In the name of Christ Jesus, dear Christian friends,

Have you ever seen a cartoon that showed somebody with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other shoulder? I remember seeing this often when I was a child. The devil would always be tempting the person to do something wrong. But the angel would say, "No, don't do that. It wouldn't be right." Well, that's kind of how it really is for believers. In fact, it's one of the signs that we really are believers. Everybody has a sinful nature. We call it our old Adam. But only believers have a new nature. Unbelievers are 100% old Adam. They don't have this inner conflict, because they don't have a new nature, a part of them that wants to do God's will. But believers do. We believers in Jesus have a new nature that wants to do God's will. So, we have an internal conflict, a war inside. And we aren't alone in this.

1. ONE PART OF US WANTS TO SIN

That's our old Adam or sinful nature. The sinful nature wants to sin. The apostle Paul was inspired to make a list of these sins. It's not a complete list, but it is there for our learning. So, I invite you to follow along with the sermon notes, and maybe make a few notes of your own as we study these words. It says, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:

1. sexual immorality: The first item on the list is sexual sin. This would include all sex outside of marriage, all sex that is not God-pleasing. Pre-marital sex, or fornication is sinful. Extra-marital sex, or adultery, is sinful. But the sinful nature desires these sins. Homosexuality is sinful. Sometimes people say, "maybe homosexuals were born that way." Even if that were true, and I'm not sure that it is, that would not excuse anyone because we are sinful from birth. We are born with selfishness too, and that isn't right. Beware of the sinful nature!

2. impurity: This word refers to the dirty nature of sin. The sinful nature has a dirty mind, and it wants to do dirty things, sinful things.

3. debauchery: This word refers to sinful desire gone wild, so that people do things that are shockingly indecent. When people cast off all moral restraint, they fall into disgusting sins.

4. idolatry: This is the sin against the very First Commandment. "You shall have no other gods!" God says. But people still have idols. I think the two biggest idols today are self and money. People put themselves and their own opinions over God and his Word. That's the sinful nature wants it.

5. witchcraft: Many people don't realize how dangerous this is. Witchcraft and sorcery is essentially praying to the devil. Harry Potter books make witchcraft seem like harmless fun, but really Harry Potter has become the most inviting entrance into witchcraft for children. Beware!

6. hatred: This is really the opposite of love. It causes hostility and war outside of us. The sinful nature is not capable of true love.

7. discord: This really means not getting along with others.

8. jealousy: It is wrong to want what someone else has to the point of sinning.

9. fits of rage: The sinful nature produces temper tantrums and sinful expressions of anger.

10. selfish ambition: The sinful nature wants us to be selfish, to think only of ourselves.

11. dissensions: The sinful nature leads us to quarrel and argue, and that leads to divisions.

12. factions: These are divisions or "cliques" really. The sinful nature leads people to form these little groupings or cliques. It leads people to ignore others. Do you include other people in your little group or do you always hang around the same people? Separating can be sinful.

13. envy: This is like jealousy, except that this term includes the idea of depriving the other person of what is theirs. This is like coveting and taking something from our neighbor.

14. drunkenness: Not all use of alcohol is forbidden, only the misuse and abuse.

15. orgies: This is a drinking party, where there is sinful carousing. The old Adam likes these.

16. ...and the like. This is not even a complete listing. There are more sins than this.

But, it says, "I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Those who live in these sins without repentance will be condemned. There are "lifestyle sins" and those who cling to them without repenting will be sent to hell. And yet, we've all fallen into sin. We've all broken God's commands. We all deserve to perish! What is the solution? It is not to try harder. It is not to deny that we have sinned. It is not to try to save ourselves! God provided the solution. For God so loved the world, a world full of sinners like you and me, that he gave his one and only Son to save us from sin. Jesus lived for us a perfect life and died on the cross to pay for all of our sins, and the sins of the whole world. He redeemed us all, so he rose from death, and that guarantees that all of our sins have been paid. Whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish, but have eternal life. Through this good news, God works faith and gives us a "new nature." That's why there is war inside each believer. While the old Adam still wants to sin,...

2. ONE PART OF US WANTS TO SERVE GOD

Our new nature wants to serve God. Our new nature wants to serve God to thank him for saving us! This is what faith produces. It says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is..." And then, we see a list of good fruits of faith, all worked by the Holy Spirit. Let's consider these one at a time too.

1. love: Just as God loved us, so we love him, and our neighbor. This means that we will think loving thoughts, and put them into action too.

2. joy: Believers rejoice in the Lord because we are forgiven and saved. And our new nature wants to rejoice in the Lord always. Strong faith is joyful trust in the Lord.

3. peace: This probably comes from the Hebrew idea of "Shalom," which means wholeness and well-being. This peace is a tranquil, peaceful disposition based on the peace we have through Jesus.

4. patience: Literally, this word means "long-suffering." It means putting up with injury and setbacks without retaliating. It also means waiting on the Lord with hopeful trust.

5. kindness: God wants us to be kind to others, and our new nature wants that too. When people think of you, do they think that you are kind?

6. goodness: This is hard to define because it is so broad, but another word might be generous. Someone who is good and generous is called a benefactor. That's the idea here.

7. faithfulness: It is good to be loyal and true to the Lord and his Word. Our new nature is faithful to the Lord and his Word. And so are we, unless the sinful nature gets the upper hand.

8. gentleness: This doesn't mean weak. It means a soothing personality. Our new nature wants to be gentle and meek, and not loud and pushy and brash.

9. self-control: You know what this is really talking about? It's talking about not being driven by emotions. Too many people today base themselves on emotion instead of the Bible. People say what they "feel" and follow their emotions. The new nature wants us to get a grip, and to not be that way.

This is a list of God-pleasing fruits of faith. This is what our new nature wants. Put off the old sinful nature and put on the new nature, and keep in step with the Holy Spirit! And yet, that old Adam just won't give up. Our sinful nature will continue to bother us that way for as long as we live in this world. In heaven, we will finally be rid of that old enemy of God. In heaven, we will always think, say, and do what's right. But until we get there, there will be constant war inside of us.

And so, we need to repent each day, and seek God's forgiveness. Rest assured that at the cross, Jesus paid for your sins. You are forgiven through Christ. Now, go forward, and keep in step with the Spirit. Don't do what the sinful nature wants. Do what the new nature wants. Do what God's Word says. And yet, again and again, we stumble and fall. Again and again, our loving Savior picks us up, washes us clean, and sets us on the path of following him anew. This is the Christian life. There is war inside each believer. Drown the old Adam each day in contrition and repentance, and follow your Savior in faith all the way to life everlasting. Amen.