by Steven Gledhill for FREEdom from MEdom Project
For someone new to recovery this will be what disciples of Jesus indicated was, and is, a difficult teaching. For someone experienced in a disciplined lifestyle of committed recovery, this is a difficult teaching. On one hand, the Apostle Paul of the Bible declares that we are set free from the power of sin (Romans 6 and Galatians 5). On the other hand, Paul speaks of his personal battle with his flesh (human desires) controlled by the power of selfish sin (Romans 7). And yet Paul writes that he learned the secret of being content (Philippians 4), while emphasizing how miserable he is in the struggle (Romans 7). Throughout this article, we will examine the paradox between the newly transformed life and the battle with a selfish sin nature that will not leave us alone. Additional Scriptures include Romans 12, John chapters 6 and 15, and Ephesians chapters 3 and 5. Strap yourself in for the ride and let’s go.
It is important to reiterate that this article is not intended for those new to the ABC recovery steps. If you are new to Christ-centered recovery, be advised to study the rest of the content on the FFMP site before reading “New Life Paradox”.
We are promised that as we commit to God’s plan for recovery, surrendered to acting on the will of God in our lives, that we are resurrected from the old way of life into the new life, transformed by the almighty power of the living God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet everyday, I sin again and again. I find that I still want what I do not want to want. (Read that last sentence again)
The Paradox
On the one hand, we are told by Paul in the Bible:
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this.
Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result?
You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:16-23
Paul writes that we were slaves to sin but now, thanks to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, our sin (the Bible’s three-letter word for our selfish ambitious thinking and behavior) was crucified with Jesus, therefore setting us free from its power and control in our lives. In that sense, Paul writes in chapter 6 of Romans that we are free from the power of sin, meaning that our selfish sinful ways that lead to death and destruction died with Jesus at the cross.
Paul writes about being content, free of worry, guarded by the peace of God in his relationship with Jesus:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus…
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:4-7, 11-13
Hey, I want this life. Who wouldn’t? It’s like when Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well:
“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4:13-15
So then why, even in relationship with God, do I still sin, and all the more, still struggle with the seductive lure of selfish sinful desires? Why do I still go to that well to find satisfaction and “fulfillment”, whatever that is. Why am I preoccupied—even obsessed—with the reasons that I am dissatisfied in my life? Why do I still have thoughts that are ugly and hurtful? Why do I still give in to my selfish sinful urges and desires that appear to satisfy, but in the end serve to hurt me, hurt others, and I’m sure are displeasing to God?
Paul had those questions, as well. So on the other hand, Paul writes in the Bible:
The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:14-25
There are two forces of nature at work within us. There is the old nature that is selfish and sinful; and there is the new nature—dead to the old sinful way of life; transformed—given new life by the Spirit of God alive in my life. The battleground for our soul, body, heart, and mind, is indeed resonating in this thing we know as the brain.
My Brain
The human brain is such that it responds automatically to the slightest sensory ques. There is a “GO” system in the brain that is generally known as being driven by excitatory neuro (brain) transmitters, namely dopamine, that when stimulated, affect our sense of pleasure, desire, reward, and relief. Also participating as a member of the GO system is serotonin, whose primary function is to regulate mood and internal drive—the energy force that controls the degree of acceleration and intensity of the GO system. The point of the use of alcohol and drugs is to increase dopamine levels and to elevate or depress mood, depending on desired intentions (even though intentions and results don’t always go hand in hand. Vitamins, sugars, proteins, and carbohydrates can also contribute to the serotonin and dopamine levels and values. Exercise can go a long way toward effectively regulating dopamine and serotonin levels).
Then there is the “STOP” system, located near the frontal regions of the brain. Something called the amygdala is central to the production and function of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter (brain chemical that delivers messages for functioning) that affects judgment. We have something sometimes referred to as a “fight or flight” mechanism within the make up of the STOP system that protects us even before we can thoughtfully react to something. When dirt gets kicked up in your face, your eye lids may close “impulsively” before any significant damage is done. It’s the effect of norepinephrine. You might physically react to defend yourself by batting away a crumpled up piece of paper—fight. But if the crumpled up paper suddenly coming toward you was just dipped in paint, you might immediately duck out of the way without even thinking about it—the fight effect of norepinephrine. There are other STOP system brain chemicals referred to as inhibitory neurotransmitters that contribute to the cautionary function of the brain.
