ATJ
THERE is a serious and very bothersome mistake, which is made by many persons. BEST July 17, 1899, page 234.1
That mistake is made in thinking that when they are converted, their old sinful flesh is blotted out. BEST July 17, 1899, page 234.2
In other words, they make the mistake of thinking that they are to be delivered from the flesh by having it taken away from them altogether. BEST July 17, 1899, page 234.3
Then, when they find that this is not so, when they find that the same old flesh, with its inclinations, its besetments, and its enticements, is still there, they are not prepared for it, and so become discouraged, and are ready to think that they never were converted at all. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.1
And yet, if they would think a little, they ought to be able to see that that is all a mistake. Did you not have exactly the same body after you were converted as that of which it was composed before? To these questions everybody will promptly say, Yes. And plainly that is the truth. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.2
And now there are further questions: Was not that flesh also of exactly the same quality as before? Was it not still human flesh, natural flesh, as certainly as it was before?—To this also everybody will say, Yes. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.3
Then also a still further question: It being the same flesh, and of the same quality,—it still being human flesh, natural flesh, is it not also still just as certainly sinful flesh as it was before. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.4
Just here is where creeps in the mistake of these many persons. To this last question they are inclined to think that the answer would be “No,” when it must be only a decided “Yes.” And this decided “Yes” must be maintained so long as we continue in this natural body. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.5
And when it is decided and constantly maintained that the flesh of the converted person is still sinful flesh, and only sinful flesh, he is so thoroughly convinced that in his flesh dwells no good thing that he will never allow a shadow of confidence in the flesh. And this being so, his sole dependence is upon something other than the flesh, even upon the Holy Spirit of God; his source of strength and hope is altogether exclusive of the flesh, even in Jesus Christ only. And being everlastingly watchful, suspicious, and thoroughly distrustful of the flesh, he never can expect any good thing from that source, and so is prepared by the power of God to beat back and crush down without mercy every impulse or suggestion that may arise from it and so does not fail, does not become discouraged, but goes on from victory to victory and from strength to strength. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.6
Conversion, then, you see, does not put new flesh upon the old spirit; but a new Spirit within the old flesh. It does not propose to bring new flesh to the old mind; but a new mind to the old flesh. Deliverance and victory are not gained by having the human nature taken away; but by receiving the divine nature to subdue and have dominion over the human,—not by the taking away of the sinful flesh, but by the sending in of the sinless Spirit to conquer and condemn sin in the flesh. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.7
The Scripture does not say, Let this flesh be upon you, which was also upon Christ; but it does say, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.8
The Scripture does not say, Be ye transformed by the renewing of your flesh; but it does say, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2. We shall be translatedby the renewing of our flesh; but we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.9
The Lord Jesus took the same flesh and blood, the same human nature, that we have,—flesh just like our sinful flesh,—and because of sin, and by the power of the Spirit of God through the divine mind that was in Him, “condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 3:3. And therein is our deliverance (Romans 7:25), therein is our victory. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” “A new heart will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you.” BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.10
Do not be discouraged at sight of sinfulness in the flesh. It is only in the light of the Spirit of God, and by the discernment of the mind of Christ, that you can see so much sinfulness in your flesh; and the more sinfulness you see in your flesh, the more of the Spirit of God you certainly have. This is a sure test. Then when you see sinfulness abundant in you, thank the Lord that you have so much of the Spirit of God that you can see so much of the sinfulness; and know of a surety that when sinfulness abounds, grace much more abounds in order that “as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” A. T. JONES. BEST July 17, 1899, page 235.11