Our Self-Seeking Nature

2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Old Man

The old or natural man is who and what we are naturally, without the Spirit of God. The natural man is characterized by an independent, self-ruling nature. The goal of this autonomous nature is to discover itself, which usually means  it's own pleasure and success. It uses the intellect, will, emotions, and a body to fulfill itself. We all are born this way. The Scripture refers to our nature as earthy, from the earth, as opposed to heavenly or of the Spirit. We all have a human nature that controls how we act and think and feel. According to Scripture this is the root of the problem. The natural man does not relate to or understand the things of God, but in fact, is an enemy of God. Let's take a look at what the Scripture says about human nature.

Ephesians 4:22 (NKJV) 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Human nature, the Old Man, is corrupt according to (together with) deceitful lusts. Ephesians 4:22 To be corrupt means to be fundamentally flawed or depraved at heart level. This portion of Scripture states that the evidence of human corruption is deceitful lusts. What we really want proves our corruption. Human nature desires it's own pleasure while the New Man seeks God's will in everything. The desires of the Old Man are deceitful, meaning they masquerade as leading to good, but in reality they oppose God and ultimately destroy our life. The desires of human nature are not in agreement with the desires of God but are in agreement with the Devil!

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God

The problem is not what we do but what we are!

What we do, our behavior\actions\responses, are a fruit or result of what we are, our essential nature!

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man MATT 15:19

The mind of the natural man hates God

Romans 8:7-8 tells us that the Natural Man cannot relate to God. He does not understand God, His ways, or His Word, and he, the Natural Man, is in fact, an enemy of God. At the end of the day, the Natural Man desires only his own will. The mind of the Natural Man is the natural enemy of God. The greatest, most intelligent, most benevolent, kindest person, prior to salvation, is the natural enemy of God. All of us were, and are, natural enemies of God until we are born-again and given a new nature.

Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV)1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others

In addition to being corrupt by nature, the Natural Man walks according to the prince of the power of the air. Not only are we corrupt in our own personalities, but along with that corruption, we walk in partnership with spiritual darkness. Ephesians 2:1-3

Ephesians tells us that we walked according to the course or wisdom of this world and according to the Prince of the power of the air. Human beings are naturally friendly and in agreement with spiritual darkness and naturally opposed to God, to Jesus Christ, and to the need or way of salvation.

People do not see themselves as opposed to God.

People see themselves as good, intelligent, and fully capable of wisely choosing their own way of living. But this kind of thinking is dead wrong. The scripture states the man who trusts in his own heart is a fool. We are not naturally wise nor are we naturally good. By nature, we are self-seeking  rather than God seeking, and as a result, darkness rules our thinking and values. When the Spirit of God breathes New Life into our heart only then do we experience a genuine heart change. This is known as regeneration or being born-again.

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

See New Man The Solution

ROM 8:1-8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

ROM 8:11-14 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

GAL 5:16-25 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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