True. A mind emptied of selfishness is free of selfishness. Jesus implants within newborn believers a new nature, a new mind, a new heart, new tendencies, new tastes - free of selfishness.

M: 1. Empty your heart of its selfishness. 2. Christ can put his mold upon you. "The grace of Christ expels the selfishness that has hitherto ruled the life. The affections turn to God. The character is transformed. The man is filled with an intense desire to serve him who has done so much for him. {RH, January 26, 1911 par. 15}

A: However, "You cannot reach the full measure of the stature of Christ in a day, and you would sink in despair could you behold all the difficulties that must be met and overcome." – {MYP 45.3}

The carnal mind is not eradicated; it's subdued. Therefore, the new mind and the old mind coexist in the Christian; and, in this carnal mind, are the propensities to sin. But Christ never had a carnal mind to war against.

How can the carnal mind harmonize with the mind that is assimilated to the mind of Christ? One is sowing to the flesh, thinking and acting in accordance with the promptings of his own heart; the other is sowing to the Spirit, seeking to repress selfishness, to overcome inclination, and to live in obedience to the Master, whose servant he professes to be. Thus there is a perpetual difference of taste, of inclination, and of purpose. {AH 84.1}

But the heart that is surrendered to God, loves the truth of God's word; for through the truth the soul is regenerated. The carnal mind finds no pleasure in contemplating the word of God, but he who is renewed in the spirit of his mind, sees new charms in the living oracles; for divine beauty and celestial light seem to shine in every passage. That which was to the carnal mind a desolate wilderness, to the spiritual mind becomes a land of living streams. That which to the unrenewed heart appeared a barren waste, to the converted soul becomes the garden of God, covered with fragrant buds and blooming flowers. {CE 79.2}

Jesus continued: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." By nature the heart is evil, and "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." Job 14:4. No human invention can find a remedy for the sinning soul. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Romans 8:7; Matthew 15:19. The fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams can become pure. He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility. There is no safety for one who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. {DA 172.1}

It is the work of conversion and sanctification to reconcile men to God by bringing them into accord with the principles of His law. In the beginning, man was created in the image of God. He was in perfect harmony with the nature and the law of God; the principles of righteousness were written upon his heart. But sin alienated him from his Maker. He no longer reflected the divine image. His heart was at war with the principles of God's law. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. But "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son," that man might be reconciled to God. Through the merits of Christ he can be restored to harmony with his Maker. His heart must be renewed by divine grace; he must have a new life from above. This change is the new birth, without which, says Jesus, "he cannot see the kingdom of God." {GC 467.2}

The carnal mind is enmity against God, and it rebels against His will. {RC 64.2}

Many, very many, who profess to be Christians, have not known God. The character of the natural heart has not been changed, and the carnal mind remains at enmity with God. They are Satan's own faithful servants, notwithstanding they have assumed another name. {1SG 189.1}

. . . the carnal mind must die. {2SG 261.2}

Sin did not kill the law, but it did kill the carnal mind in Paul. {1SM 213.1}

The illuminating influence of the gospel of Christ, and the sanctifying grace of God, can alone transform the carnal mind to be in harmony with spiritual things. {LP 124.1}

"The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." [Romans 8:7.] In the new birth, the heart is renewed by divine grace, and brought into harmony with God as it is brought into subjection to his law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then will "the righteousness of the law" "be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." [Romans 8:4.] {4SP 298.1}

Every truly converted soul will carry the unmistakable marks that the carnal mind is subdued. {2SG 263.3}

If the heart is not wholly sanctified to God, if the will and affections and thoughts are not brought into subjection to the will of God, there will be a failure to carry out the principles of true religion and to exemplify in the life the life of Christ. There will not be a true desire to sacrifice ease and self-love, and the carnal mind will not be crucified to work the works of Christ. {2T 651.2}

Those who possess the carnal mind cannot comprehend the sacred force of vital truth upon which their salvation depends, because they cherish pride of heart, love of the world, love of ease, selfishness, covetousness, envy, jealousy, lust, hatred, and every evil. If they would overcome these they might be partakers of the divine nature. {2T 694.1}

In their gross darkness they view themselves with complacency; but let the law of God be revealed to their consciences, as it was to Paul, and they would see that they are sold under sin and must die to the carnal mind. Self must be slain. {3T 475.1}

You have apparently received the reproof, but not in heart sufficient to die to the carnal mind. You have not set to work to eradicate the evil. You have soon lost the smart of the chastening rod of the Lord, and rushed on in as great foolishness as ever, like a fool to the correction of stocks. Your love for self-indulgence has become a warring lust. {TSB 168.3}

The sinner has lived in sin; he must die to sin, and live a new life of holiness to God. Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."The apostle here refers to the death to sin, the death of the carnal mind, and not to the death of the body. {BEcho, January 15, 1889 par. 5}

Our faith is not proportionate to the light God has given us. The reason for this is that the carnal mind, which is at enmity with God, has not been cleansed. When our hearts are emptied of all selfishness, and cleansed by the Spirit of Christ, we shall be vessels meet for the Master's use. {PUR, August 28, 1902 par. 6}

[Paul] crucified the carnal mind which rises in enmity against the law of God. "Sin revived," says Paul, "and I," not the law, "died." {RH, March 8, 1870 par. 11}

The commandment came, sin revived; the law died, and the carnal mind lived. This is the order with the transgressor. Their spiritual powers are benumbed. Eternal things are not discerned. Their works are carnal, and their example is corrupting. {RH, March 8, 1870 par. 17}

Many are filled with self-importance and esteem themselves above their brethren. Such should let self die; let the carnal mind be crucified. {RH, April 29, 1884 par. 5}

Those who wage war against the commandments of God make it manifest that their minds are carnal; for "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh can not please God." {ST, April 30, 1896 par. 8}

If you would work as Christ worked, if you would overcome as he overcame, go straight to him for help needed to subdue the inclinations of the carnal mind and the passions of the natural heart. Resist every sinful indulgence, every inclination to gratify wrong desires, remembering that Christ is all and in all, and that he is able to do "exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think." {ST, April 1, 1897 par. 12}

But let no one think that it is possible for human beings in their own power to reach the ideal that God presents before them. Our hearts are evil, and we can not change them. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?--Not one." "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere; but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they can not change the heart; they can not purify the soul. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before man can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. {ST, May 28, 1902 par. 3}

It is written: Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Sin is the problem that Christ came to solve. Not some legal problem. It is not just mental but also physical healing. The atonement of Christ is not a mere skillful way to have our sins pardoned; it is a divine remedy for the cure of transgression and the restoration of spiritual health. It is the heaven-ordained means by which the righteousness of Christ may be not only upon us, but in our hearts and characters.--Letter 406, 1906. {7ABC 464.2} Our very flesh He has saved at an infinite cost.

James, it seems you have no clue. You beat against the air. At-one-ment is all about reconciling humanity with God, so they can be "at one" again. (See what I did there?) Yet you complain about atonement.

In your zeal to disparage Adventists, you make quite a spectacle of yourself. I would laugh, were it not so sad.

How would you "eat His flesh and drink His blood"?

Absolutely required, no.
But for the sake of testimony (witness) before men & angels, required when physically possible.
One could argue "I want to be a private Christian", but such denies the Son before men.
Jesus said "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." Luke 12:9.

I think we tend to ascribe salvific qualities to being dunked in the water.