Does a Christian have two natures?

The Meaning of “Two Natures” and the Problem of Semantics

Does a Christian have two natures? We're going to answer that question. You can also discover more on GotQuestions .org. The first problem that comes up with this question is one of semantics. For example, many prefer sin nature, others prefer sinful nature, and still others prefer the ambiguous flesh.

Whatever the specific names used for the warring parties, what is relevant is that an ongoing battle rages within the Christian. The second problem is the actual definition of nature. How this significant word is defined determines how one sees the distinction between the old man and the new man, and its relevant outworking in the life of a Christian.

The Old Man, the New Man, and the Believer’s Capacity for Godliness

One way to view nature is to understand it has a capacity within a believer. Thus, the old man is interpreted as the former way of life, that of an unbeliever. In this sense, the Christian has two competing capacities within him.

The old capacity to sin, and the new capacity to resist sinning. The unbeliever has no such competition within. He does not have the capacity for godliness because he has only the sin nature. That's not to say he cannot do good works, but his motivation for those works is always tainted by his sinfulness.

In addition, he cannot resist sinning because he doesn't have the capacity not to sin. The believer, on the other hand, has the capacity for godliness because the Spirit of God lives within him or her.

He still has the capacity for sin as well, but he now has the ability to resist sin, and more importantly, the desire to resist and to live godly. When Christ was crucified, the old man was crucified with him, resulting in the Christians no longer being a slave to sin.

We have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. At the moment of conversion, the Christian receives a new nature. It is instantaneous. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time.

Romans 7 and the Ongoing Battle Within the Christian

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, old nature, flesh. In Romans 7, Paul explains the battle that rages continually in even the most spiritually mature people.

He laments that he does what he doesn't want to do, and in fact, does the evil he detests. He says that it is the result of sin living in me. He delights in God's law, according to his inner being, but he sees another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

Here is a classic example of the two entities, whatever terms they may carry. The point is that the battle is real, and it is one Christians will wage throughout.

Their lives.

Putting Sin to Death and the Need for Continual Renewal

This is why believers are encouraged to put to death the deeds of the body, to put to death that which makes a Christian sin, and to put aside other sins, such as anger, wrath, malice, etc. All of this to say, the Christian has two natures, the old and the new.

But the new nature needs continual renewing. This renewing, of course, is a lifetime process for the Christian. That answers the question, does a Christian have two natures? On our website, GotQuestions .org, you'll find a deeper discussion and recommended resources.

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