Picture of Rev. Claude Purser
Rev. Claude Purser
"Study to show thyself
approved unto God,
a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth."
II Timothy 2:15
Translation for 140 languages by ALS

Man's Two Natures

Young Christians sometimes become discouraged when they discover that even though they have received the Holy Ghost, they are still tempted and tend to fail in certain ways.

They thought they would never be tempted again. As a result, the devil puts doubts in their minds as to whether they are really saved.

The reason they are discouraged is because they fail to see that they now have two natures to deal with, fighting for possession of the same body. Galations 5:16-17

It is your decision

Every man that asks God to guide him has two natures.
  1. The Natural Man (or sinful)

  2. The Spiritual Man (Nature of CHRIST).

Every man must decide which nature will rule his life.
  • Galations 5:17----The flesh and the Spirit are contrary the one to the other.

  • Romans 6:16-19----You will serve either sin or God.

  • Romans 8:12-14----Live after the flesh and die or after God and live.

Natural Man

Let us start by taking a look at the Natural Man. We are all naturally like this.
  • Galations 5:19-21-----Manifest the works of the flesh

  • Ephesians 2:1-3 & 12

  • Ephesians 4:18-19-----Alienated from God because ignorance blinded the heart.

  • Mark 7:21-23----------Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts.

  • Jeremiah 17:9---------The heart is deceitful.

Repented Man

When the Natural Man turns to GOD, repents, and asks God to forgive him, he loses his sins and becomes a Repented Man.

To repent is to turn away from sin or cut off the works of the flesh.
  • Ezekiel 18:20-32----The soul that sinneth shall die. He that turns away from sin shall live.

  • Luke 13:1-3---------Except you repent you shall perish.

  • Acts 17:30----------All men everywhere are to repent.

  • Proverbs 28:13------Cover your sins and not prosper. Confess and forsake sin and have mercy.

  • II Peter 3:9--------All should come to repentance.

  • Luke 24:47----------Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name.

  • Colossians 2:8-13---You are complete in him.

Works of the flesh

The works of the flesh will soon reappear if the Repented Man does not go on to become a Born Again Man.

You do not have the power to resist the powers of the evil spirits or sin until you are born again.
  • Matthew 12:43-45

  • Romans 7:15 & 18-25

Carnal Man

The man who chooses to live in the old nature, after the flesh, will become a Carnal Man. The carnal man has dropped right back into the old life he lived before he was saved. He is living according to the desires of the flesh, the old nature.
  • I Corinthians 3:1-4

  • Romans 8:5-8

Reprobate Man

Eventually the new nature will be smothered out and die, and the Carnal Man will become a Reprobate Man.
  • Romans 1:21 & 28-32

  • II Corinthians 13:5

  • II Thessalonians 2:10-12

  • II Peter 2:19-22

No hope for the Reprobate Man

When you become a REPROBATE MAN, you have committed the unpardonable sin. The reprobate man is doomed.
  • Proverbs 29:1

  • Matthew 15:10-14

  • Hebrews 6:4-8

  • Hebrews 10:26-29

Another Choice

The Born Again Man does have another choice. He does not have to live in the natural (sinful) nature and become carnal and then reprobate. He can chose to live in the new nature (Spiritual) which was grafted in by Jesus Christ when the man was born again.
  • Romans 8:12-14-----Become one of the sons of God.

Born Again

How does a man become Born Again?
  • John 3:3-5--------You must be born of the water and of the Spirit.

  • Acts 2:38---------Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Overcoming Man

The Born Again Man who chooses to live in the new nature (in the Spirit) will soon become an Overcoming Man. The Overcoming Man crucifies the flesh with its affections and lusts, and by the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) cuts off those branches of carnality which would sap the life of the tree and destroy its spirituality. This "pruning process" must continue, or the "sucker growths" of the Old Nature will sprout out when least expected.
  • Matthew 18:8-9

  • Romans 6:11-19

  • Colossians 3:5-10

  • I Peter 2:1-2

  • Luke 21:34-36

  • I Corinthians 9:26-27

  • Ephesians 4:22-24

Spiritual Man

As the new nature grows you will become a Spiritual Man. A spiritual man can be identified by the Fruit of the Spirit.
  • Galatians 5:22-25

Truely Spiritual Man

The truly Spiritual Man is constantly pressing onward, never feeling that he has already attained, but is always aware of his own need of vigilance. he is continually seeking God for more of God's Spirit to fill his life, thus bringing much fruit to perfection.
  • Psalms 1:1-3-----------Like a tree planted by the river.

  • John 15:4-8------------Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.

  • Acts 1:8---------------When we receive the Holy Ghost we have power.

  • I Corinthians 2:9-16---We have the mind of Christ.

  • I John 4:4-------------Greater is he that is in you.

Don't give up

So many fail because they do not know how to deal with the two natures. The secret of victory is this:
  • Galatians 5:16
    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.



Please forward your comments and questions to me.
rev.claude@cox.net

Bible Studies By Subject.
Bible Study Home Page.