In a previous post, we left off declaring that through the blood of Christ, the washing of the Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be renewed into those who overcome the world (See the post, "He Came By Blood and Water"). Overcoming the world is the overcoming of our sin nature, which is defined by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.
Overcoming these things is what real faith does.
1 John 5:4-5
4 For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
From the beginning, our enemy has been sinning, drawing people in after their lusts and pride. We see it first with Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:1-7
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was a delight to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and that the tree was desirable to make one wise (pride of life), she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.
The Father declares that we can have full authority over our sin nature so nothing would master us. He spoke this first to the man of lawlessness - Cain, who chose not to overcome his pride of life but murdered his brother instead.
Genesis 4:6-8
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? 7 If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Jesus demonstrated that same authority when satan appeared to him in the wilderness to draw him away into lust and pride.
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” (lust of the flesh) 4 But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’; And ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” (pride of life) 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” (lust of the eyes) 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and [d]serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.
From here, we see Paul owning that same authority that Jesus took up and Cain denied. We see him use the analogy of his “stomach” as the seat of the flesh that constantly wants to be fed with the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
1 Corinthians 6:12-13
12 All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, however God will do away with both of them.
Just like Cain, there are many out there, both born again and not, who serve their lusts and pride, feeding their bellies, making their appetites their god instead of the Most High.
Romans 16:17-18
17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.18 For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Those who make their stomachs and appetites their god are enemies of the cross of Christ - denying its power to turn them into overcomers and masters over their lusts and pride.
Philippians 3:17-19
17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.
From our born again moment, it is the responsibility of the believer to overcome their sin nature, which drives us toward serving our desires, or “appetites,” in pride for the lusts of the earth. We cannot have two masters. Whichever one we serve, the other we will hate by default.
Matthew 6:24
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (this includes any other “god” we may be serving other than our Father).
As we saw above, if we love this world, love for our Father is not in us.
1 John 2:15
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
If we finish our races here on earth still allowing our sin nature to be our master, we will face eternal death. If we let obedience be our master, we will be sanctified, or cleansed from our sin nature, which results in righteousness and eternal life.
Romans 6:14-23
14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Far from it! 16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relation to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By the grace of our Father, He has given us everything we need to no longer be servants of sin, but of righteousness towards the purpose of being overcomers. For those bought and born again, we now have the ability to walk according to the Spirit at the instruction of the Word. If we walk according to the Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-24
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (See the posts, "Do Works Matter" and "The Hope of Glory". If we walk by the flesh, we are still under the guardianship of the OT Law with its consequences). 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Before progressing, it is vitally important to understand what it means to be “in Christ.” Please read through the study “Sealed in Christ” for proof that we must overcome our sin nature before we can be considered “in Christ.”
Romans 8:1-17
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because 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, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. (Because the Spirit leads to sanctification - Hebrews 2:11 For both He who sanctifies [Jesus] and those who are sanctified [the saints] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters [and therefore sons/daughters of God]) 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Galatians 5 and Romans 8 are adamant that, born again Christian or not, only those who walk according to the Spirit are no longer under the guardianship of the OT Law. The Spirit will lead into all righteousness because no one who is led by the Spirit can walk in their sin nature. The Spirit won't lead anywhere that the Word does not instruct to go. This is why we must equip the Spirit with the Word by getting it into our minds and hearts, which produces righteous practices. When we do that, the Spirit then has his sword and water to bring about the “putting to death the deeds of the body”.
Ephesians 6:17
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Titus 3:5
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing (With the Word) of regeneration and renewing (Which is day by day - 2 Corinthians 4:16) by the Holy Spirit
There is a misconception that at our conversion moment we are completely and utterly filled with the Holy Spirit. There are many scriptures that go into how God gives out His Spirit, and to whom, as well as the difference between the Spirit of God versus the spirit of Christ. For the purpose of this study, I will lean on Acts 5:32. For many more scriptures related to these truths, see the post, "Sealed in Christ". If we want to partake in the full effect of the Spirit’s regeneration, we must walk in obedience. The Holy Spirit is given more abundantly to those who walk in obedience to the Word.
