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A Discussion of Human Nature

I. Introduction:

Do Christians have a sinful nature? If so, just what is it? Could it be called something else, say “weakness of the flesh” or “vulnerability to sin.” The issue is important because one's nature defines who one is. Webster’s first definition of nature is “the essential character of a thing” (Second College Edition). So the question might be, “Is your essential character sinful?” The answer to this question will shape self-perception as well as behavior. So, shall we engage together in a search the Scriptures? Stay alert!

II. A Concordance Search

A. “Nature” (# of occurances Rom. – Jude)

  1. KJV – 12
  2. RSV – 21
  3. NIV – 39
  4. Grk. – 15 (Phusis) essence

B. “Flesh” (# of occurances Rom. – Jude)

  1. KJV – 111
  2. RSV – 83
  3. NIV – 18
  4. Grk. – 113 (sarks) sinful human, sinful nature

What gives? Among other things, one phrase used by the NIV, and neither other translation, is employed 22 times in translation of the Greek “sarks,” namely sinful nature.

C. Other times the NIV renders it as “sinful man." 

  1. Re: Unbelievers = 10 Rom. 7:5, 8:3,3,5,8; Gal. 5:24; Eph. 2:3; Col. 2:11,13; 2 Pt. 2:10
  2. Re: Believers = 8 Rom. 8:12,13; 13:14; 1 Cor. 5:5; Gal. 5:16,17(2),19
  3. Re: Not Sure = 7 Rom. 7:18,25; 8:3(2)*,4,9; Gal. 6:8

D. “Old self” (palaios antropos)

  1. Rom. 6:6 The old self was crucified (aorist passive) with him (Christ) so that body (soma) of sin might be done away with.

E. Effect –The substitution of the new for the old.

  1. John 3:5-6 “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.’”
  2. 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” 
    1. The old disobedience of Adam vs. the new obedience of Christ (Rom. 5:19)
    2. The old self vs. the new self (Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22-24)
    3. The old wages of sin vs. the new gift of God (Rom. 6:23)
    4. The old law of sin & death vs. the new law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2)
    5. The old flesh vs. the new Spirit (Rom. 8:2) 
      1. The old works of the flesh vs. the new fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:16ff)
      2. The mind = enlightened (2 Cor. 4:6; Heb. 6:4)
      3. The will = enabled (Rom. 6:18-22)The emotions = debased (Gal. 5:19-21)
      4. The body = died (Rom. 5:12; 8:10) 

F. This redemption is of nothing less than human nature, the essence of every person.

The old self, a slave to sin (Rom. 6:17,18), can be crucified and the body of sin put away (Rom. 6:6). The new self, a slave to righteousness, will be raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). This putting on of the new self (Eph. 4:22-24) is a new birth (Jn. 3:3). The old passes away (2 Cor. 5:17). The old fallen human nature dies (Rom. 6:6). We become partakers of the divine nature (2 Pt. 1:4). Nevertheless, our human nature remains vulnerable and susceptible to sin. This vulnerability is spiritual but closely linked to the material flesh.

  1. Rom. 6:19 “…you are weak in your natural selves (sarks).” The material flesh has appetites which sin uses to undermine the will of God’s Spirit in man.
  2. Gal. 5:17 “The sinful nature (sarks) desires what is contrary to the Spirit.”
  3. Eph. 4:22 Taught in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus (self-denial, Mk. 8:34) to put off your old self.
  4. Col. 3:9 Do not lie, since you have taken off (aorist participle) the old self.

II. Creation: Start and Stumble

A. Start – Genesis 2:7 “Dust of the Ground” (Material Nature) + “Breath of Life” (Spiritual Nature) = Soul (Human Nature)

B. Stumble – Genesis 3 Human nature experienced the effects of sin. The spiritual life principle (zoe) within human nature died (Eph. 2:0) and the material life principle (bios) also became subject to death (Rom. 5:12).

  1. The effects upon the human soul were devastating: 
    1. The mind = darkened (2Cor. 4:4) 
    2. The will = deadened (Rom. 3:12) 
    3. The emotions = debased (Gal. 5:19-21) 
    4. The body = died (Rom. 5:12; 8:10)

Human nature became depraved. It’s essential character was given over to evil. The soul (spirit and body) was both dead and dying. It was enslaved to sin. It needed nothing less than salvation…full and complete salvation.

III. Redemption: Cause and Effect

A. Cause – The substitutionary death of Christ

  1. Rom. 3:24 “…justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
  2. Eph. 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…”
  3. Col. 1:14 “…in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

B. This flesh principle (sarks) wars against the new Spirit principle and the Christian is challenged to submit the flesh to the Spirit. In so doing he considers himself “dead to sin, but alive to Christ.” He no longer allows sin “to reign in…(his) mortal body” Rom. 6:11ff.).

C. Redemption will be complete when the body “sown perishable” is “raised imperishable” (I Cor. 15:42). Through physical death I will no longer be plagued by the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 6:7). Positionally, this has already taken place. In practice, I must work it out (Phil. 2:12,13).

D. Until our final redemption, we will continue to experience the tension between the flesh principle and the spirit principle; between our position and our practice.

  1. “We died to sin” (Rom. 6:2)
  2. “Count yourselves dead to sin” (Rom. 6:11)
  3. “I can do all things through him” (Phil. 4:13)
  4. "You are weak in your natural selves” (Rom. 6:9)
  5. Walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7)
  6. Walking by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)

IV. In Conclusion:

What shall we say? There is an ongoing struggle to live the Christian life. No one denies this. But what are the warring factions? Are they:

  1. The old me and the new me?
  2. The old self and the new self?
  3. My old nature and my new nature?

Not so! Our struggle is against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark work, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12). Our enemy is the devil (1 Pet. 5:8). These forces find opportunity/vulnerability in the weakness of our flesh and produce every kind of fleshly coveting. Their power is the power of deception and can thus defeat the spiritual principle within us (Rom. 7:8-11). When we succumb, we become carnal (i.e. “fleshly”).

  1. Therefore we must: resist the devil, standing firm in the faith (I Pet. 5:9).
  2. Test the spirits, to see whether they are from God (I Jn. 4:1-3).
  3. You used to sin because it was your basic, fallen nature to do so (i.e. you were a sinner).
  4. Now, however, when you sin, you do so against your nature because you have been deceived into thinking that you are still a sinner. The truth is that God views you, in Christ, as a saint (used to describe Christians over 60 times in Rom – Rev.)

© Copyright 2003, Donald Reigstad