Heart Wars

If the new heart promised by God in the Old Testament, and given to us through Christ in the New Covenant can become corrupt, it is because of a stronghold that has been established and the root is bringing forth its corruption, and not because of sin just springing up within it intrinsically. I am convinced scripturally that there is nothing in the regenerate heart of a believer that produces sin, for the “old man” Adamic geyser of corruption was slain with Christ on Calvary. The flesh, however, still lives. It has been hopelessly conditioned in Adam, and is allied to the Satanic temptations of the world’s system and the powers of darkness that still rule the air. It is God’s decree that we collaborate with Him in mortifying its affections and lusts. The wicked spiritual forces in the air cater powerfully to our flesh nature, even after (and especially after) our conversion. Outer defilements constantly entice the flesh through the ungirded mind, and ultimately aim to establish a root in the heart. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus enables us to pull down these intrusions before they can reach the heart to corrupt it. Before we were born again of God, our natural state was to welcome these intrusions, to aid the intruders, and fight for their right to stay and reign the heart. Satan attempts to go through the ungirded and unrenewed mind of the believer in Christ Jesus with the goal to subvert and defile the heart which God has since cleansed and occupied. By not taking every thought captive, and looking consistently unto Jesus, a stronghold can be formed through a “chink in the armor” and, as result, the believer can once again find his or herself fashioned to and enslaved by a former lust. The process is perhaps best described in James 1:14-15. The context is temptation. Notice the progression if temptation is not immediately mortified at the entry level: “But every man is tempted (in his mind), when he is drawn away of his own lust (the flesh embracing the temptation) and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived (in the womb of the heart) it bringeth forth sin (the fruit of the conception), and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (the consequential judgment).” James 1:14,15. In the Old Covenant, the evil was inside the heart, working its way out through the flesh. God gave the law on stone and the blood of beasts to punish and cover. In the New Covenant, the evil is outside the heart, trying to work its way back in through the unmortified flesh and unrenewed mind. God has given us grace to overcome in the Holy Spirit, and the blood of His Son to cleanse and justify.