Here's a statement from the Spirit of Prophesy:

quote:

---

To a large degree Satan has succeeded in the execution of his plans. Through the medium of influence, taking advantage of the action of mind on mind, he prevailed on Adam to sin. Thus at its very source human nature was corrupted. And ever since then sin has continued its hateful work, reaching from mind to mind. Every sin committed awakens the echoes of the original sin.

---

It seems to me this indicates that sin does occur in the mind.

John, I don't think I disagree with the concepts you are presenting, but it does seem to me you are being a bit dogmatic with the terminology. However, if you can prove your assertions, I'm all ears (or eyes).

I am not tying to be dogmatic, for I have nothing to gain from this. I am just sharing my insights and experiences that others may be helped.

The EW quote in no way disagrees with what I have said. She could have just as well used “communication” to state the point. Without communication no effect on the mind could have ever occurred. It is in the mind that we process communication. The gospel is likewise preached; an effect of mind upon mind.

Mind on mind definitely has effect, but remember that nothing can be accepted by the mind until the person accepts it in his spirit by his will, and nothing will be accepted until the source is trusted, believed. If sin occurred in the mind, you would never be able to process information, without sinning, before making a choice (action of the will, spirit).

As it is written, ‘whatsoever is not of faith is sin’. So simply put, no sin can occur until an action of faith occurs which is governed by the will (an action of heart or spirit). So all sin occurs in the spirit, and is manifested in the mind or body.

I do not know what aspect you would like me prove; it all seems self-evident to me.

John, in light of the following quotes, do you agree that "the higher powers of the mind" constitute the faculties and attributes that enable us to partake of the divine nature and to reproduce the character of Christ?

COL 114
The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives to man the mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. {COL 114.2}

CH 105
God created man a little lower than the angels and bestowed upon him attributes that will, if properly used, make him a blessing to the world and cause him to reflect the glory to the Giver. But although made in the image of God, man has, through intemperance, violated principle and God's law in his physical nature. Intemperance of any kind benumbs the perceptive organs and so weakens the brain nerve power that eternal things are not appreciated, but placed upon a level with the common. The higher powers of the mind, designed for elevated purposes, are brought into slavery to the baser passions. If our physical habits are not right, our mental and moral powers cannot be strong; for great sympathy exists between the physical and the moral. The apostle Peter understood this and raised his voice of warning to his brethren: "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11. . . . {CH 105.1}

MYP 236, 237
Those who would have clear minds to discern Satan's devices must have their physical appetites under the control of reason and conscience. The moral and vigorous action of the higher powers of the mind are essential to the perfection of Christian character. And the strength or the weakness of the mind has very much to do with our usefulness in this world, and with our final salvation. {MYP 236.3}

2T 60
Your business is of a character that is not friendly to an advance in the divine life, but is one that will hinder the growth of grace and the knowledge of the truth. It has a tendency to lower, to debase the man, to make him more animal in his propensities. The higher powers of the mind are overpowered by the lower. The brutish part of your nature governs the spiritual. Those who profess to be fitting for translation should not become butchers. {2T 60.3}

3T 385
When the love of the world takes possession of the heart and becomes a ruling passion, there is no room left for adoration to God; for the higher powers of the mind submit to the slavery of mammon, and cannot retain thoughts of God and of heaven. The mind loses its remembrance of God and is narrowed and dwarfed to the accumulation of money. {3T 385.1}

4T 115, 116
True, some of the human faculties were given more especially for the purpose of engaging in temporal matters, but the higher powers of the mind should be wholly consecrated to God. These control the man, these form his life and character. And while you should not neglect your secular studies, you have no right to give them all your attention, but should devote yourself especially to the moral and spiritual requirements of your heavenly Father. {4T 115.2}

John, I see no conflict or contradiction between the language of the Bible and the SOP.

I believe the "higher powers of the mind" include all the faculties and attributes we need to reproduce the sinless character of Christ. However, we are unable to employ them unto the honor and glory of God.

We must first crucify and bury the mind of the old man, then we must receive the implanted mind of the new man, then we must partake of the divine nature - all of which enables God to empower us to use our faculties of mind and body to imitate the example of Jesus.

The ability to employ our faculties of mind and body unto the honor and glory God does not, in any way, shape or form, resisde within us. It is not something that is latent within us, only awaiting the touch of God to be made available for us to use to imitate the example of Jesus.

You seem to be saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, that the "spirit" is an attribute that narturally resides within us, a powerful faculty that we use to employ our higher powers of the mind to develop our own righteousness. But when we're born again, according to what I hear you saying, we are able, through the "spirit", to manage our higher powers of the mind to reproduce the character of Christ.

If I'm understanding you correctly, your view of the "spirit" teaches that the power to obey is within us, an attribute or faculty that we can use to develop our own righteousness or the righteousness of Christ. The power to be like Jesus is in our "spirit".

John wrote that the "spirit" is synonomous with "heart" and includes the will and faith. He didn't say or imply that the power to obey is within us.

He wrote that before conversion, we are unable to do God's will because our spirit is not under the control of God's spirit. Given the will is part of what the spirit comprises, if our spirit is not in harmony with God's spirit, neither will our will be, hence we will not choose to do God's will. (This last sentence is my understanding of what John's writing implies, not something he wrote.)