THE SINFUL NATURE: ACCUSTOMED TO DOING EVIL
“…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “…I [am] …a slave to the sin (nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil…” (Jeremiah 13:23 NIV). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
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Sinful behaviors learned through the body of flesh and dictated by the senses are developed and practiced to the point they become automatic behaviors that are skillfully performed with little or no thought.
Automatic behaviors can be done or performed without conscious knowledge, or fully thinking about them, or independent of the heart and mind. The one doing the automatic behaviors may not be able to explain HOW they did it. Automatic behaviors are so well practiced by the body of flesh, through the senses, that these automatic behaviors are second nature to the ones performing them.
“… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
“...letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace...” (Romans 8:5-7 NLT).
“…The sinful nature (flesh) wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the [Holy] Spirit wants ...These TWO FORCES are constantly fighting each other, so you are not FREE to carry out your good intentions...” (Galatians 5 NLT).
SINFUL CONDITIONING done by the body of flesh, through the SENSES is when a lifetime of training, practice, exposure, and shaping become habitual responses, for the SOUL, that continually maintain and sustain the behaviors of the sinful nature. “…The sinful nature (flesh) wants to do evil ... so you are not FREE to carry out your good intentions...” (Galatians 5 NLT).
THE SOUL is one’s very BEING and is the immaterial self that HOUSES the EMOTIONS, AFFECTIONS, HEART, THOUGHTS, conscience, personality, and human will. The heart and thoughts are the information and command centers of the soul. The heart informs the thoughts and the thoughts command behavior.
The heart of the soul is either dictated by the body of flesh, through the senses on how to live or the soul is freed to decide, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, how they choose to live.
The HEART of the SOUL is the information center and influences everything from the emotions, to the appetites, to orientations to life, and of course, the thoughts. The heart will glean its information from the senses through the body of flesh or the indwelling Holy Spirit. If there is NO indwelling Holy Spirit, the heart has received ALL its information from the senses through the body of flesh. Everything they say, think, do, believe, feel, model after, become, or don’t become are all dictated by the senses through the body of flesh.
The soul was created to dominate, rule, be blessed, multiply, and be free to make choices, but it is NOW imprisoned by the dictatorship of the senses through the body of flesh. “…keep (guard) thy heart, with all diligence; for out of it are the issues (influences) of life…” (Proverbs 4:23 KJV). All behaviors, that mankind displays outwardly, originate from information within the heart. It is “… from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts (thoughts that command behavior)…these … come from within, and defile a person (dictate evil behavior)...” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV). The heart, however, “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). "…Offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things." (Matthew 12:34-35).
LET’S LOOK AT THE BODY OF FLESH, THE SOUL, AND THE INDWELLING SPIRIT THROUGH ADAM AND EVE. GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID: “…of every tree of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY EAT: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou SHALT NOT EAT of it; for in THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).
THE SERPENT APPEALED TO ONE OR MORE OF THE WOMAN’S SENSES, USING THE BODY OF FLESH. “…The woman [became] ... convinced (THROUGH SOUND) [to eat from the tree, anyway]... She saw (SIGHT) that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked (SIGHT) delicious (TASTE), and she wanted (LUST of the EYES or FLESH) the wisdom (PRIDE of LIFE) it would give her. So she took (TOUCH and EXPERIENCE) some of the fruit and ate it (TASTE)...” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “….She [choose to take (HUMAN WILL)] ... some of the fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
Thus,
“…through [the behavior of one PERSON]... sin (transgression)
entered into the world, and [spiritual] ...death through sin, and so
death passed to all men (women)—“(Romans 5:12 KJV). “… One sinner (transgressor of God’s holy law) destroy[ed]… MUCH
good…” (Ecclesiastes
9:18 NASB). DISOBEDIENCE IS INVITED INTO A PERSON'S LIFE THROUGH THEIR CHOICES.
Three things happened to Adam and Eve: 1. They became separated from God. 2. They died spiritually. 3. They became enslaved to the body of flesh through their SENSES. Adam and Eve had a body of flesh, a soul, and the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit separated from them, which means they died spiritually. “….let us make man in our image (SPIRIT), after our likeness (SPIRIT)…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..God created man in his own image (with SPIRIT)...male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
“….let us make man in our image (SPIRIT), after our likeness(SPIRIT)…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). They were originally created in God’s “image”, which is SPIRIT. “…God is not human …” (Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell in you (dwelt in Adam and Eve)…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
However, they became SEPARATED from the SPIRIT and were left with ONLY the soul and the body of flesh. Mankind was missing or FELL short of the glory of God (his presence) or was separated from the indwelling Holy Spirit. NOW all humanity is born with the same problem. “…the wages of sin (the payment (results) for having a sin nature) is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…[Now]... all have sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are born missing or WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
"…That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” (John 3:6 KJV). “….I was born a sinner (I was born without the indwelling Holy Spirit)—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). Adam and Eve had NOTHING to pass down to their descendants, but the flesh nature.
