WE MUST CRUCIFY OUR OLD NATURE
When God draws us to himself, He enables us to respond to His call by repenting and making Him Lord. If we repent, something awesome happens! We become born again. John 3:5-6
To be born again is to receive a new nature, a new mind, and the Holy Spirit. But what happens to our old nature when we receive this new nature? Unfortunately, the old nature is still with us. This is the struggle Christians face until this earthly corrupted nature dies and we are clothed with our heavenly bodies free from corruption. The apostle Paul says it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:2 (NIV) 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.
Why would we still groan if we have a new nature? We groan because the old nature still has sinful desires that pull at us and tempt us to do evil. Paul calls this struggle a conflict that is within us. Galatians 5:17 (NIV) 17 For 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. Peter calls this struggle a war as our sinful desires pull at us to disobey God. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV) 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
What, then, is our responsibility to the old nature? 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (NIV) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
In our new nature we are to be denying the old wants, desires, and plans. We must remember that our old ways are corrupt, selfish, and for our own gratification. We are to put the old nature to death in order that the life of Jesus is evident in our lives. Many have heard the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” This phrase is exactly the mindset believers need as they seek to obey God. If Jesus was living His life through me what would He do? How would He respond to the situations that arise in my life? The exciting truth about these questions is that, as Christians, they become a reality in our lives. Jesus’ nature and character begin to be displayed through us. Christ’s character pouring out of our lives is the evidence that we are born again. When we begin to speak and act like Jesus, then we can be confident that Christ is in us!
God’s will for our lives is that we are "conformed to the likeness of his Son”. Romans 8:29 (NIV) In order for this to happen, we must do our part. Look at what Jesus said in, Luke 9:23-24 (NIV) 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. We must deny our wants and desires and make God’s wants and desires our priorities. We must take up our cross daily as we seek to crucify our old nature. We must lose our life’s ambitions, goals, and dreams to follow Christ and be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
If you were to die today, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?
When Jesus spoke about heaven, he called it a Kingdom. In a Kingdom, there is only one ruler and He is Jesus our Lord. We must submit our lives to King Jesus to enter into His Kingdom. This is repentance: when we no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life for us. We live to please him. We understand that he created us to love him and others.
What is the process for crucifying our old nature? How do we go about it? Where do we start?
In preparing the way for Christ, John taught the people, Luke 3:7-9 (NIV) 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
The coming wrath will be poured out on the disobedient and unrepentant. (Roman 1:18; 2:5; Colossians 3:6) John tells us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Crucifying our flesh is a process and Paul tells us in Romans that we have an obligation to “put to death the misdeeds of the body”.
Since Scripture alone is what governs us, what does the Bible say about crucifying our sinful nature? Most of us know what we need to be working on, but sometimes we need to ask God to reveal deeper things that we need to work on. Deeper issues would include things like the motives of our heart, un-forgiveness, and pride.
HERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP CRUCIFY OUR OLD NATURE
1. ASK GOD FOR AREAS TO WORK ON. Ask God to reveal to you areas that you need to put to death. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. This is vital since we have already learned that we can be deceived, and blinded to the things of God. We love to justify ourselves and think that we are looking good to man but underneath we could be full of greed or selfish envy. In sincerity, ask God to reveal to you any sinful motives or character flaws that need to be dealt with.
2. MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE. Scripture Memory is vital to putting to death our old nature. Psalm 119:11 (NIV) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
If we really want to know God and find out what pleases Him we are going to be searching His Word. As our Self-Government LIFE TRUTH number one tells us, “All Scripture” is what God has given us to govern our lives by. If you have no desire to read the Word, it can only be one of two things: You either do not have a new nature that would draw you to His Word or you are allowing your old nature to keep you out of the Word. There is a verse in the Bible to deal with every old nature issue that you could be going through. In your new nature you should search the Scriptures to find a verse that relates to the issue that you are seeking to put to death. Memorize the passage and let God’s Word begin to defeat your old nature. In many cases there are several verses that you could memorize to defeat your sin nature.
Psalm 119:11 is not only about defeating sin in our lives but preparing ourselves not to sin. Many Christians go out into the world with no Scriptural foundation. When the cares of this life come, they fall into sin, mainly, because they do not know the Holy Scriptures. How many young people have married a non-Christian, suffered in their marriage, and eventually ended up divorced? The Scriptures are clear that we should not be yoked with an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). If this Life Truth was memorized and meditated upon, young people who desire to honor God with their lives would avoid this area of sin. As Christians, we have the responsibility to train up our children and prepare them to live holy and righteous lives. Scripture memory is vital in this process. These Life Truths are just a beginning in the process of teaching our children in the way that they should go (Proverbs 22:6).
3. MEDITATE UPON GOD’S WORD. Meditate on the passages you are memorizing and the Word of God. Psalm 119:97 (NIV) 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
What we meditate upon affects us greatly. Proverbs 24:2 (NIV) 2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. The old nature focuses on selfish things and in the heart we meditate upon our sin and then our sin comes to fruition. The wicked man meditates upon and talks about violence and then it comes out of him. The righteous meditate upon God’s Word and talk about God’s Word and then righteousness comes out. As James tells us in James 1:25 (NIV) 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law (God’s Word) that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
THERE ARE TWO MOTIVATIONS TO PUTTING THE OLD NATURE TO DEATH
1. Fear of the Lord
The Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise” Psalm 111:10 (NIV). It also says in Proverbs 16:6 (NIV) 6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NIV) 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What is it to fear the Lord? How will that help us put to death our old nature? Just prior to that verse is the importance of fearing the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV) 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
The crucial weight is in the fact that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due us. The good and the bad that we do here on the earth will be brought to the judgment and we will stand trial for it.
