And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6
All who trust in their own works to Save them or to keep them Saved, cancel out the GRACE of GOD!
When one Believes unto Salvation they are Eternally Saved!
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15
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De
 IP: 71.222.103.174 Apr 27, 08 - 7:31 AM |
THE OLD NATURE IN THE BELIEVER
by Cornelius R. Stam The believer who would be truly spiritual must recognize the presence of the old nature within. It would be dangerous not to recognize a foe so near. The old nature in the believer is that which is "begotten of the flesh." It is called, "the flesh," "the old man," "the natural man," "the carnal mind." Just as "they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:  so that which is of the flesh, in the believer, cannot please God. "The flesh," as we have already seen, is totally depraved. God calls it "sinful flesh" (Rom. 8:3), warns that it seeks "occasion" to do wrong (Gal. 5:13), and declares that "the works of the flesh" are all bad (Gal. 5: 19-21). Nor is the old nature in the believer one which improves by its contact with the new. It is with respect to "the flesh" in the believer, even in himself that the Apostle declares that in it "dwelleth no good thing" (Rom. 7:1 , that it is "carnal, sold under sin" (Rom. 7:14), that it is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Eph. 4:22), that it is at "enmity against God," and is "not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7). "The flesh," even as it remains in the believer after salvation, is that which was generated by a fallen begetter. It is the old Adamic nature. It is sinful in itself. It cannot be improved. It cannot be changed. "That which is born [begotten] of the flesh is flesh," said our Lord (John 3:6), and it is as impossible to improve the "old man" in the believer as it was to make him acceptable to God in the first place. The "old man" was condemned and dealt with judicially at the Cross. Never once is the believer instructed to try to do anything with him or to make anything of him, but always to "reckon" him "dead indeed" (Rom. 6:11), and to "put him off" (Col. 3:8-10). --------------------------- I liked this devotional because it just shows us that our greatest problem in this walk with Jesus is not the world, it's not the devil - it's our old nature, "the flesh!" Quite frankly, and to be perfectly honest there are times - I just don't "feel" like putting it off and reckoning it dead, you know? Sometimes I want to say that thing to get back at someone that hurt my itty bitty feelings. Sometimes I like to pat myself on the back for a "job well done." Our old nature is full of lusts and anytime we entertain it's thoughts - we are likely to be won over by it's desires. When we do this we "put off" the new man. We walk not after the Spirit. We walk after the flesh. Let's be conscious of the "old nature" at all times because we have been enabled to "put off" the "old man" with its lusts. We have been given the ability to "reckon it dead." As Sealed unto Salvation Believers we are no longer slaves to the "sins of the flesh." We are capable of saying "NO!" One thing that I find helpful is that when I want to react from the flesh - I get alone with the Lord and talk to Him about why I feel the way I do. He always helps me sort out what's going on. If I wait and do not react from the flesh, I find that in hours, sometimes several - I'm able to respond with the mind of Christ. I'm able to "walk in the Spirit" not completing the "lusts of the flesh." I want to do better at saying "NO" to "the flesh" and I want to do better at "waiting upon the Lord" to see me through each time the "old nature" wants to dictate the situation. |
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