This is the knowledge which puffeth not up; but like love, it edifies the soul in deep humility, while it excites overflowing gratitude in the heart to Christ for his righteousness to justify such vile sinners: it is the knowledge of regenerate souls. I know; not only doctrinally, in notion and theory, but it is a confirmed truth, by heart-felt experience; I know it from day to day; I have proved it again and again, "that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." Paul's judgment of himself was confirmed by experience.
But, was not Paul a most eminent apostle and holy saint? Yes: still he confesses publicly before God, an gels and men, that he was the subject of a nature which is "earthly, sensual and devilish." If no good thing dwelt in his flesh, is it not implied that every evil dwelt there? Doubtless he would be so understood. Were "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, blasphemies" in the flesh of this holy saint? Yes, his knowledge of the total corruption of his fallen nature agrees with his Lord's doctrine. Matt. 15:19. He had been a murderer and blasphemer by practice; then he was in a state of ignorance and unbelief; but now he was regenerated, his state changed, and his practice altered, therefore, surely his flesh could not be so bad. Yes, it was just the same: the flesh, the old man, the corrupt fallen nature is and ever will be the same in the regenerate: "It ever lusts against the Spirit." Gal. 5:17.
Why is this woful experience of Paul's left upon record? For our profit. That we might judge and try ourselves by it. If we are taught by the same Spirit, we shall have the same humbling views of our flesh. Our flesh is not worse than Paul's, nor was his better than ours. If we are left in nature's pride, we shall join the ignorant cry of those who say, "all who are convinced of sin greatly undervalue themselves."
We also here learn not to be cast down with despondency, nor to give way to despairing thoughts, though we find every evil and nothing but evil in our flesh; for this cures us of all confidence in the flesh, to which we are prone, but it opposes the faith of the Gospel.
Look then and go entirely out of yourself: look wholly to and trust entirely in the Lord Jesus and his righteousness, that though you have no confidence in the flesh, you may ever rejoice in him; this is the character and conduct of a true believer. Phil. 3:3. Adore the Holy Spirit, who, when you had no goodness to deserve it, no fitness to qualify for it, but all in you to oppose it, gave you a new birth into Christ, in whom you have every spiritual good. Therefore, "walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16.