Yes, and it is clear that Christ had a godly mother, who did not transmit these bad traits to Christ. However, the genetic question is another issue. In terms of inclinations passed genetically, Christ received the same inclinations anyone else does.

When he speaks of Christ's preparing the way by uniting flesh of sin with divinity, his idea looks to be that Christ's obedience made our obedience possible, and since we have sinful flesh, Christ also had to have sinful flesh to make that possible.

In the passages I posted above, Ellen makes it clear that character is a quality of the soul and is revealed in the habitual thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.

Character is the result of the repetitious choices we make and the habits we form. Obviously it cannot be inherited

The tools and materials we inherit are neutral – neither sinful nor sinless.

T:Yes, and it is clear that Christ had a godly mother, who did not transmit these bad traits to Christ. However, the genetic question is another issue. In terms of inclinations passed genetically, Christ received the same inclinations anyone else does.

R:My point is that spiritual/moral inclinations, whether "genetic" (to use your term) or not, are transmitted to the mind, not to the body.

brain: the portion of the vertebrate central nervous system enclosed in the skull and continuous with the spinal cord through the foramen magnum that is composed of neurons and supporting and nutritive structures (as glia) and that integrates sensory information from inside and outside the body in controlling autonomic function (as heartbeat and respiration), in coordinating and directing correlated motor responses, and in the process of learning

mind: the element or complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons b: the conscious mental events and capabilities in an organism c: the organized conscious and unconscious adaptive mental activity of an organism

The Scriptures declare our problem to be precisely this - a carnal mind that must become obedient.

Do you think Jesus was born in the likeness of an unconverted man or in the likeness of a converted man?

Character is revealed or confirmed by habitual thoughts and actions. This is very different from saying that a child is born destitute of a character.


Ellen White says clearly that God created Adam with, or gave him, a righteous character, in harmony with His own. Obviously this is completely different from what you are saying. She also speaks about "hereditary and cultivated deformity of human character" {FE 277.1}.

??? So sinful tendencies are not sinful?

Everyone inherits all the traits common to mankind. Traits are faculties of the mind and include virtues like honesty, kindness, goodness, patience, perseverance, humility, boldness, bravery, loyalty, temperance, trust, and the like. Traits are neutral, they are neither sinful nor sinless, which means they do not war against us or tempt us to be unlovely. Traits are not character; instead, they are qualities that enable us to create or develop character.

Traits are like building blocks, and the higher powers of the mind (reason, intellect, and conscience) are like tools we use to build character. Imagine walking into the wilderness with the tools necessary to build a log cabin. You cut down trees and then peel and size and shape them into logs, beams, studs, boards, and planks. Next, you drill holes, pound pegs, build up the walls, and raise the roof. Finally, you install trim, finish, and fixtures. And there you go. You started off with tools and raw materials and you ended up with a log cabin.

In the same way weather and health are factors that affect the process and end product of building a log cabin, so too, inherited and cultivated tendencies (inclinations, propensities) are internal factors that affect the process and end product of character development. Evil angels, worldly attractions and associations, unholy music, movies, computers, and games, as well as unhealthy foods, beverages, and recreational drugs are some of the ungodly things that constitute the external factors that impact the kind of character we end up cultivating.

Sinful habits are perversions of the traits and tools we inherit. Our sinful habits are, in the Bible, collectively called the “old man”. Choices become conduct and conduct becomes character. There is a two-way relationship between conduct and character. Conduct creates character, and character creates conduct. As you can see, it is a self-perpetuating cycle. This process also creates new sources of propensities. And, like sinful flesh propensities, sinful character propensities war against unbelievers. They tempt them from within to express and experience their innocent and legitimate physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in sinful ways. In this fashion, sinful character is developed and sinful propensities are strengthened.

As certain character traits are confirmed and solidified, the way people will react and respond under similar circumstances in the future becomes predictable. Eventually it becomes spontaneous. Such character traits are well nigh impossible to change, which is bad news in cases involving sinful character traits, but is good news in cases involving sinless character traits. And, of course, there is a corresponding relationship between cultivated traits and inherited tendencies. As sinful character traits and propensities are cultivated, so too, corresponding sinful flesh tendencies are fortified and strengthened. This cultivation-fortification process and relationship explains why related reactions and responses can spring forth spontaneously.

Likeness to both, but identical to neither.

What do you think the "old man" is? And, how can it be crucified in the believer and exist in the believer simultaneously?

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, (Colossians 3:9)

The sins that were practised before conversion, are to be put off, with the old man. {SD 300.3}

We must crucify the old man, with the affections and lusts, in order to meet the requirements of God. {RH, March 12, 1889 par. 3}

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24)

Not to the mind, but the brain, which is a part of the body.
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The *mind* of Christ was unique, but his *brain* was subject to the same genetic laws that all of our brains are. All genetic inclinations which have to do with thinking, or course, are part of the formation of the brain.

Has Christ, then, descended to our world and to our level, and in our place obtained complete victory over "the world," only in order that He may sit on the right hand of the Majesty on high, and taunt us with our failures in struggling against sin?--God forbid. Says Jesus, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Now "all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:16. In overcoming the world, then, Christ overcame "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,"--all things which are "not of the Father."

The world which Christ overcame was in His flesh. (E. J. Hibbard, The Two Laws)

If we have two people with exactly the same brain - identical in every respect, neuron for neuron - is it possible for them to have different minds?

IOW, is there an aspect of "mind" that is separate from the "brain"?

If so, does a person, upon creation, have a mind?

Or are physical experiences necessary in order to create and develop a mind? (Note: Upon conception, a person has no brain, at least not the way we normally think of it. Upon creation, Adam had a brain, but no experiences.)