We are caught in the middle of a great tug-of-war to gain control of our lives. In one corner is God’s Holy Spirit, with his warm, life-giving charisma. The Holy Spirit constantly tugs on our consciences. He pleads with us to yield to God’s authority. He invites us to embrace Christ’s lifestyle of righteousness. He is our mentor, patiently directing us, and interceding with God on our behalf.
In the other corner is the flesh, our sinful nature, with its dark and mysterious charm. The gravitational pull of our flesh is great. It entices us to flaunt our freedom, to rebel against God’s authority, to do evil, and to resist being like Jesus Christ. The flesh is unspiritual, whereas the Spirit defines the very essence of spirituality. The flesh and the Spirit are arch rivals. They are antithetical. They are polar opposites. They pull in conflicting directions. The Spirit pulls us toward God and the flesh pulls us away from God.
The sinful nature is a formidable and greatly underestimated opponent. Every single one of us has a sinful nature, but not all of us are controlled by it. The sinful nature is that fallen part of our flesh that entices us to behave in a manner which is contrary to God’s purpose and will. Galatians 5:17 (NIV) says, "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…" Romans 8:8 (NIV) says, "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."
Characteristics of the sinful nature.
The sinful nature feeds us with a wide range of ungodly attitudes, actions, and desires. In Romans 8:6-7 (NIV) Paul explains the basic attitude of the sinful nature. "The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so."
The sinful nature puts outrageous, embarrassing thoughts into our minds. The sinful nature causes us to indulge in thoughts that are hostile and offensive to God. The flesh conjures up images and ideas and temptations before our eyes. The flesh lures us down one dark alley after another in pursuit of pleasure. The flesh entices us to seek pleasure through evil. It enslaves us with addictive thinking. It causes us to question everything that is good, holy, and pleasing in God’s eyes. It numbs us to the pain and consequences of our sin and rebellion. The flesh refuses to submit to God’s law and is fixated on those things leading to death.
We are ashamed to even confess that such thinking fills our minds, but it often does. Whenever such thinking pops into our mind, we wonder what dark part of our existence it originated from. We wonder how it got into our minds in the first place. We wonder if other people, normal people, are plagued with such thinking. But we mostly wonder how to get rid of such thoughts so that we never have them again. We are well acquainted with the dark thoughts and attitudes of our sinful nature.
Unfortunately, the thoughts and attitudes of the sinful nature don’t remain neutral. Sinful thoughts lead to sinful desires. Sinful desires lead to sinful actions. Sinful actions destroy life and bring death. In James 1:14-15 (NIV) we read, "But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
This week we have been reworking our marriage policy. Marriage is one of those areas where we can clearly see the attitude of the sinful nature at work. In today's world there is hostility toward God’s law. There is no conscience about sexual immorality. Instead of repenting, couples openly defile the sacred covenant of marriage by living together and having sexual relations outside marriage. Other couples unequally yoke, unconcerned about one another’s commitment to God.
An increasing number of marriages today are born out of adulterous relationships. They are born from relationships where a man violates the marriage covenant to take another man’s wife. Others just give up on their marriages and prematurely divorce. This is why divorce rates are sky-rocketing today! From time to time we get wind of open relationships. In these relationships each spouse is free to see and do whatever they want with whoever they want.
The attitude of the sinful nature is, "So what! Big deal! Who cares? Anything for love." The attitude of the sinful nature is hostile to God and refuses to submit to his law. But far from enhancing life, such defiance against God actually destroys life. Marriage isn’t the only place where the sinful nature takes its toll.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) says, "The acts of sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like." The flesh arouses sensual sins like sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery. We could easily insert homosexuality and pornography onto this list.
The flesh provokes religious sins such as idolatry and witchcraft. Might we add tolerance? The flesh incites social sins such as hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy. The flesh triggers sins of excess like drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
When I think of the sinful nature, I always think about our dogs, but especially about my mother-in-law’s dog whose name is Max. Max lives life to the max. He has boundless energy. He is faster than a jack-rabbit. He follows his desires without any awareness where his desires might lead him. And did I mention that he is faster than a jack-rabbit?
Yesterday Lara and her mom went shopping. I took great care to gate Max downstairs because of his propensity for escaping to the great outdoors. When he gets free you cannot catch him. He is just too fast.
As I sat downstairs with the dogs, two little Cub scouts rang the doorbell. I stepped over the gate, walked upstairs, cracked open the front door, and asked them what they were selling. They no sooner mentioned popcorn and Max leapt over the gate, bounded out the front door, and raced across the street. I had to chase that dim-witted dog one other time before, and it took everything I had just to keep him in sight. He ran clear to the other side of our subdivision in a matter of seconds. So I knew I was in big trouble.
As I gave chase, I screamed at these two Cub scouts to help me catch Max. But they didn’t care. They just stood there! Fortunately, I was able to corner Max moments later across the street. He had to take a short potty break and needed to bark at some dogs. I literally leaped and was just able to grab his back legs. I’m still sore. But I lucked out, big time!
That dog has no sense of danger or consequence. If it feels good, he does it. If it seems right, he breaks free. He doesn’t stop for cars. He runs up to dogs three times his size. He does not obey any voice commands whatsoever. He’s foolish!
