Doug, you have presented insight in the wonder of reckoning oneself dead, and, there is so much to die to! ~
The Scriptures say we are to judge ourselves.
1Co 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
This explains the way that Paul judges himself, as I understand it, not by the standards opinions or view points of MAN, but by the understanding, knowledge and experience Paul has of GOD.
God IS author and finisher OF Faith.
The expounded teachings that expose the myth of Free Will, show that we do not have any control of who we are, where we are or how we are. THAT we are, is God's department. Sure we are accountable, but that is not the point right now. The point is, we have no control over our thoughts or over tomorrow or even over the now.
When human thoughts arise that are offensive, obnoxious or sinful, then, in harmony to and with the teaching of Free Will being a Myth, I have had the occasional experience that comes in the joy of experiencing that God IS in control. The experience is one of being dead as you express Doug, to the thought or the temptation to yield to the provocation to act out the thought or worse to become the thought or be deceived into worshiping what I think. This is, for me, maybe not for everyone else, is explained by Ray in his expounding the fact that King Nebuchadnezzar. Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of MY power, and for the honour of MY majesty?
Nebuchadnezzar BELIEVED his own thought!
Being mindful of God in regard to our thoughts and drawing near to God, reminds me of this beautiful Scripture.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
That is not covertly or maliciously aimed at you or anyone Doug. Just a loving description of the Scripture that puts into our view, or consciousness if you like, the thought that it is possible to draw nigh to God...What a beautiful truth of single not double mindedness. God surely is One.
This experience in knowing God controls all, makes thoughts seem dead and self, reckoned dead also which is a GIFT not an acquisition nor a merit nor available if you follow a law or to do list.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3849.0.html "How hard is it to be saved, shows God is One and He is the One that saves. God is the giver of all gifts! Yet it is a very amazing experience that for me has been all too brief and all too far between!
There is no fa-it accompli nor are there any fully born again’s or complete Jesus Christ’s in the line up of homo sapiens, yet God can give us to receive the gift to experience that glimmer and a brief flash of the good deposit given through the Holy Spirit dwelling within.
It is a most wonderful experience to feel and EXPERIENCE that God is in charge of me and of all. My thoughts, wrong ones and beautiful ones, given to recognition of Him, not as God is evil if I think off the mark, but that God is PERFECT, kills all ulterior thoughts and makes them benign and not in self aggrandizement for beautiful thoughts or lofty ideas, but as in...All IS of God.. and everything else is beside the point.
For me it is one thing to academically believe a thing and quite another to experience it!. The conclusive experience of accepting and EXPERIENCING that God is in control...goes beyond words and to try to say anything about it can spark off suspicion, doubts and fear.
So here is the foundation, in harmony to and with the teaching of Free Will being a Myth, it would stand to reason that our thoughts, IF we believe and accept what Ray teaches, then our thoughts are not something in which we have control or will power.
I believe we identify with our thoughts, our job, our home, our possessions OR we identify with God, as Gods own, not our own property, but Gods. That's what I mean Doug and I think I know what you mean too, if I may be so bold as to say so! ~
Arc