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The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

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doomed to perpetual lukewarmness, and the<br />

problem of sin that dwells within and compels us to<br />

sin can never be solved. Hence the incarnate Christ<br />

must "condemn sin in the flesh," "abolish in His<br />

flesh the enmity" (Romans 8:3; Ephesians 2:15),<br />

which the sinless Adam never had to do.<br />

8. Does this mean that "Christ was born with<br />

indwelling sin"?<br />

Certainly not. Here is where "truth lies close to<br />

the track of presumption" (Letter 8, 1895; 5BC<br />

1128). Never did He sin, or "do that which He<br />

allowed not," or helplessly "find not how to<br />

perform that which is good" (cf. Romans 7:15-18,<br />

KJV). In Paul's inspired phraseology, all these<br />

frustrations are the evidence of "sin that dwelleth in<br />

me." His expression is the exact equivalent of<br />

Waggoner's expression "harbored." A ship that<br />

"harbors" in a port "dwells" there. With us, as<br />

fallen sinners we are the "port" that has "harbored"<br />

sin and permitted it to "dwell" in us. Thus the<br />

corruption "rests" there, to borrow Ellen White's<br />

verb. In contrast, Christ "condemned sin in the<br />

94

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