Human Nature part 5
Before the cross we had what is commonly referred to as a "sin nature." It was our default setting to not believe. Because we really didn't have anything to believe in. The best we (thought) we could do was earn our bread by the sweat of our brow. The problem, of course, is that no matter how hard we tried... no matter what we did... there was always one thing we lacked. And the thing we lacked--again BEFORE the cross--was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And that's what the cross accomplished. Jesus poured out His Spirit on all flesh. He gave humanity what it was missing. Not the love of God--God always has and always will love us--but the ability to RECEIVE the love of God. See, the cross did not turn us into something that God could love. He already loved us. What the cross did was move us out of the power of darkness--where we couldn't SEE His love--and into the Kingdom. It's so important to understand that darkness doesn't have any power of us because when the light is shining we can see clearly. And seeing is believing. We believe in God because He gave us something (Himself, love) to believe in. We love Him because He first loved us. That's our true nature. Not the Old Man selfish soulish beast nature that tries to get get get, but the New Man sacrificial love nature that has everything He needs so He can just give give give! Because that's what love is. Love is giving. Not trying to get something you don't have, but sharing what you do have! And that's what true human nature is. We were created to be loved and to love each other with that same love. This idea of, "Well of course I messed up, I'm only human. It's my nature to screw up. It's my nature to sin," is so damaging to our true identity. Because if we think we're sinners... we're going to sin. Whatever you believe about yourself is what your reality will be. (And, listen, I'm not saying you can believe that you're a millionare and then check your bank account and all of a sudden have a million dollars. I'm saying there's the truth about you--God's Word--and there's the lie about you--what the world tries to force you to accept. And whichever one you believe... that's what your reality will be.) Matthew 9:29 in the Message Bible says it like this, "He (Jesus) touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe." " And that's what happens to us every day. We become what we believe. What we see--either the visible appearance realm of the world, or the invisible abundant everlasting realm of the Kingdom--is what we be. But I don't believe "human nature" is something bad that we need to overcome in order to be "more than human." I believe the beast nature was overcome on the cross when Jesus became who we were and was crucified, died, and buried. HE overcame the world and in HIM we are more than conquerors. We don't HAVE that nature anymore. It's gone. And when He was quickened, raised, and seated He gave us our NEW nature. Our TRUE nature. HIS nature. The love nature.