LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON,
OKLAHOMA
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07
THAT SOMETHING “I knew Jesus and He was precious to my soul;
but I found something within that would not be sweet, and patient and kind; I
did what I could to keep it down, but it was there; I besought Jesus to do
something for me, and when I gave Him my will He came in, and took out all that
would not be sweet and patient and kind, and then He shut the door.” Thus
testified George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends, more than two
centuries ago. After he “knew Jesus” there was still “something within”
which was antagonistic to the spiritual life implanted; nor was this experience
peculiar to him alone. Such is indeed the experience of every newborn
and truly regenerated soul. While they may not understand the subject of entire
sanctification, and perhaps never have heard of the “second blessing,” yet,
a young convert seldom goes three months in the new found experience, until he
becomes painfully conscious that there remains a “something within” that
hinders, and retards his spiritual progress, and often becomes a source of much
distress. The manifestations of that “something”
vary, but frequently the first showing of it is in a man-fearing spirit, or
anger, or a disposition to doubt, or an unforgiving spirit, etc. Then comes
frequently the temptation, that perhaps after all there had not been a true
conversion or these things would not manifest themselves, and because they had
not been properly instructed, many have wearied of the conflict and struggle and
have cast away their confidence. The Bible name for that “something” is,
“the carnal mind” which, “is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be” Then again the Bible speaks of that
“something” as “the flesh;” “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and
the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other, so
that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Other names given in the Bible for that
“something” is, “sin that dwelleth in me,” “the law of sin” “the
body of this death” “the sin which doth so easily beset” “the sin of the
world” “the body of sin”, “our old man” etc., all of which have
reference to that “something within” remaining after we are converted; in
common parlance it is called “inbred sin”, “depravity” “our evil
nature” “original sin” our “Adamic nature,” etc. All of these terms
are synonymous, and refer to this identical “something within” which is the
common heritage of every child of Adam. God’s method and purpose is to
“crucify” and “destroy” that something—“our old man”—so
that we are dead indeed unto sin.” The sins committed may be pardoned,
but this “something” can not be pardoned for the simple reason we did not
commit the same; it was born in us, and as the Anglican Confession says, “This
infection of nature doth remain, yea, even in them that have been
regenerated.” But thank God, there is power in Jesus’ blood to eliminate and
destroy it. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
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