Olli Dürr

Die Welt konservativ betrachtet

Conversion and still sinful flesh? Misunderstanding

Neugeborenes Kind

Deutsch


A common misunderstanding, and unfortunately often resulting in lost courage and a loss of motivation, is the concept of “rebirth.” Many people imagine that a sudden “miraculous” transformation must occur, achieving sinlessness in the very next breath. This is not the case, and a misunderstanding is a recipe for disappointment. Yet the Bible (actually) clearly explains the principle of “sinful flesh and the Spirit of Christ.”

Rebirth and overcoming

The rebirth, or new birth, of man is the first elementary prerequisite. This is followed by the transformation of man to please God. This is a process, but equally essential. For it is absolutely necessary to overcome (Info).

Many people believe that conversion leads to a sudden transformation. Not as if one could float 5 cm above the ground with a halo of light around their head, but at least it (actually) immediately eliminates the desire for sin. Anyone who expects this will be disappointed and has also misunderstood something. There was a very pertinent article on this topic about 126 years ago(!). Therefore, it is at least a “consolation” that this problem does not exclusively affect one person, but is quite widespread.

The misunderstanding of the eliminated sinner’s flesh

In the magazine “The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald”, No. 76,16, page 248, dated April 18, 1899, this easily misunderstood subject was taken up and dealt with in detail (Source).

The error

Irrtum
Different than expected

THERE is a serious and very bothersome mistake, which is made by many persons. That mistake is made in thinking that when they are converted, their old sinful flesh is blotted out. 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.
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 discourage, and are ready to think that they never were converted at all.

The error in thinking

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 that you had before? Was not that body composed of exactly the same material–the same flesh and bones and blood–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.

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.

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? Just here is where creeps in the mistake of these many persons. To this last question they are inclined to think that the answer should 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.

Nothing good in the flesh

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.

Old Flesh – New Spirit

New
Old spirit must go

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.

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).

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.” Rom. 12:2. We shall be translated by the renewing of our flesh; but we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Jesus Christ took on our flesh

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.” Rom. 8:3. And therein is our deliverance (Rom. 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.” (Ezekiel 36:26).

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.

Be grateful to God for it (“even”)

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. (Romans 5:20-21).

Let Jesus Christ do it

Newborn child
Be like children in faith

A “miraculous, sudden” change in a person after conversion, after baptism (Info), therefore generally does not occur. Joy that one has chosen this path is entirely understandable. But the pervasive “feeling of happiness” at being permeated by the Holy Spirit, at being virtually overwhelmed, belongs to the realm of fairy tales, or rather, is a specialty of Pentecostals and other charismatic religious groups.

“Often different than expected,” also when it comes to the topic of conversion and overcoming. Anyone who has truly understood that man himself can contribute nothing, absolutely nothing, to his own salvation, but only through his own desire, his petition to God, and the complete surrender of his self and being to God, will remain more serene in the face of his sinful flesh. His own surrender logically also means that Jesus brings about the change and also fights the battle. All this out of love and His grace.

It is also Jesus Christ who will lead humanity to overcome sin. The grace of God is therefore not “salvation IN sin,” but “salvation FROM sin”!

In practice, this means for the believer to increasingly focus their gaze on Jesus Christ, His character, His work, and His actions when He came as a human being into His (fallen) world. To become like Him through seeing. Conversely, this means increasingly distancing themselves from the fallen world and its ways. Not just reading the Word of God, but studying it. The Holy Spirit leads into understanding and truth. David expressed this in one of his psalms in times of distress (about his foolish “crew”):

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”
Psalm 4:4

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)

Beitrag teilen
Scroll to top