Romans 7:15-8:4 - conclusion

Clearly, Romans 7:15-8:4 teaches that believers have two natures; that our old nature is not done away with at conversion nor at any time before our going home to be with the Lord. It further teaches that because our old nature is totally bad; it cannot be improved. Therefore, the only way to victory over sin is not by wrestling with it, but by faith, considering ourselves to be dead to sin by accepting God’s Word that our old man was crucified with Christ.

It doesn't follow, however, that our old nature is dead experientially, otherwise why are we told to consider him dead? Judicially, our old nature has been put to death in Christ, and now it is up to us to live out this truth by putting off our old, dead selves and putting on the new (Col 3:9-10).

Herein lies victory over sin; by deciding to put on the new, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. It is very important to understand that He is doing the work, not us. Some may argue that Philippians 2:12 tells us to "work out your salvation." And by itself, it does sound like we're doing the work. But don't leave off there; go on to the very next verse — "it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Picture a father teaching his very young daughter how to dance. The young girl wants to be with and please her father, whom she dearly loves, and he wants to teach her to dance. So what does he do? Does he give her detailed instructions on the proper steps and moves of the dance? No, he tells her to put her right foot on top of his left and her left foot on top of his right. Of course she can allow herself to be distracted and decide that although she loves him, she'd much rather go out and play. But when she does do as he asks, he is doing all the work. Her only part in it was to decide that she wanted to be with and please him. In like manner, God doesn’t give us the power and then tell us to go and do it. Rather, He does it in us and for us as we by faith decide to walk according to the Spirit (Rom 8:3-4; Gal 5:16, 25).