Personal
Evangelism Handbook
CHAPTER XIX
Understanding the Two Natures
Much confusion arises from
improper teaching of the two natures. As a soulwinner,
you need to understand this subject, not only so you can
answer the questions of others, but also so you can
effectively live your own life for the Lord. Without
understanding what the Scriptures teach on this subject
you will often be confused, doubtful, anxious, and
unable to maintain your faithful, effective witnessing.
Lack of understanding of the
two natures brings about questions like the following:
(1) Does a truly saved person
sin any more?
(2) Can I lose my salvation if
I keep sinning?
( 3 ) What happens to a
Christian when he sins?
(4) How can a Christian have
the power really to serve the Lord?
Study this chapter carefully,
looking up the verses in your Bible, and you will
discover the answers to these questions.
The new birth is provided by
God when a man by sincere faith accepts the payment that
the Lord Jesus Christ made for him on the cross. It is
not a process or a result of good works. It is not water
baptism. It is a birth. John 3: 5 states a man must be
born of water. This is specifically speaking of the Holy
Spirit. This is living water, not H20, and is referred
to throughout the book of John as the Holy Spirit (John
4:11, 14; John 7:38, 39).
The first birth is of the
flesh. The second birth is of the Spirit (John 3:6).
These two are completely separate, and nothing of the
birth of the flesh has anything to do with the second
birth which is of the Spirit. The flesh birth is from
fleshly parents. The spirit birth is from God Himself,
who is a Spirit (John 1:12, 13). Never confuse the two
by thinking the flesh can do something to bring on the
spirit birth. Like reproduces like, and flesh can
reproduce only flesh. Only spirit can give birth to
spirit.
The new birth does not come
from prayers; neither is speaking in an unknown jargon
proof of it. The Holy Spirit is guaranteed by God to all
who believe (John 7:38, 39; II Cor. 1:22). The Holy
Spirit is always spoken of as a gift of God, not coming
by man's efforts (Rom. 5:5).
The Apostles never tried to
"pray through" or work for the Holy Spirit.
They were commanded to wait for the Holy Spirit in
Jerusalem, and God would send the Holy Spirit to them
(Acts 1:4, 5). They waited in Jerusalem, and after the
50 days that were prophesied were fulfilled, the Holy
Spirit came upon them (Acts 2:1-17). The promise was
given to all who would receive the Lord Jesus Christ as
their Saviour-not to a few. "And it shall come to
pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh" ( Acts 2: 17 ) . This was
referring to all who would receive the Lord Jesus Christ
as their Saviour.
When a person is saved, a man's
carnal desires of the flesh do not change or improve one
iota. They remain the same. Flesh is flesh, and it
remains that way (John 3:6). Much unscriptural teaching
and confusion come from thinking the old nature should
get better after salvation, and when people still see
sin in their lives, it brings great doubt as to whether
or not their conversion was real, or whether or not they
have lost their salvation, etc.
I John 3: 9 says,
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin: for
His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he
is born of God." Beyond any question, this verse
teaches that the new birth of the Spirit never commits
any sin. There are other verses that teach the old
nature never gets any better but remains evil, such as
Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present
with me, but how to perform that which is good I find
not."
The Bible teaches that the old
nature doesn't change, but it can be controlled by the
power of the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers.
Whether the new nature or the old nature will control
the individual depends entirely upon the person's
decision of which nature he will nurture and allow to
rule. Galatians 5:16, "This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh." The Greek meaning of the word
"walk" is to be "responsive, controlled,
and guided." In other words, be responsive to the
Spirit, controlled by the Spirit, and guided by the
Spirit, and you will not be controlled by the flesh. The
desires of the flesh will still be present, but you will
not be controlled by them.
Please notice that this verse
is not saying, "Do not fulfill the lusts of the
flesh, and you will be spiritual." Many people
equate a pious, negative life with being a really
spiritual person. Many people in this category become
hyper-critical and yet never lead a soul to the Lord.
There is a continual battle
between the old and new natures. "For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so
that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal.
5:17).
If you want the new nature to
be victorious in your life, you must feed and exercise
that nature. Remember, your old nature has been fed and
exercised all your life until you were saved. Your old
nature will rule your life unless you feed and exercise
your new nature regularly.
For example, in a boxing match
the fighter who is the better trained and the stronger
wins. They never match two men in a ring, one being very
large and strong and the other being small and weak . .
. because it would not even be a contest.
The fruit (result) of being
controlled by the Spirit is described in Gal. 5:22, 23,
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance; against such there is no law."
The fruit (result) of being
controlled by the flesh is described in Galatians
5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God." The last phrase in verse 21
points out that no evil works can enter heaven, but that
they are the results of a man being under the control of
the old nature. Only righteousness enters into heaven,
which comes only from the new birth. The new birth never
sins but is incorruptible (I Peter 1:23).
It is difficult for people to
understand clearly that heaven is a perfect place and
only a perfectly righteous person can enter therein; but
this righteousness is not a result of man's works, but
is a result of a perfect righteousness that is given to
man through the new birth. I Cor. 6:9, 10 tells us that
no sin shall enter heaven . . . but verse 11 tells us
how we are washed and justified in the Name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Then, after a person is saved, he has the
power to serve the Lord and to be a witness (Acts 1:8).
There is no SECRET to having a
"victorious Christian life." It is very
clearly taught in the Bible. II Tim. 2:4 tells us that
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life: that he may please Him who hath
chosen him to be a soldier." To effectively live
your life for the Lord, your life must be disciplined-to
include the things of the Lord-and to leave out the
things of the world. Colossians 3:2 tells us to
"Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth."
When we really keep in mind
that people are lost and going to hell, and that we have
been entrusted with the gospel message that will lead
them to the Lord and heaven, it is not so difficult to
determine that our lives are going to COUNT for the
Lord. It is an every day, every moment decision. Every
time you say "YES" and obey the Lord, instead
of saying "NO" and disobeying Him, you are
"spiritual"-controlled by the Holy Spirit. And
this is how to be a happy, productive child of God.