But this is precisely how we live our lives when we live by the sinful nature. When we succumb to the sinful nature, we throw off all restraint. We, in essence, chase after our passions and desires. We reject all the boundaries set for us and we reject God’s law. We ignore God’s voice calling us back to safety. We don’t realize the danger we are in. We don’t realize that sin leads to death. We just do our thing.
The sinful nature must be controlled through the Holy Spirit.
For these reasons and more, the sinful nature must be controlled through the Holy Spirit. The sinful nature has largely been left unchecked in the Church today. Galatians 5:19-21 seems to be as much a description of Christians as it is of our secular culture. More than we ever care to admit, we succumb to the gravitational pull of sinful nature. We underestimate its influence and the danger it poses to our lives. We don’t realize that the sinful nature is leading us astray from God.
A few weeks ago we began talking about our relationship to the Holy Spirit. The issue isn’t whether we as Christians have the Holy Spirit. We gain the Holy Spirit when we respond to Jesus Christ’s life through our faith, repentance, confession, and baptism. The matter of whether we have the Holy Spirit within us is settled in our conversion.
After conversion, the primary issue is whether we are under control of the Spirit. As Christians we have a responsibility to practice Christ’s life. This means that we are to sow seeds of obedience to the Holy Spirit. We are to obey our consciences and begin living for God. We are to move beyond knowledge and follow the Holy Spirit’s leadership.
In Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV) Paul says, "Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 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." If we live under the control of God’s Holy Spirit, the sinful nature will be driven back.
Living According the Spirit
This morning I want to talk about the third step we take in relationship to God’s Holy Spirit. We live Christ’s life. The basic difference between the second step, which is practicing Christ's life, and the third step, which is living Christ's life, is consistency. When we practice something we experience victories. But when we practice we also have major and minor setbacks. But when we live something, we live it with a measure of success and we experience much less failure. This morning I want to focus on gaining that consistency. I want to focus on not just practicing Christ's life, but living it.
In order for us to live Christ’s life with greater consistency, we cannot be neutral in the inner tug of war between the sinful nature and the Spirit of God. Through trial and error we must learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit of God. We must daily allow ourselves to be controlled and led by God’s Holy Spirit.
In Romans 8:12-14 (NIV) Paul says, "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation— but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For it 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, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." According to Paul, we can no longer be apathetic bystanders in the battle against the sinful nature. We must become active participants. In the power of God’s Spirit we must put to death the misdeeds of the body. We must daily deny the sinful nature by living under the lordship of Jesus Christ. We must defeat, destroy, drive out, starve off, or resist the sinful nature.
Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:18 (NIV) are helpful. "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit." In other words, do not give way to the sinful nature and let your life be ruined. Instead, unleash the Spirit of God and be filled with the life-giving Spirit of Jesus Christ.
The contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and the acts of the sinful nature.
In Galatians 5:22-25 Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit with the acts of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) says, "The acts of sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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."
But in Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV) Paul makes the contrast clear. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
The key to greater consistency in living Christ’s life isn’t more willpower, more self-help books, more counseling and therapy, or more human strength. The key is being filled with the Holy Spirit daily and completely. The key is living by the Spirit, yielding to the Spirit, and keeping in step with the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is unleashed in our lives he will produce his fruit in us. The Spirit will produce, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Life change will occur not as a work we have done, but rather as a byproduct of the Spirit’s life-giving influence over our lives.
Growing in the Life of the Spirit
In conclusion I would like to suggest several ways we can grow to live Christ’s life with ever-increasing consistency. First, be overwhelmed by the person and work of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 5:18-20 (NIV) Paul writes, "...Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
We come alive spiritually when our hearts are right with Jesus Christ. We come alive spiritually when we are telling each other the thousands of reasons we belong to Christ, when we are celebrating Christ’s work on the cross through worship, and when we are expressing heartfelt thanks to God for what he has done in Christ.
Life change always flows from the inside-out, and never from the outside-in. This is why Old Testament law could never bring about life change. It never touched the heart. This is why it makes no sense to use shame and guilt to motivate obedience. If you have hit a wall in your struggle against the sinful nature, celebrate Jesus Christ! Get your spiritual heart pumping and the Spirit of God will revive your body.
Second, remember that "you" have been crucified with Christ Jesus. In Galatians 5:24 (NIV) Paul says, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature, with its passions and desires." In Romans 6:1-3 (NIV) Paul asks, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" In Romans 6:6-7 (NIV) he continues, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."
In baptism our old self was crucified. Jon Morrissette died to sin. Jon Morrissette was buried in a watery grave and was raised to new life through the power of God’s Spirit. In Romans 6:11-14 (NIV) Paul says, "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
We must keep coming back to that day when our sinful natures were crucified. On the day of our baptism, we died to sin. The wages of sin were paid in full. We died, but Christ raised us and gave us a new life through his Holy Spirit.
Jon Morrissette is dead, but now Jesus Christ is my life. I must allow him to live in me through his Holy Spirit. I must surrender control and offer every member of my body in service to him. This is the key to unlocking consistent life change. In Colossians 3:3-4 (NIV) Paul says, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."