It's Our Nature

Roman 7:14-23 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

The biggest battle we as Christians face today is the same one that Paul faced 2,000 yrs ago........ourselves. We all have trouble doing what we are supposed to do because basically, it goes against our nature. Have you ever heard that expression? When something "goes against our nature" with Christ, that means we have too much of "our nature" in us.....our nature is sin...we were born into it, we see it all around us...it’s human nature!

Did you ever see dogs eat? They can be really nice dogs, but I play this game with Rosey that I act like I’m gonna take her food from her. It’s "her nature" to bite me and not let me take it. Most of the time we play, but sometimes she gets really mad if I push the limits, and her real dog nature comes out.....she’s nipped me pretty hard sometimes. I’m sure she doesn’t intend to, but sometimes she just can’t help herself. That is a built in response...it’s her nature.

Did you ever hear stories of people who might have raised a coyote from birth....hand -fed it since it was a pup...and then one day it turned on them? It’s their "nature" to do that! It’s hard to un-train a natural instinct!

Here’s one more.....pit bulls. I can’t tell you how many cases I see on Judge Judy...yes, I know...where these type dogs have attacked either people or other dogs. We have a word for pit bull owners....defendants! It is in that breed’s nature to kill. That is what they weere bred to do.....so whenever the "defendant" gets in court and says "oh, this dog has NEVER hurt anyone....he’s good with kids, other dogs.....LISTEN! He may be all that, but that is contrary to his nature. His true nature is violent....and at some point usually will come out.

Man too, is born to a sinful nature. I believe that when a baby dies, he of course goes to heaven because he hasn’t reached the age of accountability. But every one of us were born into sin....ever since Eve took of that "forbidden fruit" we are all bound to be born into sin.

As a matter of fact, we spend a good deal of our time growing up learning HOW to develop our sinful nature. Whenever the phone rings and Momma answers it and tells whoever is calling that so-and-so is not home......and it’s her that they’re calling for (bill collector, etc) the child sees that....and learns it. Learns that it’s OK to lie whenever it’s convenient. When if the Mother was aware of what she was doing she would NEVER teach her child that. Same thing happens about going to church....your child is watching!

When I was in Jr High, we were taking a test....and I looked over and some kid had the answers written on his hand. I learned that you could cheat and it was OK as long as you don’t get caught. We are born into a sinful nature and then we spend our lives learning how to cultivate that nature. We’ve talked before about how babies have to be taught to share. It is contrary to their nature to share...it must be a learned behaviour! Unfortunatly, we have a propensity to learn wrong behaviour!

I want to mention too, that sometimes you are born with certain genes in you that make you more apt to battle with certain sins. If you had a alcoholic in your family line, you are going to have to be extra careful that that gene doesn’t get cultivated. If you grew up watching your Father abuse your Mother (verbally or physically) you are going to have to be extra careful that you don’t fall into that.