How can believers be of one mind (1 Peter 3:8)?

The world around is full of discord, but in the Christian circles there should be unity: “Be ye all of one mind”. From other Scriptures we learn that “one mind” in the Christian company can only be attained by each individual having the lowly mind — the mind that was in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:2-5). Nearly all the discord among believers can be traced back to the unjudged vanity and self-importance of the flesh that ever seeks to be prominent and accounted great (Luke 22:24). Apart from having the mind of Christ we shall either be in conflict or form a false unity after our own ideas.

Having one mind, and that the mind of the Lord, will naturally lead us to have “compassion one of another”. The Lord's “compassions fail not; they are new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23). Very small differences between brethren may be allowed to wither up our compassions. If, then, our compassions are not to fail, the motive behind them must be love. Therefore the exhortation follows, “Love as brethren”. This is not love after a human fashion as in natural relationships, however right in their place, but love as linked together in the divine relationships of the family of God.

Verses 8 and 9 are general exhortation, covering all relationships. To be all of one mind will require setting aside of personal preferences and desires, in genuine consideration for others. This in fact is ""the mind of Christ." Compare Phil.2:5. ""Sympathizing one with another" involves solicitous concern as to the trials of each other. And to this added the warmth of love, "as brethren.' 'Be pitiful" is better rendered "tender-hearted," in contrast to callousness. "Courteous" or "humble-minded" is a quality not common in the world, but Precious. And the warning is given, which requires no little repetition, not to return evil for evil. If I do so, I reduce myself to the same level as the offender. Indeed, I ought to return positive "blessing," that which is good, for in this God is rightly represented. And we ourselves have been called out of a state of evil and shame, that we might inherit a blessing from Him.Beginning with this verses, we see that there will be governmental results from God in reference to the conduct of believers, whether it is good or bad. If one will love life (that is, life in its true pure character) and see good days, let him first guard his own tongue and lips. The tongue is to refrain from evil that which is harmful in whatever way; and the lips are to be kept from guile, that which gives wrong impressions it may not be a direct lie, but is deceitful nevertheless.

(1 Peter 3:8,) "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." We have a lovely word here, because the tendency is for different minds to come in and have different interests. Do not have it so, the apostle says; have sympathy one with the other, be pitiful, be not courteous merely, but humble-minded.

"Courteous" is scarcely the right rendering of the original in this scripture. "Friendly" would be much more exact, as the conduct enjoined should flow from affection. The reading, however, which is generally accepted gives another word altogether, and is translated "humble-minded." And this word is instinctively felt to be more in harmony with the spirit of the whole passage, every feature of which presents Christ Himself to us. Another change might be profitably made. The phrase "having compassion one of another" is really a paraphrase upon one word, and the exact meaning of this is "sympathising." It is not a little remarkable that sympathy is only found three times in the Scriptures: first, it is used of our Great High Priest, who is not One who cannot "sympathise with our infirmities"; secondly, in the same epistle the apostle says that the Hebrew saints had "sympathised with prisoners" (Hebrews 10:34, New Translation); and lastly, in our scripture from Peter. We may return to the significance of this on another occasion. Finally, the term "pitiful" in Peter is far better given as "tender-hearted." Now look for one moment at the force of this beautiful passage, and as we do so let us remember that it flows from the blessed example of Christ which the apostle has commended to us in chapter 2, that we should follow His steps. First, then, we are to be "all of one mind," for the Spirit of God could not possibly lead to diverse judgments (compare 1 Cor. 1:10); then "sympathising," feeling with one another in their sorrows and afflictions; "love as brethren," holy love being the circle in which we live, and move, and have our being, so that we may express it one to another; "tender-hearted," not harsh and censorious; and, lastly, "humble-minded," breathing the spirit of Him who was meek and lowly in heart. The reader can travel through the next verse for himself; and we are well assured that if anyone possess the characteristics of verse 8 he will speedily answer to the directions of verse 9. One reflection may be permitted. What a testimony to our blessed Lord would be rendered in this dark world if His people were, even in a small measure, marked by these traits of His own life in their mutual relationships! He Himself said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."

