You Have Two Natures

A. INTRODUCTION

1. A man had two fighting dogs. Which one wins? The one I tell sic ’em!

2. Jesus describes our two natures as (1) old self and (2) new self. “Jesus invited the crowd to become His disciples, challenging, ‘If you want to be My followers, you must leave your old self and take up My cross and come follow Me. Whosoever gives priority to his old self will lose his life, but if you give up your old self to follow Me, you will find new life. What would you gain if you win the whole world but lost your true self? How could you ever buy it back?’” (Mark 8:34-37, ELT).

3. Every person has two selfs. The new self, and the old self, i.e., self-satisfaction, self-enrichment, and self-exaltation.

4. What does the old self lust after? “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions” (1 John 2:16, NLT).

Lust of the flesh

Lust of the eyes

Pride of life

5. How does Paul describe our two natures? “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Rom. 7:18-19, NLT).

The old man – sinful nature

The new man – new nature

6. Where does the old nature come from? “Yes, I was born with a sinful nature, from the moment my mother conceived me” (Ps. 51:5, ELT).

7. Each self fights the other.

a. You were born with a sin nature. “I was born with a sinful nature” (Ps. 51:5).

b. The old nature has the advantage. “The trouble is with me, for I am . . . a slave to sin” (Rom. 7:14, NLT). “This life that is dominated by sin and death” (Rom. 7:24, NLT).

c. The old nature is with you till death. “The sinful nature is always hostile to God” (Rom. 8:7, NLT).

d. The old nature can never please God. “That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God” (Rom. 8:8, NLT).

e. The old nature will destroy you. Jesus said, “Lose your own soul.” Paul said, “Power of death.” John said, “God’s angry judgment.”

8. The new self – new nature is born within you.

a. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Jesus calls this “Born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

b. You can resist the old self. “You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do” (Rom. 8:12).

c. You can treat old ways as dead. “Through the power of the Spirit, put to death the deeds of your sinful nature” (Rom. 8:13, NLT).

d. You can have victory over the old. “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 7:24-25, NLT). “Thank God that He gave us victory over sin and death” (1 Cor. 15:57, NLT).

9. You need outside help. Schizophrenia is described as “a state characterized by co-existence of contradictory or incompatible elements.” A schizophrenic person has two voices, or two urges leading to a split personality. They cannot help themselves, they need outside help, i.e., a counselor.

10. Your help is in God.

a. The Father. “God has given us . . . a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

b. The Son. “The answer is in Jesus Christ” (Rom. 7:25, NLT).

c. The Holy Spirit. “You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit of God living in you” (Rom. 8:9, NLT).

B. APPLICATION

1. You gain by losing. “Whosoever loses his life for My sake . . . gains it.”

2. You gain by denying. “Deny self . . . take up your cross.”

3. You live by dying. “Take up your cross (instrument of execution) . . . find true life.”

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives” (John 12:24, NLT).

4. You give up what you want (pleasure, things, and praise) to get what God wants to give you.

5. There are giant flash points (surrender at an altar) and daily flash points (in decision-making).

6. The whole issue is value, what do you treasure/prize most in life?

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart: