Therefore, those are perfectly blind who maintain that the evil desires in the flesh are not sins. Paul says of them, Gal. 5:17: “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;” for the flesh places no confidence in God, relies on the world and temporal goods, seeks man’s consolation and aid in afflictions, even against God’s will, doubts his mercy and assistance, and murmurs against him in crosses and temptations; all this is against the commandments of God. The Holy Ghost contends and strives in hearts of the saints, against the sin inherited from Adam, in order to remove and destroy the poison of the old Adamic nature,—the evil, desperate character of the heart,—and to produce in us another mind and disposition.
Augustine also says, “We keep all the commandments of God, when all is forgiven us that we do not keep.” Hence he asserts that even the good works wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, are pleasing to God, only when we believe that he accepts us for Christ’s sake, and not because they are in themselves worthy of his acceptance. (Henkel Translation, p. 189).