According to Peter, quoted above, newborn babes are free from sin, dead to sin, having laid aside all evil speaking, all envies, all hypocrisies, all guile, and all malice. According to James, he who sets aside all evil speaking "is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." Jam 3:2.

Such are those who are counseled to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." The milk of God's word is for newborn babes, who are free from sin. In other words, the milk doesn't help them figure out how to rid themselves of known sin, rather, it helps them to grow in grace, and mature in the fruits of the Spirit, in exactly the same way Jesus grew and matured and developed perfect traits of character.

But this is only true IF they have tasted the goodness and power of God to deliver them from their former sinful traits of character, their old man habits of sin. "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." Elsewhere Peter talks about the privilege of partaking of the divine nature, but it is only for those who have already escaped the lusts of the flesh.

2 Peter
1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Peter makes it clear that only those who have already escaped the lusts of the flesh, their former sinful traits of character, can claim the promises of God and partake of the divine nature. The divine nature does not empower them to gradually cease sinning, instead, it empowers them to grow in grace, to mature in the fruits of the Spirit, and to develop the Christlike traits of character they received when they were born again.

DA 676
When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing. {DA 676.4}

COL 330
All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. {COL 330.2}

Tom, yes, I agree with you, Jesus wasn't born with fully developed traits of character. And neither are we. Like Jesus, we are born again with all of the righteous traits, fruits, and attributes of God. Not one is missing. But they are undeveloped. That's what sanctification is all about. Sanctification is a lifelong process of developing the sinless traits of character we received the moment we were born again.

Having incorrect or unholy thoughts or feelings, like Thomas alluded to, isn't a sin or the result of a defective trait of character. At least, not initially. All temptations begin as unholy thoughts and feelings. And, as you know, it is not a sin to be tempted. Our guilt or innocence is based on what we do with the sinful thoughts and feelings that regularly come into mind.

“The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again.” (6 BC 1101)

“True conversion is a radical change. The very drift of the mind and bent of the heart should be turned and life become new again in Christ.” (4T 17)

“That which was objectionable in the character is purified from the soul by the love of Jesus. All selfishness is expelled, all envy, all evil-speaking is rooted out, and a radical transformation is wrought in the heart.” (RH 7-22-1890)

“The Lord requires perfection from His redeemed family. He expects from us the perfection which Christ revealed in His humanity.” (CG 477)

“Many who profess to follow Christ have not genuine religion. They do not reveal in their lives the fruit of true conversion. They are controlled by the same habits, the same spirit of faultfinding and selfishness, which controlled them before they accepted Christ. No one can enter the city of God who has not a knowledge of genuine conversion. In true conversion the soul is born again. A new spirit takes possession of the temple of the soul. A new life begins. Christ is revealed in the character. The spirit of a new life works within.” (RH 7-30-1901)

"The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ." (6BC 1075)

According to the quotes post above rebirth is a rare and radical transformation of character. It isn't a common occurence among professed believers. It is rare. It is radical. It involves a complete and total change. When we are born again "we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity." Rebirth is a miracle, a re-creation, not a gradual evolution from greater sins to lesser sins. During the "process of conversion" we confess and crucify our defective traits of character, and then we are born again without them - as totally new creature in Christ.

SC 57, 58
A change will be seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. {SC 57.2}

COL 330
God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perfection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing. We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. {COL 330.2}

7BC 943
We must learn of Christ. We must know what He is to those He has ransomed. We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity. . . . [Eph. 2:1-6 quoted.] . . . {7BC 943.1}

As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan's temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God. Then we sit together with Christ in heavenly places. The mind rests with peace and assurance in Jesus (RH April 24, 1900). {7BC 943.2}