The problem is that the GO systems of the brain of all living species, when stimulated, will override the STOP systems of the brain. This override does not require alcohol and drugs and foods. The GO systems can be fueled by celebration, interpersonal and social rewards; but also can be fueled by stress and anxiety ques. Ques associated with anger, rage, jealousy, ambition, disappointment, failure, conflict, greed, lust, and so on, can lend themselves to impulsively trigger the GO system of the brain to the extent that it easily overrides the STOP system of the brain. The result is impaired cognitive (thoughts and emotions) control. As we are sucked into our circumstances that include relationship with other humans experiencing impaired cognitive control, we will struggle to merely survive our plight.
My Selfish Sin Nature
While we are no longer controlled by the authority of sin and death in the grand (eternal) scheme of things, we still battle the human sin nature so long as our mortal body is alive. My mortal brain is perpetually in GO mode. Each time I give in to the thoughts and emotions conceived and given life by my selfishly motivated brain function, I am drawn into the “spell” of my desire; whether I am clinging merely to survive, or whether I am lusting for pleasure and wealth; whether I am ashamed, saddened and hurting in the painful discomfort of my discontent, or angry and resentful to the point that I need to act out my rage through some level of revenge. In the end, it really is at its core the result of the following truth:
For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. James 3:16
In parallel with the aforementioned physiological properties of the brain, the Apostle James writes the following (pay close attention):
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James 1:14-15
The Apostle Paul writes about our sin nature, meaning that we are naturally prone to sin.
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things… Romans 8:5a
For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. Romans 8:7-8
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death… For if you live by its dictates, you will die. Romans 8:6a, 13a
So, which is it then? Am I a slave to sin or am I set free from sin in my relationship with God?
The answer is that in relationship with God we are set free from sin, but that the selfish nature of sin still exists within the selfish reality of the physiology of my mortal brain; that I have to tolerate and live with as long as I am living this human life. I can still make choices that can be, not only risky and non-productive, but dangerous and harmful. Even in relationship with God, I continue in my humanity to struggle with the addictive properties of human desire that leads to addictive thinking and behavior.
In my humanity, I continue to live in a social world, full of challenge and temptation. I am vulnerable. I am susceptible to all that this social world wants and has for my selfish nature prone to sin. I am also vulnerable and susceptible to the physical properties of the planet I live on, which these days is proving to be more and more fragile. Natural disasters and famines can change the course of an entire societal culture. Speaking of physical properties, my human life is mortal and, outside of some supernatural event, my human life will come to an end.The New Life is not bound by mortality. The New Life is spiritual. What you do not want to be confused about, though, is that the mortal human life and the immortal spiritual life are not mutually exclusive to one another. They are, in fact, inclusive as one affects the other. The only chance my flawed mortal existence has to actually experience the resurrection that the New Life affords me is to participate in a symbiotic relationship with the giver of the New Life, Jesus Christ.
My Spiritual New Nature
As I fully participate into the New Life in relationship with Christ, I am blessed with the Spirit of God in my life. The Bible identifies the Spirit of God as the Holy Spirit. The word ‘holy’ means “set apart”; “spiritually whole or sound; of unimpaired innocence and virtue; free from sinful affections; pure in heart; godly; irreproachable; guiltless; acceptable to God” (1913 Webster). It is because the Holy Spirit of God lives within my life (including my physical life) and throughout my life that it is even possible to experience the reality of New Life in my human experience.
Above, I referenced pieces of what Paul wrote about the sin nature from Romans 8. The following is the full context of what Paul wrote about the sin nature in contrast to the experience of the New Life under the control of the Holy Spirit of God:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Romans 8:1-15
There is quite a bit of promise of Spiritual New Nature material to break down here. What I would like to focus on is the issue of control. In working the ABC steps for recovery, we ADMIT that we have no authority or power to control ourselves, the world, or anyone in the world. We came to BELIEVE that God has all authority and power and is the One that is in control. And, we COMMIT our lives into the care, authority, and control of God who has all authority and control. Yet, because of the pull of our selfish sin nature, when we read about being controlled by anything or anyone, even when that anyone is our loving Lord and Savior, we cringe a little (or a lot), feeling threatened by the experience of surrender in submission to the sovereign (meaning ultimate authority) God who loves us without measure wanting to bless us as His adopted sons and daughters from the unlimited bounty of resources at His disposal and command.
