If we dont have 2 natures,then why renew the mind?
Why would it need renewing,if there was not something to make for a struggle?
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Romans 7:25
Thanks be to
Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a
slave to
God's
law, but in the sinful nature a
slave to the
law of sin.
Romans 7:17
As it is, it is no longer I
myself who do it, but it is sin living in me
Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your
earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Galatians 5:17
For the
flesh lusteth
against the
Spirit, and the
Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
I dunno,seems like sin,aroused by the law operates somewhere..
I guess we dont need an advocate with the Father??
Ah, brother. Your use of contextomy as well as successfully incorporating many logical fallacies into one post astounds me. By your reasoning, we have two natures, working simultaneously in one body. So are we schizo? What does NEW NATURE mean? From what I understand, if we can abide in Jesus, we can live a sin free life. It is only when we make the CHOICE to step away from Jesus that we are capable of sinning.
"
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:6-8)
If we abide in Jesus, we will SIN NOT. How much clearer do we need the scriptures to be? Also note that I included more than one scripture, since I don't like to quote out of context like some people I know.
Galatians 5:13
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
Galatians 5:1-16
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
This is actually a reiteration of my point. Taken in context, the verse you quoted does not say we have a sin nature. It is saying to stand firm and not be entangled AGAIN with the yoke of bondage. (sin) The passage is actually speaking about love being a fulfillment of the whole law. If we walk in the Spirit, we shall NOT fulfil the lust of the flesh. (v. 16) The passage is admonishing us to stay in the Spirit, something we have a choice to do. This passage actually PROVES my point. As Christians, sin knocks at our door but we have power over sin AND the devil.
"
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14)
Oh, and I noticed that you provided links for all of your other quoted verses but you didn't for this one. Why is that? You quoted the NIV translation, correct? Isn't there a footnote at the end of 'sinful nature' in the NIV translation? The footnote is an indication that 'sinful nature' was a questionable translation. Since you didn't provide a link, I will include the footnote here, for all to see.
Galatians 5:13 Or the flesh; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24. (Source:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians 5:13;&version=31)
Ah, so 'sinful nature' is really translated 'flesh'. This is the word used in the King James version. This word 'flesh' comes from the greek word
sarx and this speaks of our fleshly appetites, our animalistic cravings which desire to be fed,
without any suggestion of depravity.(Source:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4561&t=NIV)
Simply put, it is the POWER OF SIN, but it is not a sin nature. This power dwells IN us but it is NOT us. The flesh can incite, or tempt us to sin but it is not part of our personalities. The reason for this is simple. Our bodies were not 'born again' after our conversion. We didn't enter into our mother's bodies to be born a second time as newborn babies. When we became born again, our SPIRITS were re-created, not our flesh. Our flesh remained the same. We still get sick, we still get hungry, thirsty, we still have to eventually die. We are capable of sinning because we live in a corruptible vessel. But being capable of sinning is not equated with having a sin nature, or being a sinner. That is why we are told to walk in the spirit. 'Sin nature' depicts the old man, the man we used to be before Jesus saved us. But Jesus saved us and re-created our spirits and gave us a new nature. Therefore, we are not sinners or have a sin nature. We are the righteousness of God in Jesus.
