THE “2” NATURES OF A
CHRISTIAN
When Adam sinned in the
Garden of Eden, all of mankind was genetically in him so that when Adam sinned,
we sinned in and with him. For had we been Adam, we would
have done what Adam did. Therefore, all of mankind is held responsible
for Adam’s sin since he represented all mankind, and therefore, all of mankind
is born as sinners (see Rom.
The
word “flesh” has several different definitions:
Matt.
26:41; Mk. 14:38 Jesus’ disciples were to keep watching and
praying so they wouldn’t enter into temptation because while the spirit (one’s inner desires and best intentions as
influenced by God) is willing to do right and resist temptation, what is
true of the flesh (a person’s humanness;
natural self; human nature; strength of will)?
Do
you find this to be true in your life? Why
is this (see
Why
is a person a slave to sin (vs. 19)?
How does a person become free from sin’s control (vs. 17 with 1:5, 16; 8:2, 6; Eph. 5:18), which controls him/her us due to the weakness of his/her flesh (natural self; sin nature)?
What or who are you controlled by/enslaved to: your sin nature or the Holy Spirit? Why?
Rom. 8:3 Why couldn’t the Law
(all of God’s commands in the Old
Testament) set us free from sin?
But how did God solve the problem?
2. The unregenerate state of men
[“in the flesh” – a non-Christian].
When we accept Christ as Savior (and so die with Him
positionally, that is, the old non-Christian person we used to be is dead/gone
– 6:2-6), how are we to serve God?
Rom.
6:6, 7 Because our old self (the
unregenerate sinner we once were before becoming a Christian, 5:6, 8) was
crucified positionally (as if really
there) with Christ when He died on the cross, our body no longer has to be
controlled by or a slave to sin. Are
you, and why?
Rom.
8:8, 9 Who can’t please God?
When is a person not in the flesh?
Gal.
Have you been crucified with
Christ? If
so, when?
3. Mere human nature, the earthly
nature of men apart from divine influence and, therefore, prone to sin and
opposing God
Rom. 8:3, 5-7 What
do people who are living by/according to their flesh/sin nature set/fix their
minds/thoughts on?
[“the flesh” – self-centeredness; the sin
nature].
What
is your mind set/fixed on, and why?
Gal.
Are
you carrying out the desires of your sin nature? Why?
Eph. 2:3 How did
these Christians once live?
[“the flesh” – the bodily drives controlled by
the sin nature].
What
were they by nature?
Are you indulging in the desires of the flesh (e.g., immorality, drunkenness, illicit drugs, gluttony) and of the mind (sinful thoughts, e.g., coveting, greed, pride, jealousy, anger, etc.), and are you a child of wrath (an object of God’s wrath because of disobedience, rebellion to, and unbelief in God and/or His Word, the Bible)?
4.
The seat of sin in mankind
2 Pet.
Is
this how you are enticed to sin? Why?
1 Jn.
[“flesh” – physical, bodily cravings like sexual immorality, illicit
drugs, gluttony, drunkenness].
Do
you indulge in these things, and why?
5. The lower and temporary element
in the Christian; all that he is naturally apart from regeneration
Gal. 3:3 What
question is asked here?
How can’t we be
perfected?
[“perfected by the flesh” – made spiritually
mature by self/human effort in keeping the Law/Old Testament commands].
How
are you trying to become more righteous/godly/spiritual, and why?
Gal.
6:8 What happens if a person gives his flesh an
opportunity to prosper or be put to action (e.g.,
spends his money to indulge his sinful nature)?
What benefit is there to sowing to or investing
in the Spirit (i.e., in things of the
Spirit, like supporting good Bible teachers, vs. 6)?
[“eternal
life” – both quantitatively in duration (i.e., eternally) and qualitatively
(i.e., rewards).].
6. The natural attainments of men
1 Cor. 1:26-29 Not many of what kind of people are called to salvation?
[“the flesh” – human standards].
How are you trying to gain God’s favor? Why?
2 Cor. 10:2-4 (2nd part of verse 2) How did some people
regard Paul’s Christian lifestyle?
[“the flesh” – human standards; fleshly motives for his being meek,
like wanting favors or being fearful of people].
How
doesn’t Paul wage his spiritual battle?
From
what source are you trying to live the Christian life?
Phil. 3:3 What
shouldn’t we put confidence in?
[“the flesh” –
physical/human merit or religious, human externals, like circumcision, vss.
4-6].
Do
you? Why?
7.
The externals of life
2 Cor. 7:1 What are we to cleanse
ourselves from?
[“flesh” – the body with things like alcohol, illicit
drugs, gluttony, immorality. “spirit” – God-conscientiousness or mentality,
with the idolizing of such things as: worldly music, TV, movies, sex, money,
sports, computers, possessions, cars, homes, etc.].
And what should you do instead?
What defilements of the flesh are you involved in (you can answer this silently to yourself)?
If you are involved in any defilements, what are you going to do about it, and how soon?
Heb.
Aren’t you glad that Jesus’ shed blood internally
cleanses the sin of the believer in Him as Savior, instead?
8. The outward and seeming, as contrasted with the
spirit
Jn. 6:63 What
does the flesh profit?
Who and
what gives life?
[“spirit”
– breath of God; spiritual; of God]; [“life” – eternal life giving, vss. 29, 35,
47].
2 Cor.
[“flesh” – human standards, like whether rich, learned, Jew/Gentile, male/female, slave/free because in Christ these things don’t matter – Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11].
How do you evaluate a person’s worth, and why?
9. Natural relationship
Gal.
[“flesh” – the ordinary way].
10. The
substance of the body, of the flesh of the living body
1 Cor.
[“flesh” – meat on the bones].
11. The human body –
Phil.
[“flesh” – physical
body].
If you physically live longer from this day forward, will it mean fruitful labor spiritually for you, and why?
12. In a general sense, of the whole
animal creation, of mankind, in the totality of all that is essential to manhood
(i.e., spirit, soul, and body)
1 Pet. 1:24 What is all flesh like?
What does this say to you about placing your confidence or prestige in flesh (yourself or other people)?
Jn.
[“blood” – family heritage or natural descent.]; [“the will of the flesh” – human sexual or
procreative desire; physical reproduction];
[“the will of man” – because you choose to be one of your own decision/will].
Rom.
[“works of the law” – obeying Old Testament
commandments]; [“flesh” – person].
How are you trying to be justified (declared righteous) before God?
13. The holy humanity
of the Lord Jesus, in the totality of all that is essential
Jn.
Jn. 6:51 To what does Jesus compare His flesh, and why?
Col. 1:22 How has Jesus reconciled us (brought us back into good relationship with God)?
1 Jn. 4:2 How can we know the Spirit of God?
[“spirit” – a person];
[“flesh” – a physical, human body].
2 Jn. 1:7 Who are deceivers?
14. The complete person
2 Cor. 7:5 How did Paul and Timothy feel when
they came to
Jas. 5:3 What effect will riches have on those who make riches their god?
[“flesh” – lives].
15. Human nature, man
Matt. 19:5, 6 What happens when two people join together?
[“flesh” –
metaphor, for one pair, an intimate, permanent attachment of two lives].
1 Cor.
[“body/flesh” –
metaphor, for one pair psychologically at the least].
16. Natural or physical origin, generation
Rom. 9:8 Who aren’t the children of God?
[“flesh” – Jewish
physical descendents].
17. “Flesh and blood” is an expression denoting
man as fallible, liable to err
Matt.
[“flesh and blood”
– an idiom for “a man/person”].
Eph.
[“flesh and blood”
– idiom for “people”].
1
Cor.
[“flesh and blood” – people in their human, fallible condition or natural state]
Other terms for our sinful state:
1 Cor.
And what can’t he understand? Why?
Jas. 3:14-16 How
does the earthly, natural, demonic nature or wisdom act?
1 Cor. 3:1-3 How did Paul have to speak
to these believers, and why?
[“flesh” – worldly, sinful thinking].
Are
you ever like this? When?
Rom.
Have
you ever come to the same conclusion about yourself? If so, when, and why?