(2) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5) Can it be true that in me there may be revealed that same lowliness of mind which so shone in Him? There it stands in the scriptures for the obedience of faith, and that in connection with such a familiar problem as brothers and sisters in the Lord who cannot agree among themselves. What a battery of scriptures can be brought to bear on the desire of the Lord that we should be of one mind, or likeminded. (Phil. 2:2; Phil. 4:2; Rom. 12:16; Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 13:11, etc.) This does not mean, of course, that everyone must think alike on every subject, but if all let that self-effacing mind be in them which was also in Christ Jesus, what perfect harmony would result! Shall we put it to the test?

First of all they were to be likeminded. It is obviously a great thing when believers all think alike, yet there is also to be considered the spirit that underlies their thinking. If that be wrong mere thinking alike will not guarantee absence of dissension. Hence he adds, "having the same love." Only love can produce that of which next he speaks, "being of one accord," or, more literally, "joined in soul," which in its turn leads to all minding one thing.

The power for the enjoyment of this fellowship is the Spirit of God, given to dwell within us. Hence, 2 Corinthians closes with the words, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." And Philippians 2:2 gives us to see the practical bearing of it, on the walk of the saints, as the Apostle so touchingly refers to it in his appeal, "if there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind." This is the normal effect of the power of the Spirit, where He is ungrieved in us. He produces this unity among Christians, where self can have no place.

It is this that verses 5 and 6 apply so tenderly and appealingly. “Now the God of endurance and of encouragement give to you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one accord with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If we would have endurance and encouragement we must look to God who is the source of such virtue, and He can enable us to have the mind that was in Christ Jesus, toward one another. This produces, even where there is diversity of opinion and various degrees of progress in the truth, a godly, fervent unity that glorifies the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. How unspeakably blessed when this is the case! To be of one accord, of one mouth, is to have hearts unfeignedly united in honoring and following the Lord Jesus, and not sidetracked by lesser considerations. This is not by any means relinquishing the truth of God, but holding it firmly, while making no issue of small matters that are the affair of the individual conscience.

Realising that we are members of “one body” we shall see that we are not to walk merely as isolated individuals, but as related to one another in one body, and, as such, we are to use diligence that we may be controlled with one mind — the mind of the Spirit. This unity of the Spirit is not simply uniformity of thought, nor a unity arrived at by agreement, or by mutual concessions. Such unities may entirely miss the mind of the Spirit.

In the early days of the church we see the blessed result of believers having the mind of the Spirit. Of these saints we read that they were filled with the Spirit, the result being that they were of “one heart” and “one soul”. It is evident that this unity of the Spirit has not been kept. Nevertheless, the Spirit is still here, and the mind of the Spirit is still one, therefore the exhortation still remains that, in the realisation of our membership of the one body, we should endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit. The only way to maintain this unity of the Spirit is for each one to judge the flesh. If we allow the flesh in our thoughts, words and ways, it will at once bring in a jarring element. It has been said, “The principle of the flesh is every man for himself. That does not bring in unity. In the unity of the Spirit it is every man for others.”

Moreover, we are to use diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit “in the uniting bond of peace”. The flesh is ever self-assertive and ready to quarrel with others with whom it may not agree. If we cannot agree as to the mind of the Spirit, let us patiently search the Word of God under the guidance of the Spirit in the spirit of peace. If two believers are not of the same mind it is evident that one, or both, have missed the mind of the Spirit, and the danger is that they may fall to quarrelling. How necessary then that the endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit should be carried out in the spirit of peace that binds us together. Another has said, “What comes from the Spirit is always one. Why are we not always agreed? Because our own minds work. If we had only what we learned from Scripture, we should all be the same.” (J.N.D.)

That is true, but you can find that all opened out in the writings referred to, but you can also find just the other thing too, that it is more the one mind of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can only have one mind, and it is not that we are to have one mind simply, because that might not be His mind, but we are to have the Spirit's mind. There is that which the Spirit formed at Pentecost, and we are surely to walk in the light of it. It is our privilege and responsibility to walk in the light of the whole revelation of God. There is one Body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, and the knowledge of these great truths has a powerful influence upon us to produce unity; and unity will assuredly be produced by them if we walk in the judgment of that which has no part in them — the flesh.