Sin Nature

 ¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
-Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT)


Earlier in the week, I identified sin as not loving God with all your heart, soul and mind, and not loving your neighbor as yourself. I came to that conclusion from Matthew 22:36-40. Jesus said that the entire law is based on those two commandments. I was thinking about about that today, and thinking about the lists of the desires of our sinful nature that Paul writes about here in Galatians 5. 


Look at the list he provides. Each and every one of them comes from either not loving God (impurity, idolatry, sorcery, drunkenness, etc.) or not loving others (sexual immorality, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, selfish ambition, envy, etc). Truthfully, I never looked at this list in that way before. Paul is basically putting the words of Jesus into practical terms, showing people where they miss the mark. Paul says, at the end over verse 21, "Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." These are the sinful desires that try to control our lives, and these are the things that we need to rid from our lives. Paul writes in verses 16-17, "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." How can we rid sin from our lives? Let the Spirit guide your life. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, look to Him for direction, and then follow through. When your eyes are focused on Him, then you will not fulfill the desires of your sin nature. Are you ready to rid your lives of the sin nature? Are you tired of trying to do what is right only to be sidetracked by your sinful desires? Give your life over to the Spirit, and allow Him to lead you and guide you in the paths of God. Think About It.