I like that way of putting it.

Here is this week's study link:

http://www.ssnet.org/lessons/13c/less12.html

Thank you for explaining what you believe so clearly and concisely. What do you make of the following insights:

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." This expression, "bought with a price" means everything to us. In consideration of the price paid for us, shall we not yield our bodies and souls up to Him who has bought us with His blood? Shall not that which He has redeemed be kept in as wholesome and pure and holy a condition as possible? Christ has redeemed us; our very flesh He has saved at an infinite cost, giving His own flesh for the life of the world. The lower passions have their seat in the body, and work through it. The words, "flesh", or "Fleshly lusts" or "Carnal lusts", embrace the lower, corrupt nature: the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought is to be expelled. Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. All animal propensities are to be subjected to the higher powers of the the soul. The love of God must reign supreme; Christ must occupy an undivided throne. Our bodies are to be regarded as Christ's purchased possession. The members of the body are to become the instruments of righteousness. {SpM 209.2}

Not sure. Do we dare add to what the Bible says about it? What words do you have in mind? The word "lusts" in this context means unholy cravings, desires, propensities, inclinations, tendencies. Sinful flesh has, as it were, a mind and voice of its own with which it temps us from within to fulfill, satisfy our innocent and legitimate needs in sinful ways. However, to be tempted is not a sin. So long as we resist we incur no guilt, condemnation, or contamination.

Well, I know many people who say this: The action of the flesh is the action of the flesh - not the action of believers abiding in Jesus and partaking of the divine nature.

They say they sin everyday, usually intentionally. They also claim that they do not sin because they are born of God. Whatever "sinful action" they may have done, it was their flesh that did it, not them.

Now you are claiming that the lustful thoughts rattling around their minds are also not them, but their flesh. That is also not their responsibility. Now they can think and do as the flesh pleases, because it's not really them. They would be ecstatic.

Arnold, all temptations begin as unholy thoughts and feelings. If we resist them when they come to mind we do not incur guilt.

How would we ever incur guilt? If the flesh that's doing it, it's not me.

The flesh cannot commit a sin. It cannot incur guilt. It can only tempt us to indulge our needs in sinful ways.

I agree with you, but this is often a misunderstood question.

Jesus made it clear in the sermon on the mount that sin is what develops in your mind. He tells us that that is the real braking of the law.

It causes evil actions, and those are the ones a worldly court will consider to condemn us for.

Good acts will not save us, and yet we will receive our reward for the good we do, based on faith.

That leaves all of us sinless, doesn't it? I'm not sinning, because it's my flesh doing it. And the flesh cannot commit sin, so it's not sinning either.