Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "Soteriology II"
THE BELIEVER'S TWO NATURES

 

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BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1970

THE BELIEVER'S TWO NATURES


INTRODUCTION
The Scriptures teach that every regenerate being is the possessor of two natures, one received by natural birth which is hopelessly and helplessly bad; and a new nature, received by the new or supernatural birth, which is the nature of God Himself and is therefore wholly good.
Between these two natures there is conflict as there is in all the world between opposing principles.

  1. THE NATURAL MAN AND HIS FALLEN NATURE
    1. The origin of the fallen nature
      We take it for granted that man was created sinless, Gen. 1:26-27. Gen. 2:16-17 - restriction of eating fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen. 3:6,11, 13 - the sin of Adam and Eve. Gen. 3:17-19, 22-24 - the curse accompanying the sin. Rom. 5:12 - by one man sin entered into the world.
    2. The evil character of man's fallen nature Ps. 51:5 - "shapen in iniquity, ..in sin" Jer. 17:9 - "deceitful above all things.. .desperately wicked" Mk. 7:21-23 - "out; of the heart proceed evil thoughts.. .etc. " 1 Cor. 2:14 - "natural (soulish) man receiveth not. . .neither can he know" Rom. 8:7-8 - "enmity against God. . .cannot please God" Eph. 2:3 - "by nature the children of wrath"
    3. The threefold incapacity of the fallen nature
      1. He cannot understand God, 1 Cor. 2:14.
      2. He cannot please God, Rom. 8:8.
      3. He cannot obey God, Rom. 8:7.
        The proof of the sinful nature of man is all around us. The law of degeneration is active in this world. Man submits to the law of his nature, which is a reversion to the lower, rather than a conversion to the higher. The Bible recognizes: generation, degeneration, regeneration.
         
  2. THE NEW NATURE OF THE NEW MAN
    1. The origin of the spiritual nature
      The believer, while still having his old nature, unchanged and unchangeable, has received a "new man" or a new nature. This new nature is a creation, not a transformation. It is the bringing in of a new thing, not the change of an old one, Jn. 3:3; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Jn. 5:10-12.
    2. The character of the new nature
      Gal. 2:20 - "Christ liveth in me"
      Eph, 2:10 - "Created in Christ Jesus unto good works"
      Eph. 2:22 - "An habitation of God"
      2 Cor. 5:17 - "A new creation"
      Rom. 8:15-16 - "received Spirit of adoption. . .has witness of Spirit"
      Col. 3:1, 10 - "risen with Christ. . .new man"
      Col. 1:27 - "Christ in you. . .hope of glory"
      Col. 3:4a - "Christ., .our life"
       
  3. THE CONFLICT OF THE TWO NATURES
    This new Divine nature, which is Christ's own, exists within the believer together with the old, and between these two natures there is a conflict.
    1. The nature of the conflict
      Rom. 7:15-25 - Too much "I, " "me"; too little "Holy Spirit" Gal. 5:17 - the only way out of the seventh chapter of Romans is by the Lord Jesus Christ
    2. The victory in the conflict
      How can victory over indwelling sin be accomplished? Rom. 8:2 - "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. " Rom. 8:12-13 - "We Eire debtors, not to the flesh," ... but to the Spirit Rom. 6:11 - Reckon negatively and positively Rom. 13:14 - "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. " Gal. 5:16-17 R.V. - "Walk by the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. "

      If you feed one nature, the other starves. The new nature can't grow on food of the old, and vice versa.



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