“17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other…” Galatians 5:17
There is a battle inside every believer. There are two natures at war with each other. The sinful nature is battling against the Spirit and the Spirit is battling against the sinful nature. God has put you in charge of deciding which nature will win. Paul shows us this battle in graphic detail in Romans, Ephesians and Galatians. Let’s have a look.
5 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. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God' s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 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. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness….13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:5-10, 13-14
See the sinful nature has its mind set on fleshly desires, even evil desires, but the spiritual person has their mind set on the things of the Spirit. The sinful nature is opposed to God. It is God’s enemy. It does not consider Him or follow Him. Indeed, it cannot. The sinful nature lacks the ability to do good. It is completely corrupted. The Spirit IS good and cannot be anything but good. So we must allow the Spirit to help us ‘put to death the misdeeds of the body.’ Let’s consider another insightful passage from Galatians.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9
Here is the scripture that is quoted so often, ‘A man reaps what he sows.’ Notice the context here. This scripture is talking about sowing to the sinful nature or sowing to the Spirit. Whichever one we chose to sow to we will reap a harvest from. God forgives your sin when you ask Him but the consequences of your sin may still come to ‘find you out.’ Long after we have been forgiven we are still reaping the consequences of our sin. However, long after we follow the Spirit, we can be reaping spiritual blessing. Let’s continue to dive into this.
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God
God has given us His Spirit, living right inside us, to help us live according to the Spirit and not gratify the fleshly nature. OK so how do we do this? Let’s look at a few more scriptures.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature….9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator….16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom Colossians 3:1-5, 9-10, 16
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
As all of us reflect the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, we are being transformed into the same image with ever-increasing glory by the Lord's Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
God wants to transform us by the renewing of our minds. Our mind decides whether to follow the sinful nature or the Spirit, and where the mind leads the body, will, and emotions follow. The mind leads us into sin or into holiness. God wants to transform us into His likeness. This is what the Christian faith is all about, becoming more like Him. So we need to ask the Spirit to help us renew our minds. We need to set our focus on Him (Heb 12:1-2, Phil 3:7-9, 12-14, Col 2:6-17, 2 Cor 4:16-18, 2 Cor 5:7), and take every thought captive until it obeys Christ (2 Cor 10:-5 [above], Phil 4:4-8). We need to allow His Spirit to strengthen us in our inner man and bring us to the full measure of Christ (Eph 314:21 ;1:17-22). We need to fill our minds with what the Word of God says about us and Himself (Eph 2:1-10). If we do these things God will transform us into His likeness.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Remember He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6)! Those who love Him and are faithful to Him will win His favor (Prov 3:3-6)! We have as much of God as we want to have…He has made Himself fully available.
Oh, God who dwells in heaven and in the hearts of men, come and lead us into life everlasting. Show us by your Spirit the paths we should walk in. Help us be transformed in our minds that we would chose freely to follow you, for you are good! Help us to rely upon your Spirit and to live according to your Spirit that we might reap the rewards of knowing you and being filled with your presence, purity, and power. To your name alone be all the glory! Amen!
References
All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.
