Man was born into sin. When Adam and Eve decided to throw their glory and purity away, taking a bite out of the forbidden fruit, they sealed their fate and passed it to their descendants. Then, Jesus Christ broke the hold of sin and delivered humanity from their inevitable doom.
Then why is it that humans still give in to temptation?
Why is it that even with the knowledge of sin leading to death and the fire of hell, man continues to sin? Yet, man does good in the world, too. There is only one explanation – we have not one, but two bodies, one with the potential for good, the other for evil.
What is the nature of our two bodies? Let’s discuss this.
Natural Duality
Humans have not one but two natures. In Romans, it is explicitly made clear through Paul that man is a combination of both the spirit and the physical body. The inward man, the spirit, is constantly at war with the body’s affinity to sin. This is why even though you are well aware of the heart of the sin, you give into the body’s desires. The Word tells you about the outcomes for those who give into the desires of the body; death.
But to seek salvation from these desires, we must first understand how our two bodies work.
The Process
We are born with two fundamental natures. It’s the distinction between right and wrong. The outcome of these practices makes that distinction possible and becomes knowledge. Our spiritual mind then converts that knowledge into wisdom and becomes a part of our character. We, as humans, are given a choice to choose whether we want to submit to the nature of the flesh or the spirit.
At this moment, our faith is tested, and so is our inward man. The war commences between the spiritual and the physical.
But what can we do to win this war?
Prayer
Prayer is the single greatest weapon man has in his arsenal to fight internal and external calamity and temptation. It is only natural to have thoughts of sin. However, the devil is, indeed, a liar. Resort to the weapon and set your mind into deep prayer. Make this a habit each time you feel like you are falling into temptation. Just like how you need to be consistent in exercise to strengthen your body, being consistent in prayer can strengthen the spirit.
Abstinence
You won’t give into sin if the temptation itself isn’t present. Hence, you are bound to be tempted if you surround yourself with the wrong people who give into the flesh’s desires. Instead, be around God’s people, those who fear Him and motivate you to seek His abundance and not give into the gluttony of the flesh. Abstain from worldly pleasures, and you shall find salvation.
Repentance
If salvation were easy, everyone would be a devout follower of Christ. However, reality does not dictate such an ideal situation. No matter how hard you try to deny or run away from the existence of your dual body, you cannot escape it. You will be tested, and you are bound to spiral into sin. However, those who choose to get back to their feet and their mission to move toward salvation are the ones that will be saved. Don’t be disheartened; keep moving forward in spirit.
Doing Good
A fundamental way to refrain from all that is evil is to do good. For in the duality of good and evil, the dark can never overcome the light. Strive to help your neighbor, obey the commandments God has given, and seek the goodness of the spirit rather than submit to the selfish desires of the body.
Bible Study
To refrain from something that has the potential to destroy you, you must study it. Without knowing its consequences, it is easy to be led astray and continue on your path to self-destruction. The questions are many, and the answers are absolute. The Word given to us by our Father has everything compiled for us to furnish our thoughts with what is blessed.
Author Clyde Young is a man who has been thoroughly studying the Bible all his life and brings an amalgamation of his thoughts in his book Food for God’s Children. Clyde expands further on the nature of our two bodies and the existence of mankind and its inevitable doom, which is The Great Tribulation. Enlighten yourself with one of the most compelling pieces of religious literature of the 21st century.
