Today, there are two diverse theories in regard to where, and how we fight sin in the sanctification (growing process of our redemption) process. To surmise that this issue is not important would be outwardly rejected by any and all Christians, but yet, Christianity is functioning as if the issue is of no import; no one is saying anything. Strange, for if you would ask what God’s primary will for us is, the answer would be: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1Thess. 4:3).
The two diverse views are as follows: One view says that the battleground is in the “heart,” and the other view says that the battleground is in the “flesh.” I will explain (for lack of a better term) the “heart model” first. But before I do, let me say that I intend to keep my discussion of this very “big picture.” I am…
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Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Well… if I may interject an example of my own experience in change of heart or flesh. I think the two are intertwined for the Christian- if the heart desires it will seek to know more through the Word and through prayer what the Spirit wants. Through this process then, our wants in our flesh becomes less and less. Also, I do believe that the Spirit is an ACTIVE agent in that process – the Bible says we are co-laborers with Him. Also in Hebrews, it states that we have a High Priest who knows our weaknesses and we can come Him to in the hour of need. Here is my experience throughout my life: I have struggled with many areas of sin and throughout the years; I would pray and ask the Lord to get rid of these certain sins AND even tried to walk in the way that was right, but then came back to those same sins. This was the constant struggle- BUT, I still believed that the Lord would be faithful and help me in those sins. Sure enough- through prayer and still reading and relying on His Word those certain sins have been held captive by the Spirit and I no longer rely on it in the flesh. That does not mean I do not do those same sins any more, but I do not do them habitually and the Spirit puts an immediate check on those sins and I quickly repent. I have had at times where the Spirit told me in my heart that I would not struggle any more with a certain sin and sure enough the habitual reliance on that sin is gone ( that right there is an ACTIVE work on part of the Holy Spirit) and if I do fall in that sin there is an immediate admonition towards it.
My issue is that pastors are way too involved with the sins of others then realizing that they need to work out their own issues of sin. They have become the “High Priests” and they are not capable of it. They feel the need to work out others sins through psychology, conferences, books, their own experiences, their admonitions and rebuke- and yes, while the Lord may use many different forms to help one to SEE or HEAR, those different forms are not the AGENT of change, only the Holy Spirit has the right to do it. Pastors or whoever, though, have a pride problem and think they have something to do with the change. Even though the basic principles of Gods Word are the same (since God does not change) He deals with each and every person differently and ANYONE who feels or thinks he is the agent of that change in an individual is sorely mistaken. Our duty as believers is to love and exhort others through these processes no matter how difficult their walk is (for sometimes it takes years and sometimes people just do not want to change); it is the Holy Spirit and the individuals responsibility to work the heart and flesh out in that persons sanctification.
Sorry but my response is a little simplistic.
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I am not saying ALL pastors feel the need to change peoples hearts or desires in the flesh.
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From your post before this I see where you have focused on the difference of the heart of the unredeemed and the heart of the redeemed and even posted verses differentiating between the two. Good post…
I guess it is hard for me to see where the Calvinist is coming from here and why I skidaddled out of the Reformed church so quickly. I was saved very young, so my heart was already taken over by Christ. I have no concept of what it means to have a heart that is unredeemed, so to understand the Calvinist “concept” of the heart is foreign to me. I had been in the sanctification process for 33 years and still going- so my frame of reference is only in Gods transformation (in the sanctification) of me to become more like Christ. I understand now what you were trying to show about how the Calvinists view our the heart compared to the RIGHT way of viewing the believers heart.
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” I have no concept of what it means to have a heart that is unredeemed”……
what I meant here was that at the age of nine I knew I was a sinner and needed Christ to save and believed in Him, but I did not dwell on it afterwards. I just knew I was saved and that was it- there was no “theological musings” about it afterwards. I guess you could say I came in simple faith without all the theological trappings- 🙂
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“I had been in the sanctification process for 33 years and still going”….
sorry it has been longer then that – almost 36 years…..
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