This passage from Romans 8 states, “letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Do you believe that entirely? Should we come to believe this truth from the bottom of our hearts, we would absolutely welcome—embrace—the experience of the Spirit of God controlling our minds. Don’t you want to think differently about yourself, your relationships, your circumstances, and your view of the world? Don’t you want to feel better emotionally about everything, having surrendered to the controlling influence/force of God’s Spirit? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live—I mean really live—in the experience of peace in your life?
Forces of Nature at War
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. Galatians 5:13-18
This is vitally important Scripture written again by Apostle Paul. Once again, he writes that in our relationship with God we choose daily whether to submit to the cravings of our selfish sinful nature, or to allow the Holy Spirit of God to direct how we live each day. Paul is talking to those who are in relationship with Christ, free from the eternal consequences of sin. He is stating clearly that is that person who is still battling the forces of both natures, since the two natures battle against each other. He also has written about what the person controlled by the Holy Spirit looks like. For one, he loves his neighbor. Not because he has to, but because it is in his spiritual DNA to be compassionate, merciful, and kind.
Paul draws a clear distinction between the person living under the authority of the Spirit nature alive in him, and the person under the authority of the sinful nature promoting selfishness and all that goes with it. Let’s read what Paul wrote to contrast these two opposing forces.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:19-26
Paul echos the words of James stating that it is conceit (James said, “selfish ambition”) and jealousy in a family or community of Spirit-led people that is the provocative force that corrupts and infects people committed to recovery in relationship with God. Are you a patient person? Are you loving, kind, and considerate? Are you faithfully committed to being someone who pursues godly integrity in all you do? And finally, are you experiencing peace and joy in your life in the midst of your difficult circumstances? If our selfish passions and desires have been nailed to the cross with Jesus, why do we still struggle with them? It’s because there is still so much more we need to turn over to the will of God in our lives, surrendering our passions and desires under the control of his Spirit.
These forces argue their point constantly. It is why we must surrender our selfish will and submit even our thoughts to the Holy Spirit of God. It is in the reigning in of these thoughts and intentions, and saying to God, “Please take each thought of mine captive that, by nature, presents an argument against the truth of the life I can live controlled by You.” It is this human reasoning that seeks to rationalize and justify selfish thinking and behavior that is in effect rebellious against the Spirit of God in our life. When ambivalent (resistant) human reasoning contradicts the control of God in our minds, and as we submit to such “rational” justifications for our selfishness, we invite into our thinking and circumstances the will of an evil adversary who wants so much to steal our joy and kill us. We are in a spiritual war. If we fight it in our human strength we’ll lose each time. We must fight the enemy with spiritual weapons.
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Before Paul and James taught on this subject, they learned from the Master who had a great deal to say about what is involved to be in a committed relationship with Him. Jesus had plenty to say about the war waged between these two forces of nature, and the cunning and evil spiritual ally of our selfish sin nature.. The teachings of Jesus took this relationship to an even deeper level. Let’s first look at what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:19-33
Jesus is speaking to hundreds of people under Roman oppression in desperate need of a way out. He is not teaching about a life involving the Holy Spirit since the Spirit of God was operating through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was, however, addressing the issue of faith in relationship with God. Early in the passage, Jesus addressed the contrast between selfish ambition: storing up temporal earthly treasures; and eternally-focused spiritual pursuits: storing treasures in heaven. The treasures of heaven are the priceless resources of God, of which nothing can contaminate, or no one can break in to steal or destroy, under the authority of God in heaven.
Jesus makes it strikingly clear that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot pursue the things of God and also the material things of humanity at the same time. He isn’t saying we cannot work to earn a living, even a good comfortable living. He is, though, challenging our motivation. He is asking the question, “What is at the heart of what you are driving at?” Is your human pursuit controlling you? Are you enslaved by it?” He isn’t just asking this question to the person striving to attain more and more. He is also asking the question to the one who is worried for their sustenance. “Does your worry own you?” Jesus implores us to understand that if God is committed to making sure the birds are fed, and the short-lived wildflowers are beautiful, how much more does He love you and me? He sent His only Son to earth to die for us.
So this doesn’t seem to go on and on forever, I have divided the “New Life Paradox” into two parts. It still goes on and forever, it just doesn’t seem like it. Alright, so maybe it does. But if you quit here, you’ll miss out on the blessing. Please continue reading “Part Two: Feeding on the Savior“.
