The question of whether a Christian has two natures is an important theological issue. According to Scripture, when someone becomes a Christian, they experience a spiritual rebirth and transformation as they are united with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This raises the question – does a Christian now have two competing natures, their old sinful nature and their new nature in Christ? Or is there just one new unified nature in Christ?
There are differing perspectives on this within Christianity. One view is that the old sinful nature is eradicated at conversion, so there is just one new nature in Christ. This position emphasizes the radical change brought about by regeneration and focuses on passages about believers being a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, the other common view is that Christians do have two natures – the old sinful nature (flesh) and the new nature in Christ (Spirit). This position highlights the ongoing internal struggle Christians experience and key passages about the conflict between the flesh and Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17).
According to this second perspective, at regeneration the Holy Spirit comes to indwell believers, giving them a new nature oriented toward God. However, the old sinful nature is not necessarily eradicated instantaneously but remains as a source of temptation and struggle. The believer now has the Holy Spirit working in and through their new nature, warring against the desires and pulls of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). Sanctification is the process of the new nature increasing in influence as the old nature is put to death by the Spirit (Romans 6:6, 8:13, Colossians 3:5).
There are several key Scripture passages that support the view that Christians have two ongoing natures:
- Romans 7:14-25 – Paul describes an internal struggle between his mind serving the law of God and his flesh serving the law of sin. He cries out, “who will deliver me from this body of death?”
- Galatians 5:16-17 – Paul urges Christians to “walk by the Spirit” so they will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The flesh and Spirit are in conflict with each other.
- 1 Peter 2:11 – Peter urges believers to abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against the soul. There is an ongoing war within the Christian between the flesh and the new life in Christ.
- Romans 8:5-8 – Those in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Christians have shifted realms from flesh to Spirit but the flesh remains.
- 1 John 1:8 – John writes that, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.” Sin still dwells in believers until glory.
In addition to these explicit passages, the two natures view better accounts for the real Christian experience. Despite being new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), believers still struggle with sinful tendencies and ungodly desires. If the old nature was eradicated, why would Paul need to instruct Christians to “put to death” the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13)? Why would Christians need to “put off” the old self and “put on” the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24)? These commands imply that vestiges of the old remain.
Theologians have offered additional insights about the relationship between the two natures in the believer:
- Augustine – The old nature is “mortally wounded” but not finally removed until glorification. It is subdued but still exists.
- Luther – The two natures coexist in tension, like two horses pulling in opposite directions until finally the Spirit wins fully.
- Calvin – The Spirit does not utterly abolish or destroy the old nature but subdues and represses it.
- Wesley – Sin remains but does not have dominion or rule over the believer as it once did before salvation.
In summary, the Scriptural evidence and experience of believers affirm that Christians have two competing natures – the old sinful nature and the new nature in Christ. The new nature is dominant and leads believers into righteousness by the power of the indwelling Spirit. But the old nature seeks to assert itself and pull believers back toward sin. This tension and struggle continues throughout life but the new nature will ultimately prevail when believers receive their glorified bodies free forever from sin.
Here are some key passages on the new nature given to believers at conversion:
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 – In Christ believers become a new creation. The old has passed away.
- Ezekiel 36:26-27 – God gives believers a new heart and puts His Spirit within them, causing them to walk in His ways.
- Ephesians 4:24 – Believers put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Titus 3:5 – Believers are saved through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- John 3:3-6 – Believers experience spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 6:4 – Believers walk in newness of life through union with Christ in His resurrection.
- Galatians 2:20 – Believers have been crucified with Christ and now Christ lives in them.
- 1 John 3:9 – Believers are born of God and His seed abides in them so they cannot keep sinning.
Passages highlighting the ongoing struggle against the old nature include:
- Romans 7:21-25 – The desires of the flesh wage war against the desires of the mind/Spirit.
- Galatians 5:16-17 – The flesh desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.
- Ephesians 6:12 – Believers wrestle against spiritual forces of evil.
- 1 Peter 2:11 – Fleshly lusts wage war against the soul.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 – Paul disciplines his body to keep it under control.
- Colossians 3:5 – Believers are to put to death earthly aspects like sexual immorality and impurity.
- Hebrews 12:4 – Believers struggle against sin in persevering through discipline.
Theologians down through history have affirmed this basic tension in the believer between the old nature and new nature:
- Augustine – “The law in my members wars against the law of my mind” (Confessions)
- Calvin – Old nature “repressed and subdued, but not destroyed” by new nature (Institutes)
- Luther – Two natures “driving and pushing one another” until flesh dies (Commentary on Galatians)
- Wesley – Sin remains but “it does not reign” within believer (Sermon on Sin in Believers)
In conclusion, the majority Christian perspective throughout history affirms that believers in Christ have two natures. The old sinful nature remains and tempts toward evil. But by the power of Christ’s Spirit living within, believers are now oriented toward God as new creations. Christians engage in an ongoing struggle against sinful desires and actions by walking in and nurturing this new nature. When glorification comes, the battle will be over as believers receive resurrection bodies free from all sin.