(these are some thoughts that I had in the midst of a facebook thread that started when I posted my beliefs on the finished works of Jesus on the Cross and the flesh/sinful nature being put to death so we don't have to sin anymore on my facebook page - to see the entire post thread and comments/thoughts from other friends then visit my facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/thenatemoore)

Romans 6:5-7 says that “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin."

That simply says that sin has no right or dominion to enter into our new life in Christ because it has already been defeated, dethroned and voided through the crucifixtion. 

Saying that we still have a sinful nature is cheapening the regeneration and renewal that Jesus freely performed on us when we received His death and resurrection. 

Seeing sin and temptation leave your life is as simple as believing that your sinful nature is entirely dead and buried with Christ and now through His powerful resurrection you are now a partaker of the divine nature of Jesus. 2 Peter 1.4 says “He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” So when you received Jesus, God actually wiped out all of your desires for evil and sin along with your sinful nature and replaced them with His divine nature! 

Good news! Because you are a partaker in the divine nature of Jesus Christ, God sees you just as He sees Jesus! This means that you are no longer a sinner but completely redeemed and transformed into a holy and righteous saint, son/daughter of God! You are no longer condemned (Romans 8.1) if you read a few verses further in Romans 8 you see that Jesus in the flesh was condemned on the Cross so you wouldn’t have to be! You are no longer condemned as a guilty, wretched and weak sinner but are now counted as the righteousness of Christ as a purified and holy son of God! The truth is that we don’t glorify God most by viewing ourselves as sinners but by acknowledging His redemptive work on the Cross to transfer us into His Kingdom as a sanctified saint! Our identity is no longer in our actions or sins but in but what the Father God sees us as through Jesus’ blood sacrifice on the Cross. If we are in Jesus (saved), right now we are exactly, 100% who He says we are! So see yourself as God sees you through Jesus Christ! 

My main point is if Jesus died to kill your sinful nature/tendency/habits/addictions/fleshly desires why are you still trying to live like they are alive? If God sent Jesus to wipe away and forget our sins and transgressions and change our identity from sinner to saint/son why are you still calling and viewing yourself as a sinner? Don’t try to work, fight and overcome sin because Jesus has already done all of that for you – simply receive that reality and revelation and watch transformation flow into your life! Bottom line – if you have sin in your life then repent (change the way you think/live), radically cling to the already established victory/power/grace of the resurrection of Jesus that gives you endless freedom today and move into greater things than struggling/battling with sin! Jesus didn’t just die to save and free us FROM sin BUT ALSO to save and free us INTO a glorious life filled with the abundant goodness of His Presence that comes from intimately knowing Him!