Christ.” In fact, to the contrary, Paul tells us we are to “know Him (Jesus of Nazareth) no longer [in terms of the flesh].”

2 Cor 5:16 (AMP) Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man (Jesus of Nazareth), yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].

Thus, the mantra promoted by many church leaders called “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) is not the correct consideration for Christian in this day of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2). It is a lie of the enemy of our souls, to keep us detached from the Christ within us – encouraging us to live our Christian life remotely or separate from the indwelling Christ – which is impossible. This serves to detach us or separate us from the life of Christ within. We have no need to imitate Jesus of Nazareth, since we as believers now have the resurrected Christ living within us right now. By Christ’s indwelling Spirit we will know His will at any given moment in any matter we face – so long as we have ears to hear His voice within. We possess “the mind (gnosis, knowledge that is) of Christ” (1Cor 2:16b) abiding within us at all times.

Now let’s consider what Jesus of Nazareth’s “mindset” actually was. Jesus Himself tells us what His mindset was that held throughout His time on earth. John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Here we have a view of what proper Christian living is. Jesus did not live by His own life according to His own self-will – but rather He was submitted to live by what the Father willed. Jesus did not assert His own preference over that of the Father’s – even “unto death of the cross.” Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Paul confirms this concept in the several verses that follow Philippians 2:5 that we began with. Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind (mindset) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Thus, we see that when Paul says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” he is saying we need the attitude of Jesus who was continually and humbly submitted to subject to the will of the Father.

As Christians we often still find that have a mind of our own that needs to be bent to the will of the indwelling Lord. Jesus here says we need to adopt His attitude toward living. John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

But, how can we do this? We have “the way” within us. We must learn to yield to the “Spirit of Christ” within us, which is Christ Himself in us (Rom 8:8-10). Not only does Jesus care for us and know what is best for us, but He is the only one who knows the Father (Luke 10:22). He is the capable righteous one within us. He knows how to be the perfect Son. Thankfully, His life is now our new life within. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  

We can depend upon Him in us to be the capable Christian is us. Just as Jesus lived by the Father’s will when He was on earth, He is able to live through us in accord with the Father’s will – so long as we adopt His humble “mindset,” yielding to Him within us.

Paul says we, as to our “old man,” are now crucified dead (Rom 6:6). We, now as females, are free to live by the life of “Another,” which is Christ within us. Paul says we as females are to yield submitted to the Lord within us as if He were our new, potent, husband (see Rom 7:1-4). Then we will “bear much fruit.”