The Christian's Enemies

There are three enemies in all Christian's lives that seek to affect the Christian's ability to manifest godliness. Each one of these enemies has its own method to distract the mind of the Christian from his or her position in Christ, which ultimately produces actions in his or her life that are contrary to the standard that God has for Christians. Although we are going to concentrate more on one of these enemies, which is Satan, we will take a quick look at them all to remind us of how we defeat them to go on to live a victorious Christian life.

The sin nature is our old nature that comes from the result of Adam's sin and trespass, Romans 5:12-21. This nature produces the works of the flesh, which are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit; the works of the flesh are produced by our Old Nature, Galatians 5:19-21, the fruit of the Spirit is produced through our New Nature by the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22,23.

How to defeat the sin nature – Know, reckon, yield

Experientially knowing this, that our Old man has been co-crucified, in order that the body of the sin nature should be rendered ineffective, no longer to be slaved to the sin nature. Romans 6:6

…consider yourself to be dead to the sin nature, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11
Death is separation, it is not annihilation. When physical death comes, the person does not cease to exist, the soul and spirit are separated from the body. Spiritual death, which was caused by Adam's trespass, caused the spirit of all of mankind to be separated from God. Salvation restores the connection of our spirit to God so that was can receive the things of the Spirit. In this state, we are separated, or dead to, our Old Nature and it no longer rules our lives. Rather, we are slaves to righteousness.

…do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to the sin nature, but present yourself to God as living out from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:13
The world system

Satan designed the world system to control man's sin nature. He created it when Cain slew Able to prevent the sin nature from getting completely out of control. Genesis 4:8; Luke 11:50, 51a. The desires of the world system are the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, 1 John 2:16.

Victory over the world system

To have victory over the world system, we need to stop directing love at the things it offers. This love is the same love that is produced by the Holy Spirit through us when we are living out from our new nature. By misdirecting this love to the desires of the world system, we begin to sacrifice for the things of the world system. To have victory, we need to stop loving the things of the world system, 1 John 2:15-17.

Now, since we have to live in this world system - it controls how we do commerce, our money, our jobs, etc. – we are to use the system, but now abuse it, 1 Corinthians 7:31. Using it, without abusing it, boiled down to no allowing it to control your thoughts and desires. There is nothing wrong with have the latest product, so long as you are not constantly seeking after the latest. One of my own weaknesses is computers. If I have a system that performs everything I need, then there is no need for me to purchase the latest system. I have a dual core system, now there are quad core systems out. Although I love the idea of having a really fast computer, the system I have now is more than sufficient to perform the duties I have for it. Really, if I think about it, the only reason I would get a new system at this time is for the sake of saying I have the new system, which would be abusing the system. Now, when it is time to purchase a new system, I may get the latest system – depending upon what it offers. This would not be abusing the world system. I would then be using the system to provide a need, rather than fulfill a desire for something I do not need, but want just for the sake of having it.