Musing - Do We Need God’s Help to Deal with Our Human Nature?

 

Hebraic Musing - Do We Need God’s Help to Deal with Our Human Nature?

What is Human Nature?  What does the Bible say about our Human Nature?   “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5 NIV    

The Bad News: In Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul describes how that sinfulness impacts us to this day.  “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful Nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by Nature objects of wrath.”  NIV

Is it a blessing or a curse that our “Human Nature” makes us distinctly human?  Here’s a hint of good news!    Our Human Nature is distinct from that of the animals and the rest of creation in that we can think!  The chief distinction between human beings and the rest of creation is our ability to reason.  No other creature has this ability, and there’s no question that this is a unique gift bestowed on us by God; best described in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him…”  And thus our ability to reason enables us to reflect on our own Nature and the Nature of God and to derive knowledge of God’s will for us, His creation.  We are the only ones in God’s creation that has a Nature capable of reason, to make choices!

The fact that we are created in God’s image means He has enabled us to have some understanding of Him and of His vast and complex design.  Our Human Nature reflects God’s attributes, although in a limited way.  We love because we are made in the image of the God who is love (1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”).  Because we are created in His image, we can be compassionate, faithful, truthful, kind, patient, and just.  In us however, these attributes are distorted by sin, which also resides in our Nature.

Originally, our Human Nature was perfect by virtue of having been created so by God.  We were created “very good” by a loving God (Genesis 1:31), but that goodness was marred by the sin of Adam and Eve and entire human race fell victim to the sin Nature.  

The Good News is that at the moment a person trusts in Christ, he receives a new Nature.  Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Sanctification is the process by which God develops our new Nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time.  This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new Nature battles with the “tent” in which it resides—the old man, the old Nature, the flesh.  “For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” 2 Corinthians 5:4

And for how long do we groan in our “tent”?  Not until we are glorified in heaven will our new Nature be set free to live for eternity in the presence of the God in whose image we are created.  Meanwhile “… because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  Eph.2 4-5

So we are doomed before we even began life.  BUT there is hope.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV

Points to ponder

Am I groaning in my tent because I now have to continually confront my sin Nature?

Do we fully appreciate the Godly nature Father God gave us when He created us?
 to reason      to reflect       to derive knowledge of God’s will     to make choices

Do you feel redeemed by Father God?

♫ I’m a new creation, I’m a brand new man. Old things are passed away, I’m born again.
      More than a conqueror, That’s who I am.  I’m a new creation, I’m a brand new man. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      May 18, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note – Inspired and excerpted from “What Are We? Three Views on Human Nature” by James Anderson