“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Look! I am making all things new.’”

— Revelation 21:5

The great Dutch theologian, Abraham Kuyper, who was the only theologian I know of to ever rise to the position of Prime Minister of his country, had this to say: “But in regeneration a change took place. By this divine act, our person is in principle detached from his former ego in the old man… Our person is no longer identified with the old man, but opposes him. Even though he succeeds in enticing us again to sin, even in the yielding we do not what we will, but what we hate. Only hear what St. Paul says: ‘For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice’ (Romans 7:19 nkjv).”

A new man has been created, and the believer must consciously be more and more separated from the old nature, which must be more and more mortified and slain. We must identify more and more with the new nature. Only in thus being so identified, will our prayers be pleasing to God and will they be answered.

Say “yes” to the new man and “no” to the old man. If you are in Christ, you have received a new nature. However, as long as you are alive, you still have within an old man. Which of the two will you cater to? Which will you feed? Which will you starve? That will determine your spiritual progress.

Lord Jesus, we struggle with the two natures within and look in longing for the day You will forever remove our sinful nature, and we will be glorified, without even a possibility of a sinful thought. Hasten that day, Lord…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN
FIGHT THE SINFUL NATURE.