The Old Nature

Readings: Romans 6 v 8-14 and Galatians 5 v 16-26.

Christian, beware. In each of us there is the flesh, the old nature. If that gets the upper hand, even temporarily, there will be trouble, possibly serious trouble. The consequences may be far-reaching in the individual life, in the family and in the local assembly. Every day and in every place troubles traceable to the old nature grieve the Lord, hinder spiritual exercises and mar the testimony. We all need to discern in ourselves the character of the old nature and its operation and we all need to be prepared to take sides with God against it.

1. Certain Facts

(a) The old nature is contrary to God. (Galatians 5 v 17). The new nature in the believer cannot sin. He cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3 v 9). This scripture alone is sufficient proof that the Lord Jesus was unable to sin (not merely able not to sin). There was no old nature in Him. What is true of the new nature in the believer is surely true of the Son of God. It is not enough to affirm that He did not sin. We must maintain that He COULD NOT sin.

(b) The old nature may wear attractive clothing, such as religion, refinement, education, morality, but as being opposed to God it is evil. There is nothing good in it (Romans 7 v 18).

(d) The old nature will stay with us to the end of the pilgrim journey.

Let us remember then these facts, that the old nature is contrary to God, is evil, will never improve and remains with us unto the end of the pilgrim journey.

Achan, the enemy within the camp, was the troubler of Israel (Joshua 7). We have an enemy within the camp, the old nature. This is our worst enemy. Its character is such as to respond to the influences of the world and to be energised by Satan. You, whoever you are, are your own worst enemy and 1 am my own worst enemy.

George Muller used to pray that he might not live to be a wicked old man. That godly man was aware of the dangers. Do we pray like that? We need to. Our short lives can be spoilt. How terribly sad if they are! If the old nature gets the upper hand, our lives will be spoilt.

2. Conspicuous Features

The upsurge of the old nature will have evil effect in (a) the life of the

individual (b) family life (c) assembly life and (d) the testimony to the world. The natural tendency is to recognise manifestations of the old nature in others rather than in ourselves. May we keep our own house in order and may we never gloat over the sins of our brothers and sisters.

(a) Sourness in the believer results from the old nature. Whatever there may be to grieve us, we are never justified in being sour. Paul must have been grieved in knowing that all they which were in Asia were turned away from him (II Timothy 1 v 15). He was grieved, but not embittered. May we not turn sour.

(b) How often the desirable harmony of a Christian home is spoiled by exhibitions of the old nature. Sometimes the home is even wrecked and the family broken up.

(c) Frequently the local assembly seems to be the battleground for clashes of personality. There indeed evidence of the existence and operation of the old nature is constantly found.

(i) How often there is jealousy at the prominence or popularity of another. Are we prepared to put the Lords interests before our own seeming interests? (Philipians 2 v 21) Are we prepared to be unseen and seemingly unwanted provided the Lord is magnified? To each one of us comes the word, Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not. (Jerimiah 45 v 5)

(ii) How often the person who feels slighted and hurt and cross is being governed by pride. If the sense of our own importance were less, a feeling of being slighted would soon pass.

(iii) In 1 Timothy 5 v 13 we read of tattlers and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. A whisperer separateth chief friends.

(Proverbs 16 v 28). Many things which have been passed on would have been better left unsaid. Again and again a false impression is given, even if such was not intended. The love of gossip proceeds from the old nature. How good it is to take as a governing principle of life the words of Titus 3 v 2 Speak evil of no one.

(iv) Will a brother refrain from taking public part in thanksgiving or prayer because he feels outshone by another? Will pride keep us from the privilege of leading the gathered company with words for the ear and heart of God?

(v) Does a brother, perhaps backed up by others, seek a position on the oversight? The true shepherd will be content to be caring for sheep whether or not there is official recognition. The true shepherd will have the appropriate reward from the Lord Himself whether or not he has been on the oversight.

(vi) The brother who complains that he is never given the platform at the gospel meeting needs to remember that there are many other opportunities for reaching the unsaved. Is it love for the perishing or love for the platform that causes the discontent?

(vii) In many of us there is a hypercritical spirit, a tendency to look for the wrong in assembly affairs and in the saints and to overlook the good. Let us think on the good things, seen in their fulness in Christ and in some measure in His people. How rewarding is such occupation. (See Philippians 4 v 8 and 9).

(d) When there are in the life of the believer obvious inconsistencies occasioned by an unrestrained old nature, the testimony to the world is marred.

3. Constant Fight

There will be constant conflict (Galatians 5 v 17), but there need not be constant defeat. To avoid defeat there must be (a) the laying hold of the resources available to us (b) a recognition of the working of the old nature and (c) a rejection of what is recognised as evil.

(a) The resources — We have the Holy Spirit. We have the Word inspired and used by the Holy Spirit. We are to pray in the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall NOT fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5 v 16). Neglect of the Word and prayer will lead to certain defeat. It is not for us to allege by way of excuse that after all we are only human. We have resources.

(b) The Recognition — A believer may think he is doing the work of God when he is doing the work of the devil. He may think his action is justified when, in fact, the old nature is operating. For example, he may think his hatred is godly (Psalm 1 39 v 22) when it is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5 v 20). There needs to be discernment as to the operation of the old nature. May we know our enemy.

(c) The Rejection — When the evil has been recognised, it must be rejected. We must not cling to it. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. (Romans 6 v12). Ponder the following words of E. W. Rogers, If we would be filled with the Spirit, we must oust from our lives those things that would hinder the filling. We must yield ourselves completely unto God. (Romans 6.13)

If we were asked whether we would like to gain triumphs for God, we would probably reply in the affirmative. Let us recognise that not all the triumphs for God are won in the sphere of missionary enterprise. When a believer rises to an opportunity of taking sides with God against his old nature, there is a triumph for God. Shall we in our brief lives miss these opportunities?

How apt are the words of the late C. F. Hogg, Men and women, if you would only, by the grace of God, come to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and say, By the good help of God, from this day on 1 shall judge in myself every jealous and every ambitious thought, 1 could foretell for you a life of great happiness, of great efficiency, and of great fruitfulness.

If we know these things, happy are we if we do them.