Monday, July 6, 2015

The Old Nature


Romans 6:13 “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
One thing about writing Blogs is that in the research and reading you improve your English vocabulary naturally. Having a dictionary and thesaurus handy is not an option, but welcome. I read an article out of D. James Kennedy ministries that highlighted a good, but mostly forgotten, word “mien” (pronounced ‘mean’). It means ‘countenance” or appearance, as in this following old maxim: ‘Vice’ (the opposite of godly virtue) is a monster of such horrible mien, that to be hated it needs but to be seen. But seen too often, grown familiar with its face, first we endure, and then we embrace. Christians (by definition as a follower of Christ) do not seek familiarity with the face of the monster of vice. Oh, they are just a thought away in this dark fallen world. Instead, we should turn away from old vices, our old habits, our old sin nature and walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-21, 24-25 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident … which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The article explains that the diminishing of our old nature is called “mortification” – put to death (aka – out with the old). The growing of our new nature in Christ is called “vivification” – born again  (aka - in with the new). Put the two together and you get “sanctification” (walking and growing into the likeness of Christ) – the great and glorious Christian faith. Sanctification is a process that goes on throughout this life on our pilgrimage walk. It is never perfected this side of eternity. It is not until we cross from this mortal existence that there, in a final act of “glorification”, the final vestiges of sin are removed and we are declare perfect in the kingdom of heaven.
Ephesians 4:22-24You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
In Christ, Brian


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