Sin Nature Or The Result Of The Work Of The Flesh

[AVBibleBeliever]

I hear people in our Christian world via radio, TV and even in Pulpit Ministry, use the term "sin nature" as if it is Biblical. 

 

Now I would have to admit they may be trying to communicate something deeper, but why use words and terms not in the Bible?

 

It is either they are trying to rationalize a truth or they are teaching a doctrine of men.

 

I think we all agree that sin is transgression against God.  So when we look at sin clearly we see that sin is the result not of a nature in a Christian but it is a result of their giving into their flesh.

 

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Here sin is said to be the "works of the flesh"  not of a sin nature. 

 

However I was amazed to find the word :nature was found only 11 times in scripture, all in the NT and all but three are in Paul's writings.

 

Eliminate those verse that refer to nature or the natural way Romans 1:6, 2:14, 27 & 11:24;  1Cor 11:14; Gal 2:15, 4:8; and the uses in Hebrews and James we discover that there are only two verses that may speak of a nature of behavior.

 

 Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. What is seen here is that it is the nature of the unsaved, wicked people to be children of God's wrath.

 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  and what we see here is that these being spoken too are told that "By these", that is the exceeding great and precious promises that those who are recipients of this letter "MIGHT" be partakers of the divine nature.  this is amazing becuase we have the Holy Ghost residing in us and we Have the divine nature already by this indwelling because this nature is of God not of ourselves.  But these people are being said that if they "escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust"  the prOBlem is many see lust as the evil of covetousness.  But in fact it is escaping the corruption through their strong desire for the exceeding great and precious promises that Israel was given of God in the OT

 

You can walk in the Spirit which is the divine nature or you can walk in your flesh but a Christian no longer has any nature that is contrary to God.  What he has is the flesh. Gal 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.

 

But the fruit of the spirit which is the divine nature of whihc you have received it is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:22, 23

 

Sin is not our nature it is the result of our flesh. Our nature is that of God, Divine.  Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
 

 

 

[Alimantado]

>Here's where we got to when we discussed this a couple of months back.

[No Nicolaitans]

So we are limited to only using terms found in the Bible? 

 

When you preach, do you only quote scripture? After all, we can't use any terms not found in the Bible. Do you get up for however long it takes you to deliver a sermon...and say nothing but scripture?

 

Nehemiah 8:8
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

 

Mark 4:34
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

 

Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

 

etc...

 

Whether you admit it or not, you still have a sin nature; otherwise, you wouldn't have shown concern about applying for certain jOBs that would have appealed to your sin nature; thereby, making it easier for you to revert to old sins.

[No Nicolaitans]

>Here's where we got to when we discussed this a couple of months back.

 

Don't worry, I'll refrain.

[Guest]

Desires of the flesh = sin nature, inherited from Adam

 

The terms flesh and nature (that which we are born with) are synonymous.  The "desires" of that flesh is synonymous with "sin nature".  When Adam sinned it was his flesh that was cursed, and that cursed flesh is passed on to all his seed.  Everyone that is born of Adam has this cursed sin nature in his flesh.  That is why it was so vitally important that Jesus was NOT born of man, but of the Holy Spirit.  The virgin birth was not just a "sign" for the Jews, it was an absolute necessity for Jesus to be without sin.  Had Joseph been his actual father, Jesus would have needed salvation himself.  

 

Romans 5:12   Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

 

You must be born again in order to be spiritually alive and able to "walk in the spirit".   When Adam sinned his spirit died in that day.  

 

 Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  

 

Adams spirit didn't die when his body died almost 900 years later, it died in that day that he sinned.  What we inherit from Adam is the flesh only, we do not inherit a dead spirit.  We are all born spiritually dead and therefore must be born again.

 

That spirit was never cursed and it's nature continues as it has always, towards and in, perfect fellowship with God. 

 

I am pressed for time and must leave for work.  If you want/need the mountain of scripture for this I can revisit this later when I am home for the evening. 