Acts 5:32
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
By studying the Word and walking in obedience to it, we are receiving that which the Father has given us so freely - the ability to become overcomers of our sinful nature by the power of His Spirit and grace. This is what it means not only to be reborn, but to be born of water and Spirit. The former allows us to see the kingdom of God, but the latter allows us to enter the kingdom (See the posts, “He Came By Blood and Water” and “Sealed in Christ”).
John 3:1-6
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (This is our conversion moment) 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water (The Word) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
To be born of water and Spirit to become spirit is synonymous with being born of God, since God is spirit.
John 4:24
24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Those who have been born of God are those who have overcome and no longer partake in the practice of their sin nature.
1 John 5:18
18 We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
They cannot partake in their sin nature because the seed of God remains in them (i.e. being born of water per John 3:1-6). Anyone who remains in their flesh are children of satan, but those who practice righteousness have proven themselves children of our Father.
1 John 3:6-10
6 No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him. 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.
There is absolutely nothing the Father won’t give us for the purpose of becoming overcomers.
Romans 8:31-32
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
In fact, God's provisions, given to us through His promises, are exactly how we master our sinful nature. Through the many promises we’re given throughout the Word, we exchange our sin nature for our Father’s divine nature. In other words, we become Christ-like.
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.
2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears (Greek ~ “phanaroo” ~ to manifest), we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (This is the hope of the manifestation of Christ in us.) 3 And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Let us not fall into the lie that we are dirty rotten sinners who will always only be “human”. The Father’s purpose is for us to be more than carnal - overcomers of our sinful nature which always seeks to please the flesh through lusts and worldly passions. Let us not forget that grace is the tool and instruction set used to become the people the Father has set out to collect - a sanctified people.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (manifestation of the glory of Christ in us), 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.
And this sanctification by the grace of our Father’s promises are what we were both called and chosen for.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was the summation of Paul's work in the Lord to present people as sanctified overcomers, or pure virgins, to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
And to help people sanctify Christ in their hearts as Lord as servants to him instead of their sin nature.
1 Peter 3:14-15
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;
And this he did by teaching the will of our Father and showing how to walk, not according to our own hearts and eyes, but according to His Word. In this way, we would be those pure virgins instead of prostituting ourselves with our lusts and pride.
Numbers 15:39-40
39 It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so that you will do them and not follow your own heart and your own eyes, which led you to prostitute yourselves, 40 so that you will remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God.
Let's not forget the power of the God who is working all this out within us. For although this purification is impossible for man to do on his own, we have a God who can do unimaginably more than all we ask or imagine.
Matthew 19:25-26
25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Jeremiah 32:27
27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
Let us not doubt, for our faith is directly proportional to the workings of God in our lives.
Mark 9:23
23 But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”
To be overcomers of our sin nature is to be overcomers of the enemy. The Father will work out our ability to overcome our carnal nature to the point of being willing to spill our own blood (whether spiritually, as we have been talking a whole lot about, or for some out there, even physically) - the kind of commitment Jesus wants from us.
Hebrews 12:4
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin
Revelation 12:11
11 And they overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
To summarize this post, unless a believer overcomes our enemy and the sin nature, there is nothing but the second death awaiting.
Revelation 21:5-8
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. 7 The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
We must come out of this world and be separate if He is to call Himself our Father. We live here and are instructed to go out into the world to make disciples but that doesn't mean we are to be of the world and its practices.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15 Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
Thanks be to our Father who is patient as we learn how to become overcomers.
2 Peter 3:14-15
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace,15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
We should be careful not to take advantage of that patience and become stagnant, taking the freedom we have in Christ Jesus as a covering for evil.
1 Peter 2:16
16 Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.
Galatians 5:13
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
Romans 2:1-11
1 Therefore you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things (This is in regard to Romans 1 and those who practiced wickedness). 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will repay each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
For the one who does overcome through the blood and water of Christ and the power of the Spirit, the throne of Christ awaits.
Revelation 3:21
21 The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne.
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