Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Question 81:

Another correspondent asks, if in Hebrews 10:22, “sprinkled from an evil conscience,” is not sprinkling of blood upon persons, and for sins? etc.

Answer 81:

I have already spoken of this. Blood is not mentioned in the passage at all, though I dare say alluded to. Nor is it so much a question of sins, as of consecration.

Question 82:

If a Christian would be attracted by those things which are pleasing to the flesh; or if it is possible to be in such a state of soul as that which would not be gratified by the things which formerly were desired.”

Answer 82:

It must ever be remembered that a Christian has not ceased, in becoming one, to possess the flesh ― the carnal mind, which is as much opposed to God as before his conversion. Of it God says, “It is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7); this even in the saint has not been removed. The more mature we are in spiritual growth, the more deeply will we distrust and have no confidence in it (Philippians 3:3). It has the same tendencies and lusts; it desires to feed upon that which supports and sustains it. just as much as ever. But there is a “new man” which alone can feed in Christ. He is the “bread of God” by which the new nature lives and grows. We are practically living in and feeding either upon those things by which the evil nature is sustained or the new nature grows, all day long. The things of the Spirit sustain the new nature; the Holy Ghost takes of the things of Christ and plants them in our hearts.

There is nothing which tests the condition of our souls like every day habits, dress, conversation: they come forth out of the heart, and indicate the internal occupation of soul ― whether with Christ and the things of Christ; or flesh and the things of the flesh. But He ever liveth to make intercession for us, and by using His blessed services thus, the heart is kept free from the influences of flesh ― that which feeds it is laid aside ― the soul rejoices in denial of those things which would feed the nature from which He died to deliver us; learns His heart and walks in communion with Him; finding the fact of an evil nature the occasion of more blessed intimacy with Him, that its workings may be refused, and the tendency to start aside from Him like a broken bow, judged. Then the heart feeds on Christ, and the state of soul which refuses the things that would shut Him out is there, and former things things that gratified lose their power.

It is quite possible that a Christian may be in such a state of soul, as not to desire those things that gave such gratification in times past. The superior engagement of the heart with Christ has produced this, rather than the effort, in ascetic zeal, to curb that which is discordant with Him.

End of Questions and Answers.