 

Dwaine

[AVBibleBeliever]

you can remain in your sin nature if you want but I have the Spirit of God indwelling me and don't need to have hope in promises of a kingdom to have his nature manifest itself in my life.

[AVBibleBeliever]

No Nicolai,

 

We should use AV Biblical terms as mush as possible to represent true Biblical doctrine.  It is very important.  You cannot find the term sin nature in the KJV.  A Christian does not struggle with sin nature.  His struggle is with his flesh, and the works thereof result in sin.

 

I and any true Christian no longer have a nature to sin.  We have a nature to do God's will, something that before we were saved we could not do at all even willingly.

[Alimantado]

you can remain in your sin nature if you want but I have the Spirit of God indwelling me and don't need to have hope in promises of a kingdom to have his nature manifest itself in my life.

 

What a snide comment.

[No Nicolaitans]

Works OF the flesh.

 

The "flesh" is a biblical term used to describe the seat wherein resides the inherent inclination to sin. Paul (under inspiration from the Holy Ghost) admitted that he still struggled with his inherent inclination to sin. His flesh warred against his spirit, so much so that he did the things he shouldn't do and didn't do the things he should.

 

Was this inherent inclination to sin solely in his flesh, or was he using that term to describe his nature? When you or I deny something sinful that "our flesh" wants to do, are we denying our flesh...or are we denying the natural inherent inclination to sin?

 

We are PARTAKERS of the divine nature...meaning we've been made to take part in it...it's part of our lives; however, it doesn't have full control. If it did, we would be without sin. And the reason we do still sin is because we also have a part of us that has an inherent inclination to sin...aka...a sin nature.

[AVBibleBeliever]

No the flesh is the flesh and sin is sin.

 

The flesh in and of itself does not sin.  But the works, the outworking of the flesh is sin.

[No Nicolaitans]

Romans 13:14
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

Where do these lusts of the flesh originate? What is their source?

 

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 

Where does this lust of the flesh originate? What is its source?

 

Galatians 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

Where do these affections and lusts originate? What is their source?

 

Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

Where do these lusts and desires of the flesh originate? What is their source?

 

Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

 

Where does this satisfaction of the flesh originate? What is its source?

[John81]

Thank you NN!

 

Ephesians 4:29

 

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[MountainChristian]

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

 

1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

[AVBibleBeliever]

Romans 13:14
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

Where do these lusts of the flesh originate? What is their source?  According to Rom 13:14 the source of fulfilling the lusts thereof is the flesh.

 

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 

Where does this lust of the flesh originate? What is its source?  According to Gal 5:13-21 the source is the flesh

 

Galatians 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

Where do these affections and lusts originate? What is their source?  According to Gal 5:13-21, Rom 13:14 it originates in the flesh

 

Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

Where do these lusts and desires of the flesh originate? What is their source?  According to Eph 2:3, Gal 5:13-21, Roms 13:14 the lusts originate in and are of the flesh.

 

Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

 

Where does this satisfaction of the flesh originate? What is its source?  As stated already the flesh is where it all originates.

 

 

All these things originate from within a man's heart/mind/soul, but the flesh is where the works of the flesh come from.  Not once in any of those verse does it say anything about a sin nature. 

 

 

Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
 Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we/you will recognize that we/you are dead to sin and alive to Christ you will not have works of the flesh (sin).  Psychologist like us to have a sin nature but in reality that nature is dead but we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ.  We no longer possess a nature to sin.  However we do have the flesh and it is the flesh that drives us not sin nature.

 

Paul says, Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should OBey it in the lusts thereof.  However he is not talking about sin nature he is speaking about sin in and of itself.

 

Paul also said, Rom 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  He is not speaking of sin nature but walking after ones flesh.

 

The believer has the divine nature.  Before a Gentile was save he was dead and was by nature a child of wrath, without hope.  But once he got saved he became a NEW Creature (not creation) complete with the divine nature.