“We…worship God in Spirit, rejoice in Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3)

Conversion does not put new flesh upon the old spirit, but a new spirit within the old flesh. It does not propose to bring the 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 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” (Phil. 2:5).

The Scripture does not say, Be transformed by the renewing of your flesh, but it does say, “Be 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. 1

The pagan proverb has it that God helps those who help themselves. The truth is that God helps those who cannot help themselves: “I was brought low, and He helped me” (Ps. 116:6, KJV). No one ever cries in vain for help. When the cries goes up for help, the Deliverer is at hand; and so, although sin is working death in us by all the power of the law, we may exclaim, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57, KJV). 2

1Jones, Review & Herald, April, 18 1899
2 Waggoner, Waggoner on Romans, p.124