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The Same Thoughts

   There are a number of places in the Word of God written to the church of our day and time that believers are admonished to have the same thoughts.  All of these admonishments are set in the context of how we are to treat or think about one another.

Romans 12:9-21
   Let love be without dissimulation. [hypocrisy] Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
   Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
   Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
   Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
   Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
   Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
   Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
   Be of the same mind [Have the same thoughts] one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.  Be not wise in your own conceits.
   Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
   If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
   Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
   Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

   We are to be fond of other believers as relatives.
   We are to share of our abundance to meet the needs of other believers.
   We are to show hospitality to other believers.
   We do not elevate ourselves but we elevate others.
   We are to be honest with each other.
   We are to live peaceably with each other.
   We bless and do not try to get even.
   We are to overcome evil by thinking and acting with loving compassion toward each other.

   This is how we are to think.  When we each think in this way we will be of the same mind one toward another.   We will be thinking the same thoughts.

Romans 15:1-7
   We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
   Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
   For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
   For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
   Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded [have the same thoughts] one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
   That ye may with one mind [homothumadon] and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

   We are not to please ourselves but we are to please each other - for good.  To edify.  We build each other up.  We do not tear each other down.  We are to have the same thoughts one toward another according to Christ Jesus.  His example of taking on the reproach of those who acted contrary to God and His Word and in response give his life, is the example we are to follow.  We are to receive one another as Christ received us.  The word "homothumadon" means to be of one accord or to have unity of purpose.  We think the compassionate thoughts of the word and edify one another so that we can with unity of purpose glorify God.

Philippians 2:1-5
   If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
   Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded [have the same thoughts], having the same love, being of one accord [homothumadon], of one mind [having the same thoughts].
   Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
   Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
   Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

   Once again we are to think the way Christ Jesus thought.  We do not elevate ourselves but we esteem others.  We are to have the same thoughts - the same love - unity of purpose - the SAME THOUGHTS!

Philippians 3:13-16
   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
   Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded [have these thoughts]: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
   Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing [let us think the same thing].

   In this context we put the past in the past and focus our thoughts on that which is to come - the perfection that is in Christ.

Colossians 3:1-2
   If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
   Set your affection [thoughts] on things above, not on things on the earth.

   Our thoughts are not to be worldly.  We need to rise above the world and set our thoughts in Christ where we are seated at the right hand of God.  To do this means we must renew our mind.  Put off the old man and the way we treated each other in the past and put on the mind of Christ.

Colossians 3:8-17
   But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
   Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
   And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
   Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
   Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
   Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
   And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
   And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
   And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

  Mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another.  These are the thoughts we are to have in common.  This is the way we are to live.

1 Peter 3:8-11
   Finally, be ye all of one mind [homophron - same thoughts], having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
   Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
   For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
   Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

   We are to seek peace.  Bless each other.  Have compassion one of another.  Love as brethren.  When our thoughts are of blessing we will live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with us as we walk in fellowship one with another and think the same thoughts.

2 Corinthians 13:11
   Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind [have the same thoughts], live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.


March 2000
URL http://www.cortright.org/likemind.htm
Michael Cortright