Bible Studies

 

Cleaning Up Our Act

Part Four

Picking up where we left off at the end of Part Three . . .

As of the moment we were born-again, we received and became a new creation in Christ (1), but the old sin nature is still alive and well!

As of the moment we were born again, this new creation competes with the old sin nature for control over our thoughts and accompanying behaviors (2).

We strengthen the new creation that we are in Christ by FEEDING it with the Word of God on a daily basis, and by daily EXERCISE, that is applying the Word of God to all that we think, do, and speak. The more the new creation is fed the word of God and exercised, the stronger it will become.

We strengthen the old sin nature by FEEDING it with human viewpoint that runs contrary to the Word of God, and by daily EXERCIZE, that is applying human viewpoint, that runs contrary to the Word of God, to all that we think, do, and speak.

We intentionally or unwittingly feed and exercise one or the other, every day by the choices we make.

Whichever one we choose to feed and exercise the most, will be the one that wins out, more times than not.

When we choose to submit to the leading of God the Holy Spirit, we strengthen the new creation that we are in Christ, and then we, “…will not carry out the desires of the flesh (the old sin nature)-Gal. 5: 17 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”

At the same time, every time we choose to submit to the desires of the self-centered, evil, fallen, nature within us, we increase its strength and its influence over our thought processes for the future.

We are only deceiving ourselves when we think we can listen to, watch, and entertain ourselves with all the trash that the devil’s world throws at us, and then not have it influence our choices. Trash, in this sense, refers to any thought, word, or action that contradicts what God would have us think, do, or say.

In Paul’s letter to the 1st Century believers in Rome (3), Paul spoke of his ongoing internal conflict thirty years AFTER he was born-again, and towards the very END of his earthly ministry. It had been with him every step along the way.

This will be the same scenario for all born-again believers until the day they leave this world.

Each and every minute of each and every day, God has a plan in mind for the new creation that a born-again believer has become in Christ. The devil, has a plan to take the same born-again believer away from the plan that God has in mind. It matters not (to the devil) if the devil accomplishes this objective through prosperity or through adversity, as long as his objective is achieved.

No matter where the born-again believer finds himself or herself on a daily basis, be it at home, work, school, play (recreation), hospital bed, nursing home, etc., he or she is there to be an ambassador for Christ, as he or she interacts with the people all around him or her.

It is when one is in his or her darkest scenarios that he or she has the opportunity to shine his or her brightest light (public testimony). Under such circumstances, it is not unusual for the ones who came to bring comfort that leave being comforted themselves.

Like an enemy submarine, the devil’s plan poses its greatest chance of success when its target is unaware of its presence and strategy. The more one advances in the daily plan of God, the more of a target he or she becomes.

 The devil’s plan appeals to the evil desires of the fallen nature within us, setting the stage for us to be in a position where he can launch his torpedoes for maximum effect.

“Be of sober (alert) spirit (with the radar and sonar of your edified soul structure turned on). Your adversary, t)he devil, prowls around (24/7), like a (hungry) roaring lion seeking someone (you) to devour (1Pet. 5: 8 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Not only does this old sin nature remain with us, it will increase its negative pressure and influence, keeping pace with whatever progress one makes along the road to spiritual maturity.

Every day, born again believers either feed and strengthen the new creation or the old sin nature by the amount of good or evil we allow to become a part of our thought processes.

We nourish and strengthen the new creation within us through the gaily intake of the Word of God. We exercise it by applying the Word of God to all that we think, do, and speak.

We feed and nourish the sin nature within us by taking in human viewpoint and all the trash that this world has to offer. We exercise the fallen nature by applying the trash to all that we think, do, and speak.

Whichever one we choose to feed and exercise the most will win out more times than not, impacting our ability to make true and lasting changes for the better.

We often pray for God to give us the strength to deal with the adversity that He sends or allows to take place, failing to see that one of the reasons we are where we are is the result of our own disobedience to His commands to grow (4) in the knowledge and in the application (5) of His word.

His answer to such prayers could be, “I already have given you the means and the power that you are praying for, but you have not been feeding or exercising the type of soul structure (6) needed to withstand the storms of life.

In His mercy, He will reach down and rescue us, but we will find ourselves in the same need of rescue again and again until we get our act together.

“Do not be deceived. God is not (to be) mocked. For whatever a person (continually) sows, this shall he also (continue to) reap (Gal. 6: 7 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

You might say, I have tried again and again to make changes, but I just can’t do it.”

You may be right, as there are some things that have such a firm grip on us that we can’t break free with the limited resources of our human abilities.

But, “… the things that are impossible for people (with the limited power of human resources) are not impossible with (the enabling power of) God (Luke 18: 27 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

An electric power tool is useless if it is not plugged in to the right power source. The problem-solving devices found in Scripture must be connected to the enabling John 15: 5 power source.

Some changes can be accomplished through human effort and strong-willed individuals. But if the root of the problem is spiritual, it will take spiritual power (7) and strategies (8) to overcome and remain free from the devil’s grip.

“For the weapons of our (spiritual) warfare are not of the flesh (human power and resources), but divinely powerful for the destruction of (the devil’s) fortresses (2Cor. 10: 4 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

A healthy diet and exercise program is just as necessary in the spiritual realm as it is in the physical realm, if we are to succeed in becoming more and more conformed to the likeness of Christ (9).

Real change for the better, also known as cleaning up our act, will be the RESULT of developing and applying the mind of Christ (10) to the new creation that we became the day we were born-again, and by keeping the unchangeable, old sin nature, at bay.

(1) 2Cor. 5: 17 (2) Gal. 5: 17 (3) Rom. 7: 14ff (4) 2Pet. 3: 18 (5) James 1: 22 (6) Matt. 7: 24-27 (7) John 15:5 (8) 2Cor. 10: 4 (9) Rom. 8: 29 (10) 1Cor. 2: 16

End of Part Four

End of Series