Understanding Our Spiritual Nature: One vs. Two Natures

Unnatural Conduct

Someone recently emailed me about a devotional he had read. In it, the author, writing to believers, asserted that “you are still capable of your worst sin.” If that’s true, then does it really matter whether we believe we have one nature or two natures?

I absolutely believe we have only one nature. I cannot see how having two natures is even a possibility.

Perhaps the issue is what we mean when we talk about our nature. Jesus put it this way “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6, NASB 2020)

Our nature was flesh.
Our nature now is spirit.

Romans 6:6 tells us that our old self died. We were immersed (baptized) into the death of the Lord Jesus and raised to new Life in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (NASB 2020) The word “new” here is kainos which means new in kind, not just new and improved.

Father is Love. All Father does, He does because of who He is. Because He is Love and because He Loves us, He gave us the freedom and dignity of choice. That was not taken away when we were re-created.

Consequently, we can still choose to conduct ourselves as if we were mere flesh, but we can also choose to conduct ourselves according to who we truly are, spiritual children of God who are holy, blameless, and above reproach.

So, are you CAPABLE of sinning in spectacular and heinous ways? Sure. You can choose to do evil.

In your heart at the deepest level, is that what you want to do? Of course not.

Why is that do you think?

It’s because such conduct is no longer in your nature. It’s unnatural for you to do that now. When you were born of the Spirit, you inherited godly character traits. Galatians calls some of them “the fruit of the Spirit.”

If we believe we have two natures, it’s easy to excuse ungodly attitudes and actions. I mean, it’s only natural for me to conduct myself in ungodly ways, right? This gives a foothold to our enemy. He is more than happy to facilitate our journey down the slippery slope to ineffective and destructive living.

If we believe we have a new nature we find ourselves grieving ungodly conduct. I mean, it feels unnatural for me to conduct myself in ungodly ways, right? This allows the Spirit to be the dynamo He is and to energize us both to desire and to live upright and godly lives in this world.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry