To Will or Not To Will?

[WordSword]

The willing of the soul and the desire of the “old man” are separate entities within the believer in Christ! With the unsaved, unregenerate soul they are coalesce in their operations. Those reborn do not will after the desires of sin nature. But the unbeliever, being bereft of the new nature and unconcerned for holiness, must will after the desire of the Adamic-nature—being yet under its “reign” and “dominion” (Ro 6:12, 14); and to willingly desire after the old man is where its dominion of sin lies, just as not to will after the desires of the old man is where freedom from sin’s dominion is dethroned (Rom 6:18, 22; 8:2).

In my opinion the old man “is” still restrained on the Cross of Christ (is being crucified – Ro 6:6 - KJV) and continues to be nullified from its ability to cause one to will after its desires. Therefore, sin is not the will of believers but the desire of their old man, which is demonstrated in Paul’s declaration, “Now then it is no more I (new I) that do it, but sin (old I) that dwelleth in me” (Rom 7:17, 20). “I am crucified with Christ” (am being crucified - Gal 2:20). The “I” here is the old nature of the believer—just as the new I is the implanted nature; both coexisting, with the latter being dominant by the Spirit (Rom 8:13; Gal 5:17; Eph 3:16).

The new nature is “after God created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:24) and “is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him” (or it - Col 3:10). This new nature after Christ is the “seed” in 1John 3:9, by which when the believer “cannot sin, because he is born of God” (i.e. cannot sin willfully). For, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” i.e. sins not with the new nature, but with the old nature (Rom 7:25).

The absence of the will to desire after the old man has no effect on the Father’s forgiveness, which comes  by the Blood of Christ, but rather manifests the “work in you” of the Father (Phil 2:13). It is only through the Cross of Christ “we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:14 – KJV); which forgiveness derives from, not the believer’s walk but the Lord Jesus’ Cross! Let us be ever aware that continual “presumptuous” (Num 15:30) or “willful” (Heb 10:26) sin not only manifests unbelief, but is also unforgiven!

 

[Speks]

You are sharing powerful truths here that go to the very core of our daily walk with Christ – intentionally putting off the old nature and putting on the new; deliberately walking in the newness of life; daily claiming the right to be clothed with Christ Himself so we make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

God views the old self with all its practices as already crucified with Christ, so the body of sin can be be powerless. It is God's intention that we should no longer be slaves of sin. In Christ we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. We are told to put on the new self who has been created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Our old sinful nature sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit pushes against all our fleshly ways. Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Their minds are constantly renewed. But when we are carnal (soulish), we are governed by self. It is then we need to allow God's Word to us to pierce us so He can judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, and make them known.

I'm reminded of an old song: 

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Edited October 27, 2020 by Speks

[WordSword]

2 hours ago, Speks said:

so the body of sin can be be powerless. It is God's intention that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Hi, and appreciate your reply and comments! Though God allows the continued presence and tempting's of the "old man" within us, His point is that we do not will to live after the flesh (sin nature; old man), that is, our heart and treasure is no longer after our sin nature, but after His "work in you" (Phil 2:13). The "freedom from sin" (Rom 6:18, 22) is not the absence of the old man, for though it's in us we are not in (after) it (Rom 8:9). To be after the sin nature would be to will to desire after it, because where our treasure is that's where our heart truly is (Mat 6:21); and it's where our heart is that matters most!

God's blessings your your Family!