TruthPoints

02.28.08

A New Nature

In (2 Peter 1:4), we read that believers are now “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.  Think about that.  When you received Christ, He came to live within you and brought with Him His new, divine nature.  That new nature was one of the many gifts we received when we received eternal life.

Unfortunately, our old nature was not eradicated with the reception of the new nature.  However, the new nature, because it is God’s nature, is immeasurably more powerful than our old nature.  (1 John 4:4)  “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Commenting on this subject, Dr. Kenneth Wuest said, “As children inherit the nature of their parents, so a child of God is made a partaker of the Divine nature, which nature always impels one to the act of obedience.  It is natural for a child of God to obey Him."

Let that truth grip your heart and your mind today.  It is natural for a child of God to obey God therefore; it is unnatural for a child of God to disobey.  When we disobey God, we are going against everything God brought with Him when He came to live within us.  We are sinning against God and against our very nature.  It is decidedly unnatural.

Simon Peter, quoting the Lord from an often-repeated phrase in the Old Testament says, “Be holy, for I am holy”.  (1 Peter 1:16)  In the Old Testament, that statement simply set a standard for the followers of Jehovah.  In the New Testament, however, it takes on a completely new meaning.  For us it means that we can be holy because He is holy and He is living within us.  He is living His life in us and through us.  “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”  (Galatians 2:2)

(Philippians 1:21)  “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

(Philippians 4:13)  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

(2 Corinthians 2:14)  “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.”

This and many other passages teach us that the believer can and should live victoriously over sin and self and Satan – everyday!  Is that too much to expect?  Is that too much to ask?  Is that out of the realm of possibility?  I think not! 

(Matthew 19:26)  "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

My challenge for you today is this:  Stop believing the lie of the devil that says, “You have to sin a little bit every day.  It is only natural.”  That is a lie out of the pit of hell and must be ignored.  The truth is that Christ lives within you and lives His life through you.  Start believing this truth and acting upon it.  In the words of Scripture, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:11)  Now, that is the truth. 

Let me close with this simple but powerful Quotable Quote.  “I have the Victor living within me therefore, I have the Victory!”

Have a blessed day.

Pastor David