Spiritual Nature Vs. Sinful Nature: A Daily Battle

Read Romans 8:1-11
Theme: Salvation available to all by faith.
Title in NIV: Removal of condemnation through Jesus Christ.

Oh, how I love the first verse..."there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...." I know I am in Christ Jesus. I try to deny my desires for His desires for me (sometimes I fail, but I am still in Christ Jesus), I try to sacrifice myself for my families needs (sometimes I fail, but I am still in Christ Jesus), I try to speak truth to people God has put in my path (sometimes I fail, but I am still Christ Jesus), I try to fill my mind with good, pure truth (sometimes I fail, but I am still in Christ Jesus). You get the point. Our flesh will cause us to fail often, but the Spirit that lives in me is cemented to the cross and nothing can break the bond I have with my Savior.

Jesus' sacrifice set me free from my sinful nature that goes off on its own path and travels down the wide road of 'wants'.  Jesus' sacrifice took care of the sinful part of me and became a 'sin offering'. That part of me is dead. It is covered by the blood of Jesus and I am justified.......or I should be justified. Justified means to be free from guild and free from blame. How often do I hold on to guilt because I think I should have done better. Ok, I should have done better, but I also know I CAN'T. I need to accept the fact that I am a two sided being....the sinful side, and the spiritual side. The spiritual side has covered the sinful side since I am in Christ Jesus. I should not feel guilty, I should pray for strength and be overjoyed that my sins will not be held against me....no condemnation, right?

How do I know I am in Christ Jesus? Lets compare and contrast the sinful nature and the spiritual nature. The sinful nature has its mind SET on what the sinful nature desires. The sinful nature is hostile toward God. The sinful nature does not submit to God. The sinful nature cannot submit to God. The sinful nature cannot please God. The sinful nature is death.

Those who live by the spiritual nature have their mind SET on what the Spirit desires. The one who lives by the Spirit is life and peace.

So, the sinful part of my being is dead because of sin (if I am in Christ), yet the spirit part of my being is alive because of righteousness.  It is a battle everyday to not allow the sinful nature to take control, but it is a winnable battle!! The victory is the Lords. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in me and you (vs.11). That is a lot of power. Let us break the chains of guild, know we have no condemnation, and tap into the power that is inside us.