Have you ever felt like you’re at war with yourself? Like there’s a constant battle raging inside between who you want to be and who you actually are? If so, you’re not alone. This internal struggle is a common experience for many believers, but it’s often misunderstood.
Many of us have been taught that as Christians, we have two natures constantly at odds with each other – an old sinful nature and a new spiritual nature. We imagine ourselves as spiritual Siamese twins, with good and evil locked in an eternal tug-of-war for control of our lives. But is this really what the Bible teaches?
Let’s take a closer look at what Scripture says about our identity in Christ and the nature of our struggle against sin.
First, we need to understand that when we put our faith in Christ, a radical transformation takes place. Romans 6:6 tells us that “our old man is crucified with him.” Our “old man” isn’t just suppressed or restrained – it’s put to death. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new..”
This means that as believers, we don’t have split personalities or divided natures. We have one nature – a new nature in Christ. We are new creatures, with a new identity rooted in who God says we are.
So what then is this “flesh” that seems to war against our spirit, as described in Galatians 5:17? The flesh isn’t a second nature or old self that still lives within us. Rather, it refers to the residual patterns of thinking and behavior left over from our old life. It’s the “stinking thinking” that remains even after our spiritual regeneration in Christ.
Think of it like this: When you become a Christian, it’s as if God paves a brand new highway in your mind. But the old dirt roads of sinful thoughts and habits are still there, worn deep by years of use. The flesh is our tendency to default to those familiar pathways instead of choosing the new road Christ has made for us.
This is why Romans 12:2 urges us to “but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our thinking needs to catch up with our new identity in Christ. We need to intentionally forge new mental pathways that align with who God says we are.
And who does God say we are? The Bible gives us an astounding list of truths about our identity in Christ:
- We are already redeemed and justified (Romans 3:24)
- We are free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
- We are unconditionally accepted in Christ (Romans 15:7)
- We are sanctified and set apart (1 Corinthians 1:2)
- We have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)
- We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- We are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- We are blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
- We are chosen, holy, and blameless before God (Ephesians 1:4)
- We are adopted as God’s children (Ephesians 1:5)
- We are redeemed and forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
- We have obtained an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11)
- We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
- We are alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)
- We are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
- We are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
- We have boldness and confident access to God (Ephesians 3:12)
- We are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8)
- We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
This is who we truly are in Christ! The challenge is learning to live from this new identity rather than falling back into old patterns of thinking and behavior.
It’s like learning to walk a new path. Imagine you’ve walked the same route to your barn every day for years, wearing a clear path in the grass. Then one day, you realize there’s a better way. At first, it feels awkward and unnatural. Your feet want to follow the old familiar route. But as you consistently choose the new path, it becomes more worn and easier to follow, while the old path gradually fades away.
This is the process of renewing our minds and learning to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). It’s not about two natures battling for control, but about choosing to align our thinking and behavior with our true identity in Christ.
The enemy wants to tempt us through the flesh – those old ingrained patterns – to disbelieve what God says about us. He whispers lies: “You’re not really forgiven. You’re not worthy. You’ll never change.” But we combat these lies by holding fast to the truth of who God says we are.
We are not “dirty little sinners” trying to become saints. We are saints learning to live out our true identity in Christ. God doesn’t see us as we see ourselves – He sees us through the lens of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf.
This understanding should revolutionize how we approach the Christian life. We’re not constantly begging God for more of His Spirit or striving to earn His acceptance. We already have the fullness of Christ dwelling in us! Our task is to rest in that reality and allow Christ to express His life through us.
Imagine the freedom this brings! We don’t have to conform to some external religious mold or constantly feel like we’re falling short. Instead, we can celebrate the unique way Christ wants to manifest His life “in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:11) i.e., through our unique personalities and strengths.
As we grasp the truth of our identity in Christ, it fills us with gratitude and love for what He has done for us. We gather with other believers not to “recharge our spiritual batteries,” but to overflow with praise for who God has made us to be in Christ.
This is the key to living a victorious Christian life – not trying harder in our own strength, but fully embracing our new identity and allowing Christ to live His life through us. As we do this, we’ll find ourselves naturally walking in the fruit of the Spirit and impacting the world around us with the love and power of Christ.
So the next time you feel that internal struggle, remember: You are not a house divided against itself. You are a new creature in Christ, learning to walk in the fullness of your true identity. Choose to believe what God says about you, renew your mind with His truth, and watch as His life increasingly shines through you to a world in desperate need of hope.
Pastor Bryan Ross
Grace Life Bible Church
Grand Rapids, MI
February 14, 2025
Resources For Further Study
Galatians 5:17 What Is The Flesh? (YouTube Video)