Old and New Natures

Salvation is spiritual since our bodies will die someday. If we are spiritually healed today, then we would live FOREVER without dying. Old Creature is Pride (Following flesh's desires) = Self-Centered New Creature is Humility (Following God's desires) = God-Centered As Christians, with the help from the Holy Spirit, we have the understanding of what pleases God; our thoughts, our desires, our affections that are transformed in over time. Christianity is radical because we change from old nature to the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of God that created us. From our old creature, we learned worldly desires and causing us to think more worldly (still do). Our selfish desire for happiness and success are really more worldly than spiritually. It is interesting that people talks of faith in relation to "success". The measure of faith by some is defined how successful you are spiritually. I truly don't believe that God determine (measure) our faith based on our own works (success). The Bible teaches that the root of the flesh (sin) is selfishness. The very FIRST SIN occurred in heaven by Lucifer (Satan) was related to selfishness (wanting to be equal to God). When people start reasoning by thinking psychological terminology, which is the two-nature terminology, this leads to heresy. I am having the same problem people interpreting Romans 7. We do that with Christians, we say they have an old nature and a new nature, and again, we’re sort of compartmentalizing them psychologically, which isn’t really biblical, either. Those aren’t terms used in reference to a Christian. Richard Baxter put it, "humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature." "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (Jas 4:6, quoting Pr 3:34). "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (Jas 4:10). Colossians 3:12 instructs us to put on humility. First Peter 5:5 tells us to be clothed with humility. And Ephesians 4:1-2 says we are to walk in humility. If you desire honor and glory from God, you must display humility first. That is contrary to our earthly philosophy, which exalts pride. Jesus emphasized humility in Matthew 18:3-4 when He said that anyone who would come into His Kingdom must humble himself as a little child. They needed to learn to deny themselves. That's a mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ James wrote it clear that God's grace is amply sufficient to enable us to live a godly life and to keep ourselves "from being polluted by the world" (Jas 1:27). But ONLY God gives his grace only to the humble, who admit their dependence on it. If, therefore, we hope for his grace to lift us up to holiness, we must "humble (ourselves) before the Lord" (Jas 4:10). The Greek word alazoneia refers to being proud when you really have nothing to be proud about. We live in a proud and egotistical generation. People continually promote themselves. People are now twisting the Bible to promote pride and self- esteem.