The Sin Nature!

[Jethro Bodine]

You told me you don't give a c... what churches teach. This tells me you don't really have a church.

I am from the Church of the Enlightened Ones. Ask Rollo, he knows.

So, I have to ask you this: How did you come up with your theory about the sin nature?

I read about it in plain English words in the Bible. No esoteric interpretations needed. It's right there in front of our eyes.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

You told me you don't give a c... what churches teach.

This surely is not the first subject the church at large got wrong.

By Pastor Jimmy Swaggart

The sin nature is not removed when the believing sinner comes to Christ. While it is not removed, it is, in fact, made dormant. It's sort of like an electric appliance that is unplugged. So what causes it to be revived?

The Believer, in effect, now has three natures. They are:
1. The human nature;
2. The sin nature; and,
3. The Divine Nature.

The latter is obtained when you first come to Christ, and then the war begins, which is between the sin nature and the Divine Nature. In fact, that war, will continue until the Trump sounds or until you die.

The sin nature is revived in the Christian because the Christian places his or her faith in something other than the Cross of Christ. That being done, the Holy Spirit residing in the heart and life of the Believer is now greatly hindered in what He can do. Inasmuch as He works exclusively within the parameters, one might say, of the Finished Work of Christ, He demands total Faith in Christ and the Cross on our part. When our Faith is placed elsewhere, this is a direction in which He cannot work. That being the case, we are left on our own, meaning that now we are trying to live for God by self-effort, which is woefully inadequate.

Such a Believer will then begin to fail the Lord with a predominate sin taking place within his or her life, and doing so over and over again, which is what we mean by a recurring sin. That's when the sin nature is then ruling the Child of god, which makes life miserable, to say the least. That's what Paul was talking about when he said, "Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24).

The only answer to the situation is for the Believer to come to understanding that Scripturally his victory is totally in Christ and the Cross and in no other manner. He is then obligated to place his Faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work in his life. Then and then only can the recurring sin be defeated and stopped.

While I like Jimmy S. and respect him as a gifted and talented minister of the gospel, before and after his fall, this simply does not line up with what the Bible actually says. I'm not bothered by that. And this certainly is not the only thing the church at large hasn't got right. Thank God we have our own copies of the scriptures to learn the truth from.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

So, I have to ask you this: How did you come up with your theory about the sin nature?

I'll be back later. I'll walk you through it.
I'm heading up town to get some cauliflower, cat food, and a torque strut for my van.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

The Enlightened ones.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The Enlightened ones.

See! That's my hand! That's my hand!

 

[iLOVE]

Paul said the old nature--the mind set on the things of the flesh--CAN'T please God.

Now you are starting to hear and understand. That faith in anything other than Christ and the Cross is the flesh (worldliness) and the Holy Spirit will not help us. So what does the scriptures say when a Believer operates in the flesh (The Law of Sin and Death)? It is sin! Remember, Romans 4:5 says, "God awards righteousness only on the basis of faith in Christ and His Finished Work.

 

[GodsGrace]

Yeah Jethro. This hill ain't worth dyin' for.
If what you believe makes your heart happy, then stay with it.
It's okay. You'll get no argument from me, even though I don't agree.
3 mainline churches, one VERY big, agree with me. But if you read it, it must be there.

I met someone recently who told me Jesus' work isn't complete.
Here's the proof:
Colossians 1:24
Yes. Paul had to help Jesus along - didn't you know?

It's always been amazing to me how you could prove anything using scripture.
It makes me wish Jesus and Paul were more PRECISE in what they said.
Of course, they didn't know back then all these precepts which would arise, or maybe they would have been.

And did you ever notice in all your studies,how differently Jesus and Paul viewed salvation?
Jesus kept saying how you have to DO things to get saved.
Paul did too, actually, but he came up with this "salvation=belief" idea.
He worked for over 3 years to come up with it though. He must have been some kind of theologian, if you ask me. A really smart guy. But Jesus was smart too - go figure.

Good night.

 

[iLOVE]

I met someone recently who told me Jesus' work isn't complete.

I was told by a Bishop that we must move beyond the Cross! So I ask him how do we do that? He just started quoting scriptures to me. I then ask him how does the scriptures work and how do I apply them to my life? He said I must have will power and die daily.

Sadly millions of spirit filled Christians (Baptize in the Holy Spirit) who love God think this way. They will say that "YOU" must have the will power to live for God. And when you disagree they bring in "Law". God is going to get you because "YOU" didn't do this or that. The legalist will always use fear and doubt. They will say you aren't really saved. They will set standards on you that they do not keep themselves.

 

[GodsGrace]

I was told by a Bishop that we must move beyond the Cross! So I ask him how do we do that? He just started quoting scriptures to me. I then ask him how does the scriptures work and how do I apply them to my life? He said I must have will power and die daily.

Sadly millions of spirit filled Christians (Baptize in the Holy Spirit) who love God think this way. They say that "YOU" must be the one with your will power live for God. And when you disagree they bring in "Law". God is going to get you because you didn't pray enough, fast enough, or anything that brings fear. They will say you aren't really saved.

I'm with you Brother.
We can do NOTHING on our own.
Our sinful flesh won't let us.
But I can do all things through God who strengthens me.

The Holy Spirit is missing in some churches...

Wondering

 

[Jethro Bodine]

So what does the scriptures say when a Believer operates in the flesh

What does the scriptures say when a believer operates in the flesh, you ask? They are not born again. They are not really a believer.

