May 6th 2018
Doing What Comes Naturally Could Be A Sinful Experience!
Romans 8:9 (NIV)
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
We are all born into this world with a sinful nature, because of the curse from God placed on Adam and Eve, when they committed the first sin. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about this in your lifetime on this earth, no matter how many good things you do, when you die you are going to hell! Most of the people living on this earth today still live by their sinful nature, and therefore, when they die their immortal soul will go to hell. Paul wrote about how those who live through their sinful nature will never see God. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)
Thank God there is a way, only one way, also once known as The Way, by which any member of mankind can be saved from this indwelt sinful nature. In the selected verse Paul wrote about how this can be done. When a person accepts the salvation offered only through Jesus Christ they are changed, and then they are no longer controlled by their sinful nature! Then they are “controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” When you accepted Jesus Christ into your life you then forever belong to Jesus Christ! You have become a part of The Way! For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
When you accepted Jesus Christ into your life you were changed, and your perspective about other people is also changed. So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2Corinthians 5:16-17). Jesus taught His disciples about this changed attitude about other people, because they too can become followers of Jesus. They only need to hear the account of Jesus, and then, accept Him into their life, and they too will become a new creation.
This love is not limited to loving only those people who agree with you, it even includes those who have chosen to be your enemy. If such people need help you are to help them. We are not to think of our enemies in bad ways, we are to love them, because they could become our brother or sister, if they chose to accept Jesus into their lives. We are not to seek vengeance on them, but instead to try to love them, as children of God. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)
The natural reaction of people who do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them is to return evil for evil. This should only be true of people who are still being controlled by the sinful nature, they inherited from Adam. True followers of Jesus Christ have been empowered to overcome this natural force that dwells within us. We have been recreated into a new being that is now controlled by the Spirit now dwelling within us. What good works must we do because of this influence deep within us? When Jesus still walked this earth as the God/man, some people asked Him about what works are required? Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29). What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus makes it very clear here, there are no good works, which can save you! Only believing Jesus is who He claimed to be can and will save your immortal soul.
In this world we will often lose our way and get involved in things we know we should not do, but there is still an influence affecting our judgement. It is that evil sinful nature, which sometimes can still make sinful influences look so enticing. Yes, it is true as members of the body of Christ we can be overcomers, but it requires us to continuously work through the Spirit, which does indwell us, but Satan will continue to give us sinful attractions to guide us off the narrow path we are trying to follow in this sinful world. The apostle Thomas was confused about knowing how to follow Jesus in his worldly walk during his lifetime. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14: 5-7)
Here Jesus is telling His disciples (us) that He is The Way, and the only way by which all of mankind can be saved. Jesus is also telling us He is also God, as He told Thomas and all the other disciples that when they saw Him they were also seeing God! “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." Continue working on becoming more Christ-like, and you will have fewer problems in following the indwelling Spirit, instead of following your indwelling sinful nature! Doing what comes naturally will become easier for you to stay on the narrow path that leads you toward Jesus.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 8:9 (NIV)
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
We are all born into this world with a sinful nature, because of the curse from God placed on Adam and Eve, when they committed the first sin. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about this in your lifetime on this earth, no matter how many good things you do, when you die you are going to hell! Most of the people living on this earth today still live by their sinful nature, and therefore, when they die their immortal soul will go to hell. Paul wrote about how those who live through their sinful nature will never see God. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)
Thank God there is a way, only one way, also once known as The Way, by which any member of mankind can be saved from this indwelt sinful nature. In the selected verse Paul wrote about how this can be done. When a person accepts the salvation offered only through Jesus Christ they are changed, and then they are no longer controlled by their sinful nature! Then they are “controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” When you accepted Jesus Christ into your life you then forever belong to Jesus Christ! You have become a part of The Way! For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
When you accepted Jesus Christ into your life you were changed, and your perspective about other people is also changed. So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2Corinthians 5:16-17). Jesus taught His disciples about this changed attitude about other people, because they too can become followers of Jesus. They only need to hear the account of Jesus, and then, accept Him into their life, and they too will become a new creation.
This love is not limited to loving only those people who agree with you, it even includes those who have chosen to be your enemy. If such people need help you are to help them. We are not to think of our enemies in bad ways, we are to love them, because they could become our brother or sister, if they chose to accept Jesus into their lives. We are not to seek vengeance on them, but instead to try to love them, as children of God. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)
The natural reaction of people who do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them is to return evil for evil. This should only be true of people who are still being controlled by the sinful nature, they inherited from Adam. True followers of Jesus Christ have been empowered to overcome this natural force that dwells within us. We have been recreated into a new being that is now controlled by the Spirit now dwelling within us. What good works must we do because of this influence deep within us? When Jesus still walked this earth as the God/man, some people asked Him about what works are required? Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29). What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus makes it very clear here, there are no good works, which can save you! Only believing Jesus is who He claimed to be can and will save your immortal soul.
In this world we will often lose our way and get involved in things we know we should not do, but there is still an influence affecting our judgement. It is that evil sinful nature, which sometimes can still make sinful influences look so enticing. Yes, it is true as members of the body of Christ we can be overcomers, but it requires us to continuously work through the Spirit, which does indwell us, but Satan will continue to give us sinful attractions to guide us off the narrow path we are trying to follow in this sinful world. The apostle Thomas was confused about knowing how to follow Jesus in his worldly walk during his lifetime. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14: 5-7)
Here Jesus is telling His disciples (us) that He is The Way, and the only way by which all of mankind can be saved. Jesus is also telling us He is also God, as He told Thomas and all the other disciples that when they saw Him they were also seeing God! “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." Continue working on becoming more Christ-like, and you will have fewer problems in following the indwelling Spirit, instead of following your indwelling sinful nature! Doing what comes naturally will become easier for you to stay on the narrow path that leads you toward Jesus.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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