My friend, the Bible teaches that when Christ comes into our hearts, He creates a new life or a new nature within us. Interestingly, this new nature does not obliterate the old one. Thus, the Christian is a unique individual in whom two natures dwell; the old and the new.
The old nature does not have the ability to do good. That is why before one is regenerated by God he can do nothing but sin. The reason for this is because our motives for everything we do before regeneration are wrong. We are self-centered rater than God-centered.
My friend, the battle that wages between these two natures is described by Apostle Paul in the these words according to Galatians 5:17: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (NIV).
Now the question is: To which nature are we going to yield ourselves? In the book of Romans, Paul gives his first instruction to the believer concerning how to deal with this inner battle. He says: “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” Romans 6:13 (NIV).
I believed that the secret of a successful Christian life is letting the new nature control our lives. When the new nature is “plugged in”, so to speak, our life is going to bring forth the fruit of the Sprit. Galatians 5:22, 23 (NIV) tells us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
So my friend, when we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we live lives pleasing to God and consistent with our confession of faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
When the old nature is “plugged in”, there are all kinds of works of the flesh which are difficult to live with, such as strife, jealously, animosity, hatred, lust covetousness and greed (Galatians 5:19-21). When we produce such works we are not pleasing to God and are failing to demonstrate evidence of faith in our lives. If our entire lifestyle is controlled by such attitudes, we must ask the question if we have sincerely trusted in Christ as the Lord of our lives.
My friend, how about you? Which nature is going to control your life? Go to God in prayer and to His Word. Pray daily that Christ will control your life. This can make each day a great adventure with God.
I will love for you to try this today. As soon as you are aware of any sin in your life, (any bad tone of voice, any negative look in your eyes, any attitude of your heart that is not pleasing to God) then recognize that your old nature is asserting itself. Confess the sin and ask to be controlled by the Spirit of God. Ask for His mercy and His forgiveness.
My friend, what a difference it will make in your day and you will begin to make Jesus Christ known to others through your lifestyle. God desires to see this manifestation of Christ in our daily attitudes, words and conduct. Amen!
