I have read with interest your article on Romans 6. As to the motions of sin within, many would be comforted if it were pointed out that if they be not tolerated and indulged, there is nothing to confess. I have known a person in thorough bondage to evil thoughts—confessing and confessing, an unending all day-long business—quite relieved when it was pointed out that if will did not enter into it the intruders might be treated as “Not I.”— Walsall.
We believe that you are right, speaking broadly, in what you point out. In Romans 6 sin is viewed as a master, imposing its will upon us, bringing us under its power. This it does by reason of the flesh within us, as chapter 7 very plainly shows. Evil thoughts assail us by reason of the flesh within.
All too many Christians are not much troubled about evil thoughts, though troubled with them. That is because their Christianity is of a rather feeble, slip-shod order. Were they keener and more conscientious they would be more concerned, and more likely to fall into the bondage of which you speak. Still there are earnest and godly souls who do get into the bondage of self-occupation, with almost unending introspection, self-condemnation and confession.
In all this they are probably learning certain useful lessons. But when once they have really learned the hopeless badness of “the flesh,” further introspection and self-occupation is a barren waste of time. Christ is the Fountain-Head of all goodness, and the will of God for them is not endless confession of their badness but continued rejoicing in His fullness and power.
“We are the circumcision, which... rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)). Let us pass the vote of “no confidence” once for all, so that it is a definitely settled thing with us. Then let us proceed with the happy task of rejoicing in Christ Jesus. If we do so we shall soon discover that as Christ, His glory and His interests increasingly fill our thoughts, the things that are evil less and less come in. This is the way of liberty and of power.
The dust of evil, how easily it settles, and without giving alarm. Hence the mirror of conscience is quickly dimmed.