Galatians 5:17 “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.”
The gospel message is good news, but real - from good to bad, then good because of the bad. Genesis 1:31 tells us that after He created everything, then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day (the original good news and meant to be eternal). Then, our first parents believed the devil, doubted God and disobeyed Him in willful rebellion (original sin), which brought the curse against the earth, corruption, a sin nature upon our body and soul (Genesis 3:1-7, 17-19), and death into the world to all (for the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23). This is the eternal bad news and that sin nature remains with every created being throughout their lifetime.
But, when God pronounced this judgment against sin, He also designed a “good news” plan of salvation through redemption by a Savior (the woman’s Seed - Genesis 3:15) in that started to play out immediately, coming about in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ – God incarnate, His sinless life, His atoning sacrificial death on the Cross for the sins of the world, His resurrection defeating death once and for all, His ascension into Heaven to intercede for us to Father God for all those who repent of their sin, believe God, accept receive Christ, are transformed and regenerated by the Holy Spirit unto eternal life, being born-again of the Spirit. Their sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, Christ’s righteousness imputed to them, they are adopted as children of God, granted citizenship in Heaven, and, as followers of Christ, serve the Lord as ambassadors of the kingdom of God here and now. Go and make disciples spreading the gospel message.
In theology, regeneration defined as new birth by the grace of God; that change by which the will and natural enmity of man to God and His law are subdued, and a principle of supreme love to God and His law, or holy affections, are implanted in the heart, thereby being given a new heart with spiritual discernment and connection to God direct. Sad to say though, on this side of eternity we carry the flesh desires of our old sin nature along with us and need to take up our cross daily to consciously, willfully and intentionally follow Him. Genesis 5:17 (above) explains the battle. Romans 7:14-17 concurs, “For we know that God’s law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” The sin nature and the lusts of the fallen flesh are formidable.
Genesis 5:16, 24-25 directs us to mindfully, “walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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. This is the recipe for success. Two natures beat within the Christian heart. One is foul , the other blessed. One we love and one we hate. The one we feed will dominate. Resolve to live a life that is pleasing in the eyes of God, walking daily in His holy Word, Will and Way, led by the Spirit.
In Christ, Brian
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