Every soul is a dead soul born into the world without spiritual life, and trapped within the prison of the body of flesh, which is NOW a totally SINFUL NATURE. The BODY of FLESH, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, can ONLY be a SINFUL NATURE, because it (the flesh) was NOT created to OBEY God. The LIVING SOUL was created to OBEY God.“…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). Thus, all of mankind is “…DEAD “IN” trespasses and sin (within the body of flesh or sin nature)...” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV).
THE BODY OF FLESH CAN’T OBEY GOD, BECAUSE IT WASN’T CREATED TO OBEY GOD, BUT IT WAS CREATED TO BE A VESSEL AND SERVANT FOR THE SOUL AND SPIRIT TOGETHER.
A FORK, BOWL, PLATE, COUCH, COAT, TELEVISION WAS CREATED TO SERVE ITS PURPOSE “ONLY.” THESE THINGS WILL DO “ONLY” WHAT THEY WERE CREATED TO DO AND WILL NOT OBEY OR SERVE ANY OTHER PURPOSES ADEQUATELY.
IF YOU WERE TRAPPED INSIDE A FORK, BOWL, PLATE, COUCH, COAT, OR TELEVISION YOU COULD NOT MAKE THEM be SOMETHING ELSE OR OBEY YOU OR GOD. THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. THE BODY OF FLESH “IS” WHAT IT IS!
All of mankind is born“…separated from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE…” (John 6:63 NASB). Before sinners are SAVED “…[THEY are] ... DEAD in [their]... transgressions and sins (within the sinful nature)…” (Ephesians 2:1 NIV).
“…[The redeemed]... were [once]... dead in [their] sins and ... [NOW]…God made [them]... ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [them]… all [their]… sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). God “….made [the redeemed]… ALIVE with Christ …when [the redeemed]… were DEAD in transgressions…” (Ephesians 2:5 NIV). Like the prodigal son, “… [THEY were]…. DEAD and [have been made]… ALIVE AGAIN; [they were]… lost and [have been]… found…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).
If the redeemed were made “ALIVE AGAIN” it implies they were DEAD. The soul was a DEAD soul. “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
Adam and Eve BECAME “LIVING” souls AFTER God breathed into their nostrils the “breath of LIFE.”
Spiritually DEAD souls are under the power of the evil one through the body of flesh and the dictates of the senses, which influences them to sin or disobey God. “…The sin of my SOUL…” (Micah 6:7 KJV). “......I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
The spiritually DEAD souls are imprisoned within the body of flesh and the dictates of the senses, which are totally influenced by the evil one. “….When you follow the desires (influences) of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. …” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).
God told Adam and Eve they would “surely die” “... THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). “…[Their] ...INIQUITIES … separated … [them from] ... God [the Holy Spirit or the breath of LIFE]…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). THEY BOTH DIED SPIRITUALLY AS GOD SAID THEY WOULD.
Now every man or woman born, into the world without God, the Holy Spirit, is spiritually dead. “…For all have sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are born WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “….I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
When God’s Holy Spirit is not present, all of mankind is born with ONLY a body of flesh which is a sin nature that will not and cannot obey God. “….I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). “…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
God is “spiritual life” and anyone separated from God is “…dead in trespasses and sin (IN that sin nature)...” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV). “…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “…For all have sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “….I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
There is an ongoing DEBATE as to what the SINFUL NATURE is and an enduring attitude about why Adam’s GUILT has been PASSED to all of mankind. Adam could only pass on what he had, which was the flesh nature. It wasn’t so much his guilt he passed on to all mankind, but his condition.
The sinful nature, is a FALLEN CONDITION of the flesh nature which every male and female is born with, because they inherited it from Adam and Eve, but they did NOT inherit the SPIRIT. "…That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit…” (John 3:6 KJV).
Adam and Eve could ONLY reproduce what they had become; A BODY of FLESH. The sinful nature meant they had DIED spiritually and were SEPARATED from God, the Holy Spirit. Thus, “… all have sinned (been born with a flesh nature), and come short of the glory of God (is born without the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
“,,, [Therefore,] ...through one man sin entered (physical life without the indwelling Holy Spirit entered) into the world, and [spiritual] ...death through sin, and so [spiritual] death passed to all men, for that all sinned (all have been born without the indwelling Holy Spirit]—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).
