Do you believe we have a sinful nature after we're saved?
If interested, there was another thread elsewhere that had some in-depth discussion on the issue...as seen in
Jewish and Messianic perspectives on the original sin
With the Sin nature aspect...
In the New Covenant we have, we have been given NEW Natures and having the correct application of what having the New Self is about, the concept of the carnal man being available to walk in at any time just as it is with daily choosing to walk in the new nature via Christ/The Holy Spirit is more than consistent in Scripture---Romans 13:13-14 / Romans 13 being one of the best examples, as there'd never be a need/command from Paul stating to put on Christ--just as it is with putting on the new self as seen in Colossians or Ephesians--if there wasn't the capacity to do so.
Your new nature in Christ (empowered by the Holy Spirit) cannot sin...and when in it, one's on point. Yet, on the same token, your old nature's available to walk in as well (i.e. the flesh/sinful nature)..and Just like having two pairs of clothing---as the clothing did not decide to get up by itself and one has a choice whichever one to walk in--it's the same dynamic.
In the book of Colossians, Paul exposed the wrong reasons for self-denial since false teachers were promoting a heresy stressing self-made rules (legalism) and spiritual growth by discipline of the body (asceticism) and visions (mysticism)--which were all based in self-centered efforts and created pride (Colossians 2:11 ). In Colossians 3, he explains true Christian behavior--putting on the new self by accepting Christ and regarding the earthly nature as dead, as we change our moral/ethical behavior by letting Christ live within us so that He can shape us unto what we should be.
On Colossians 3, Paul begins by making clear that we have been raised with Christ and therefore should set our minds on things above---for as he states, "For you died"....which means that we should have little desire for the world as a dead man would have. The Christian's true home is where Christ lives...and this truth gives us a different perspective on our lives here on earth. Our lives have been "Hidden with Christ"--which means concealed/safe...and this is not only a future hope, but an accomplished one right now since our service and conduct do not earn our salvation...but they are results of our salvation. Without that understanding, one has little incentive to bear fruit for the Lord. Becaus our eternal destiny is sure, Heaven should fill our thoughts...
We should consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed....and just like diseased limbs of a tree, these practices must be cut off before they destroy us. We must make a conscious, daily decision to remove anything that supports or feeds these desires and rely on the Holy Spirit's power. That's part of what it means to "put to death/put off the old man"------as the believers in Colosse had forgotten these things (alongside the wrath of God coming because of them)....and Paul was appealing to the commitment the believers had made and urging them to remain true to their confession of faith. They were to rid themselves of the old life and "put on" the new way of living given by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Their conduct should've matched their faith......
Hence, it's the reason Paul made clear that we're now to CLOTHE OURSELVES anew with the new GARMENTS OF CHARACTER CALLED OF US!!
Colossians 3
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
This does not mean we're perfect...for Every Christian is in a continuining education program. And the more we know of CHRIST and His Work, the more we are being changed to be like Him. Because this process is a lifelong journey, we must never stop learning and obeying. It goes hand in hand with the central teaching of Christ regarding taking up one's cross/daily denying themselves to follow Him Matthew 10:37-39/ /Matthew 16:23-25 / Matthew 16 /Mark 8:33-35 / /Luke 9:22-24 / Luke 9
The Word does make clear in I John 3 clearly that one in Christ does not sin----and in that sense, it is indeed logical to say that a Christian may not necessarily be a "Sinner" as much as allowing the "Sinner" of our old self to come back into place...giving our (new man) allowance to let the old man lead.
With Ephesians 4, when I read the whole of God's Word, I see clearly that there was no need to say "When you put on the old self" since the scriptures made clear the people Paul was speaking to were believers who had already done so---and hence, why he had to write to them to put the old self off/put it to death just as they were already taught by him when he worked with them previously---as the letter was sent with one of the workers he had with him named Tychicus ( Acts 20:3-5 / Acts 20 /Ephesians 6:20-22 / Ephesians 6 ) to strengthen the churches in the area since Paul had met with the Ephesian CHURCH at Miletus (Acts 20:28 ) --a meeting that was filled with great sadness snce he was leaving them for what he thought would be the last time. ( Ephesians 4:21-23 /Ephesians 4 ), just as in other passages where the mentality was repeated.
Ephesians 4:16-18 / Ephesians 4
Living as Children of Light
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Romans 13:13-14 / Romans 13
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Put on Christ 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
For Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider---given a gift that literally made him into a new creature. Still human, of course, in many ways....but significantly enhanced/developing with abilities not found in mere men. But when the symbiote got attached to him, it brought out the worse of what he was. And it drove him. Parker had the ability to reign in the symbiote/Venom...but it was difficult and something he had to consciously choose to do.
1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
(1 Peter 2
1 Peter 4:1
[ Living for God ] Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to doliving in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 1 Peter 4:1-3 /1 Peter 4