"...you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." (Romans 8:9 NASB)

Now don't get excited. I know you are using the phrase 'in the flesh' the way many churches, particularly the full gospel churches, use that term. They use it to describe a born again person who has the Spirit but who is walking in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit (usually in regard to his/her service to God). But that is not how Paul uses the phrase. If you will look with your own eyes (no privileged esoteric insights required here) you'll see that simply by virtue of having the Spirit of God you are not in the flesh. IOW, by simply being born again you are automatically 'not in the flesh'.

Now let's look at what Paul says 'being in the flesh' means:

"...the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8 NASB italics in original)

See it? (Again, no esoteric insights required here). 'In the flesh' means having a mind set on the flesh.

Now let's put these two truths together: Being 'in the flesh' means having a mind set on the flesh. Born again people, by virtue of having the Spirit, are not in the flesh. But virtually the entire church claims that all believers are still in the old nature and way of being 'in the flesh' and can have a mind set on the flesh. Not so, says Paul.

 

[GodsGrace]

What does the scriptures say when a believer operates in the flesh, you ask? They are not born again. They are not really a believer.

"...you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." (Romans 8:9 NASB)

Now don't get excited. I know you are using the phrase 'in the flesh' the way many churches, particularly the full gospel churches, use that term. They use it to describe a born again person who has the Spirit but who is walking in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit (usually in regard to his/her service to God). But that is not how Paul uses the phrase. If you will look with your own eyes (no privileged esoteric insights required here) you'll see that simply by virtue of having the Spirit of God you are not in the flesh. IOW, by simply being born again you are automatically 'not in the flesh'.

Now let's look at what Paul says 'being in the flesh' means:

"...the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8 NASB italics in original)

See it? (Again, no esoteric insights required here). 'In the flesh' means having a mind set on the flesh.

Now let's put these two truths together: Being 'in the flesh' means having a mind set on the flesh. Born again people, by virtue of having the Spirit, are not in the flesh. But virtually the entire church claims that all believers are still in the old nature and way of being 'in the flesh'. Not so, says Paul.

It sounds good Jethro.
But sometimes we're in the flesh mode.
I guess not all of us are saved.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It sounds good Jethro.
But sometimes we're in the flesh mode.
I guess not all of us are saved.

No, believers, by definition of what 'in the flesh' means, can never be 'in the flesh' having the old mind set on the flesh (the old nature). But what they can be is deceived into listening to and obeying the sinful desires of their flesh bodies contrary to the new mind set on the things of the Spirit they now have (the body and it's desires is what did not go away when we were born again. That will happen at the resurrection. That is the hope we patiently wait for).

So many people in the church erroneously interpret their sinful failures as the old mind set on the flesh still being in them. No, if that were true, they would not have the Spirit and not even be born again. Paul said so. Not me.

 

[iLOVE]

What does the scriptures say when a believer operates in the flesh, you ask? They are not born again. They are not really a believer.

"...you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." (Romans 8:9 NASB)

Now don't get excited. I know you are using the phrase 'in the flesh' the way many churches, particularly the full gospel churches, use that term. They use it to describe a born again person who has the Spirit but who is walking in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit (usually in regard to his/her service to God). But that is not how Paul uses the phrase. If you will look with your own eyes (no privileged esoteric insights required here) you'll see that simply by virtue of having the Spirit of God you are not in the flesh. IOW, by simply being born again you are automatically 'not in the flesh'.

Now let's look at what Paul says 'being in the flesh' means:

"...the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8 NASB italics in original)

See it? (Again, no esoteric insights required here). 'In the flesh' means having a mind set on the flesh.

Now let's put these two truths together: Being 'in the flesh' means having a mind set on the flesh. Born again people, by virtue of having the Spirit, are not in the flesh. But virtually the entire church claims that all believers are still in the old nature and way of being 'in the flesh' and can have a mind set on the flesh. Not so, says Paul.

Brother Jethro Bodine,

Please invest approximately $34.00 and download the Jimmy Swaggart "The Expositor's Study Bible on iTunes.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! Galatians 5:9 / Galatians 5:9 NLT

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Brother Jethro Bodine,

Please invest approximately $34.00 and download the Jimmy Swaggart "The Expositor's Study Bible on iTunes.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! Galatians 5:9 / Galatians 5:9 NLT

Take what I posted and go scriptural point by point and show me I'm wrong.

And Jimmy Swaggart will never get another red cent of my money. He can pay for his own gas to go visit prostitutes.

 

[iLOVE]

Take what I posted and go scriptural point by point and show me I'm wrong.

And Jimmy Swaggart will never get another red cent of my money. He can pay for his own gas to go visit prostitutes.

I just have with Jimmy Swaggart "The Expositor's Study Bible

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I just have with Jimmy Swaggart "The Expositor's Study Bible

Take the exact scriptures I used and explain how it is that Spirit sealed believers can be 'in the flesh', and how 'in the flesh' is not referring to the old mind set on the flesh.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

This all sounds too complicated for me.
I'm a simple man.

 

[iLOVE]

It sounds good Jethro.
But sometimes we're in the flesh mode.
I guess not all of us are saved.

There are many who attempt to take parts here and there and mix them with their own opinion to create some standard to "un-save" others, while they do not keep the standard they would teach and lay upon others.

This is not "loving others as yourself" this is loving yourself and allowing mercy for yourself, while attempting to condemn others by a standard you do not keep." A mighty man of God by the name of Mitspa taught me this.

 

[smaller]

The Good News remains:

1 Timothy 1:
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

There are many who attempt to take parts here and there and mix them with their own opinion to create some standard to "un-save" others, while they do not keep the standard you would teach and lay upon others.

Unsave others? What's this got to do with unsaving others?