Eph.
[“old self” – the
unsaved person dominated by the sin nature].
Does
the old self improve or get worse in our experience?
Are
you ever surprised at some of your thoughts, words, or actions? You shouldn’t be if your sin nature rules
you.
The new nature, which only Christians possess (having
received it from the time of their spiritual birth) goes under several different
names or headings: the Spirit, the spiritual man, or new creature, divine
nature, and the new man, or new self. The new nature can do no wrong (1 Jn.
3:6, 9; Gal.
Gal. 5:17 Why can’t we (our sin natures) do the things that we (our sin natures) please?
Do
you ever fail to do the things that you know you should? Why?
1 Cor.
2 Cor.
[“old passed away” – slavery to sin and
self; “new things have come” – new attitudes and actions].
Is
this becoming true in your life?
2 Cor.
[“inner man” – thinking, emotions, will; “outer man” – earthly
mortality or body].
2 Pet. 1:4 What might/do we believers
become partakers of because of God’s magnificent promises?
[“divine nature” – God’s nature, acquired at conversion].
Eph. 4:23, 24 What have believers put on/become?
[“the new self” – a
converted person; believer/spiritually born-again person].
How
is it described?
Have
you done this? How
do you know?
Rom.
Do
you ever have this kind of inner, spiritual battle going on in your mind? If
so, when?
What
do you do when it occurs, and why?
Who will set Paul free from this body of death (i.e., human body through which sin operates and leads to both physical and spiritual death)?
How does Paul say he is set free from the law (principle) of sin and death (i.e., spiritual separation from God)?
Are you set free from this too? How do you know?
What are we not under obligation to?
What is the result of living according to the flesh/sin nature?
Who are the sons of God?
How does knowing all this from this passage affect your thinking about yourself and how you’ve been living?
What changes will you be making in your lifestyle?
When? Why?
[“salvation” – glorification in heaven].
What should we not make provision for?
[“the flesh” – the sin nature].
How can you do this?
[To
put on the Lord Jesus Christ means to conduct ourselves according to the moral
attitudes and actions of Christ.].
Mark 7:20-23 (Jer. 17:9) What comes from within man, out of his heart?
Do you think that you are any better within? Why?
Matt. 12:33-35 (Lk.
Or our new nature ever produce anything evil?
Why?
Jn. 8:41, 44 Who do these religious leaders take after (in both deeds and desire)?
Whenever the devil lies, what is the source of his lies?
When you lie or commit any other sin, what is the source of your evil?
Gal.
[The “I” that no longer lives represents Paul’s unregenerate/unconverted, old self].
How is Paul now living?
And how are you living, and why?
Gal.
[“flesh” – sin nature].
What does this mean in your own words?
Are you “walking by the Spirit”? Why?
Why can’t we do the things that we please?
Are you consistently doing what you know is right? Why?
What have those who belong to Christ Jesus done?
[“flesh” – the old, unregenerate, non-Christian self].
Gal. 5:19-21 What are the deeds of the flesh?
What warning is given?
Are you practicing these things? What are you going to do about it?
When, and why?
Gal. 5:22, 23 What is the fruit of the Spirit?
Are these qualities consistently evident and growing in your life? If not, why?
And what plan of action do you have to change this? When will you start?
Eph. 4:17-24 What have believers learned to lay aside?
[“old self” – their former non-Christian state of being].
And are renewed in?
And have put on?
[“new self” – become a Christian].
How has our new self been created?
Have you done all of these things mentioned above? Why?
Col. 3:5-11 Why shouldn’t these believers lie to one another?
Do you ever lie? If so, when?
What can you do to change this?
Titus
To which would you compare your mind or nature? Why?
1 Pet.
2 Pet. 1:3, 4 What has God’s divine power granted to us?
By God’s promises, what might we become partakers of?
And what is it that we have escaped?
1 Jn. 3:6-9 What does the one who abides in (remains in fellowship with or in obedience to) Christ not do?
Who doesn’t practice sin?
[To “practice” sin means to
habitually/constantly do it.].
Are you practicing sin? Why?