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<p>&quot;That which is born of <strong>the flesh</strong> is flesh.&quot; John 3:6<br />
          <br />
          There is no promise made that in this life, we shall be <br />
          set free from the indwelling and the in-working of sin. <br />
          <br />
          Many think that their flesh is to become &quot;progressively <br />
          holier and holier&quot;—that sin after sin is to be removed <br />
          gradually out of the heart—until at last they are almost <br />
          made perfect in the flesh.  But this is an idle dream, <br />
          and one which, sooner or later will be crudely and <br />
          roughly broken to pieces. <br />
          <br />
          <strong>The flesh</strong> will ever remain the same—and we shall ever <br />
          find that the flesh will lust against the Spirit. Our fleshly <br />
          nature is corrupt to the very core. It cannot be mended. <br />
          It cannot be sanctified. It is the same at the last, as it <br />
          was at the first—inherently evil, and as such will never <br />
          cease to be corrupt until we put off mortality—and with <br />
          it the body of sin and death.<br />
          <br />
          All we can hope for, long after, expect, and pray for—is <br />
          that this evil fleshly nature may be subdued, kept down, <br />
          mortified, crucified, and held in subjection under the power <br />
          of grace.  But as to any such change passing upon the flesh<br />
          —or taking place in the flesh as to make it holy—it is but a <br />
          pharisaic delusion, which, promising a holiness in the flesh, <br />
          leaves us still under the power of sin.<br />
          <br />
          The true sanctification of the new man of grace—which is <br />
          wrought by a divine power—is utterly distinct from any <br />
          imagined holiness in the flesh—or any vain dream of its <br />
          progressive sanctification.