“…All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). “….I was born a sinner (I was born without the indwelling holy spirit)—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
If you can be BORN a sinner, then being a sinner is NOT simply what YOU DO or don't DO, but it is a REALITY of what YOU ARE. “….I was born a sinner —yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). “…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
SINFUL BEHAVIOR is a symptom or RESULT of what YOU ARE. “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). “…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t (evil and disobedience are the symptoms of having the flesh nature). …I [am] …a slave to the sin (slavery is the RESULT of having the flesh nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…For all have sinned (all have the flesh nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are born WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
SIX (6) TRUTHS ABOUT THE SINFUL NATURE: 1.The bible tells us that all of humanity are BORN sinners, because of the FLESH nature. “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT) “…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
2. All of humanity will become a slave, in one form or another, to the SINFUL BEHAVIORS produced by the FLESH nature. “…I [am] …a slave to the sin (nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
3. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, mankind has NO POWER over the flesh nature. “...Who will free me from this life that is dominated by [the sin nature]?” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “... APART FROM [Christ]... you can do nothing …” (John 15:1-11 NASB). “… [You] … can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth … [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).“…The ...[flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
4. Mankind is left with a flesh nature that ONLY wants to DO EVIL (sin or disobey) and CAN ONLY do evil (sin or disobey). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…The sinful nature wants to do evil... so you are not FREE to carry out your good intentions. … …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
5. The sin nature is automatically and naturally hostile toward God and is totally incapable of DOING anything righteous or holy. “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
6. The sinful nature and the dictates of the senses, trains the lost soul to practice sin and PROVES that mankind is a SLAVE to the EVIL ONE. “…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV).
“…SIN is the transgression of the... [Holy] ... law….” (1 John 3:4 KJV).
“…of every tree of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY EAT: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou SHALT NOT EAT of it; for in THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). BUT“…The woman [became] ... convinced [to eat from the tree, anyway]... She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it...” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “….She [choose to take] ... some of the fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “.... At that moment their eyes were opened…” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). At that moment, they transgressed God’s holy law and “…[their] ...INIQUITIES … separated … [them from] ... God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
“…SIN is the transgression of the... [Holy] ... law….” (1 John 3:4 KJV).
“... When Adam sinned (chose to transgress God’s Holy law), sin (the enslaving symptoms of the flesh nature) entered the world. Adam’s sin (transgression) brought [spiritual] ... death (separation from God, the Holy Spirit). “... [THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). “...so [spiritual] ... death (physical existence without God) spread to everyone...” (Romans 5:10-16 NLT).
“... there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought [spiritual] death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God (being restored, reunited with the Holy Spirit again), even though we are guilty of many sins..[through the sin nature]. For the sin (transgression of God’s holy law) of this one man, Adam, caused [spiritual]...death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ...” (Romans 5:10-16 NLT).
“…, my righteous servant (Jesus) ... [made]... it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT). “… [He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
“…Jesus Christ maketh thee whole (SAVES, RESTORES , AND MAKES YOU WHOLE YOU AGAIN)…” (Acts 9:34 KJV). “... It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm (enduring) and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery...” (Galatians 5:1 NASB).
Adam and Eve were both, originally, MADE whole, but HAD the FREEDOM of choice. My son, Oshawn, said, the only choice they HAD, because SIN was “NOT” an issue, was to OBEY. You are ALSO made whole again and HAVE the FREEDOM of CHOICE to OBEY. Therefore, “... Stand fast (keep enduring) therefore in the liberty (freedom from sin and freedom to OBEY) wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage...” (Galatians 5:1 KJV).
YOU HAVE BEEN FREED FROM SIN AND FREED TO OBEY. HOWEVER, YOU CAN “STILL” FREELY CHOOSE TO BECOME ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE, BY PRACTICING and LIVING A SINFUL, LIFESTYLE!
YOU LIVE and PRACTICE a SINFUL LIFESTYLE, NOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO (YOU ARE FREE FROM SIN), BUT BECAUSE YOU “CHOOSE” TO!
“…I
[am] …a slave to the sin (nature)
…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…Can
an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither
can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil…”
(Jeremiah 13:23 NIV). “...I want to do
what is right, but I can’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT ).
"....Who will free me from
this life that is dominated by [the sin nature that is accustomed to doing evil]?”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “If the Son
therefore shall make you free, you SHALL
be free indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV). “….Apart from [the indwelling spirit],.. [you]… can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
GOD HAS "FREED" HIS PEOPLE FROM SIN AND THEY ARE "NO LONGER" SLAVES. WHEN THEY PRACTICE A LIFESTYLE OF SIN, THEY DON'T PRACTICE THE LIFESTYLE AS SLAVES, BUT AS VOLUNTEERS.
WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE LIVE A LIFE OF SINFUL PRACTICES THEY ARE CONSCIOUSLY "VOLUNTEERING" TO GO BACK INTO THE "YOKE" OF BONDAGE!!
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