The Bible gives us some insight into the judgment and some of the things that we will be held accountable for.
a. OUR WORDS - Matthew 12:36-37 (NIV) 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
b. OUR DEEDS - 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Paul was witnessing to Governor Felix and teaching him about faith in Christ. Look at what he said in Acts 24:24-25 (NIV) 24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."
Why was Felix afraid? He was afraid because of the fear of the judgment. We must display self-control and righteousness which is impossible to do without Christ in us. Even when we receive our new nature we still have the responsibility to crucify our old self.
Have you ever really contemplated the judgment? We will stand trial on what basis? What charges will be presented for my conviction or my acquittal? The key is not to look around you at all the other people headed to trial and compare yourself to them. The charge, as we learned in our Life Truth number two is that we all have a corrupted nature and we all stand guilty before a Holy God. We are all in the same boat of the condemned. So what is the judgment? The judgment will be based upon the evidence. What evidence is there that Christ is in you? Is your old flesh dying? Can we see Jesus in you? His words, His love, His mercy, His actions? Paul said it this way, Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
In the book of Acts, we read that the gospel reached Antioch and a great number of the people believed. The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to check it out. The Bible says, Acts 11:23 (NIV) 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. This is also the first place that people were called Christians. The very word Christian means like Christ. Barnabas saw the evidence that these people had a new nature. He saw Jesus in them. Is there enough evidence to convict you as a Christian? Notice I did not say a religious person, because today a person can be called a “Christian” and yet live a lifestyle that doesn't reflect Christ. Homosexuality, sexual immorality, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he says and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16. These characteristics are not Christ-like and reveal a lack of evidence that Christ is in you. Again, on the Day of Judgment will there be enough evidence to convict you of being Christ-like?
Some might say that we are saved by grace and not by works, and that this sounds like a “works” salvation. I am not promoting a works salvation, but Biblical salvation. The works are not from us but from the very fact that Christ is in us. We are to be no longer living but Christ is to be living in and through us. Listen to what James said, James 2:20 (NIV) 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? We are all corrupted and sinful and when we become born again Christ begins to live His life through us. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We are to display God’s works or as Jesus taught, the fruit or evidence should come out of us. Paul declared in Galatians that “he no longer lived but that Christ lived in Him,” Galatians 2:21 (NIV) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" It is Christ in us enabling us to live holy and righteous lives. If there is no evidence of that in your life, then you should be very concerned about the day of judgment.
What happens if we receive our new nature and decide not to deny our old sinful desires? What happens if we refuse to walk by the Spirit and we choose to go our own way? Hebrews 10:26-27 (NIV) 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Hell is going to be a terrible punishment and unimaginable suffering, but the Bible talks about an even worse punishment. In fact, it states that those who know better will have a worse punishment than those who did not. This means that those who understand the gospel, who understand their need to be crucifying the flesh and living to please God but still refuse, will receive a worse punishment than the lost. (Luke 12:48)
The fear of God should compel us to be holy as God has called us to be. Romans 2:5-8 (NIV) 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
If you have no desire to make Christ’s desires yours, or you have no desire to read the Word, or you have no desire to pray and seek God, then there is a very good chance that you do not have a new nature. If you do not have a new nature, you are not born again; and if you are not born again, you are not saved. This should greatly concern us in our own lives and the lives of those around us. Do we see evidence in our children’s lives that they have a new nature and want to honor God? Do we see evidence in our friends and families lives that they have a new nature which is causing them to become more like Christ? We must pray and seek to persuade everyone to come to know Christ as their Lord for their salvation.
2. Christ Love compels us
Okay, so fear compels us because we need to be concerned about the judgment, but does love compel us as well? How can fear and love compel us? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV) 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
When we reflect upon what Christ did for us and the great suffering that he endured on our behalf it causes us to be compelled to honor Him with our lives. The God of the universe came down from His throne in heaven and he died on the cross for me. Not because I deserved for Him to do it, but because he loved me and He did not want to spend an eternity without me. He wants to have a relationship with me. Wow, me a wretched sinner. As the verse states, “we are convinced that one (Jesus) died for all” and that “all” includes me. Christ died for me and He died for you. A God that would die for us, so that we do not have to spend an eternity in hell, this kind of love should compel us to “no longer live for ourselves” but to live for Jesus.
This kind of love should compel us to please him and be like Him in this world. We are careful about what we say and do, because we seek to glorify the God who loved us enough to redeem us from hell and our corrupted state. The fear of judgment begins our path of putting to death our old nature. But as we experience more and more of the love of God, his unfailing love drives out the fear of punishment, knowing that Christ is in us, the hope of glory.
1 John 4:16-18 (NIV) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Are you afraid of the judgment? Does it concern you to stand before God to be judged according to your words, actions, and even the very motives of your heart? Then cry out as the repentant tax collector did in Luke 18:9-14 (NIV) 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Oh, that we would see our corrupted nature and we would cry out to God for mercy. That we would lay our selfish ambition, pride, justifications, self-righteousness, and be justified by the one who can save us. That we would experience His great love for us, and that it would compel us to deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow Him.
