Understanding Sin Nature, Sin in Our Members, and Flesh: A Biblical Perspective
Clarifying Key Terms for the Christian Walk
As believers seeking to live under grace, it is vital to understand how Scripture describes the ongoing battle with sin. Three key terms often arise in discussions of sanctification: the sin nature, sin in our members, and the flesh. Each has a distinct biblical meaning, yet they are interconnected in the believer's life. Let’s explore these terms and their implications for walking in victory through Christ.
The Sin Nature: The Old Man
The sin nature refers to the inherent condition of humanity inherited from Adam, characterized by rebellion against God. Paul often describes this as the old man (or old self), the unregenerate nature that was crucified with Christ.
Key Scriptures:
"Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin" (Romans 6:6).
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).
When a person places faith in Christ, their sin nature—the old man—is crucified and rendered powerless. This is a positional truth: believers are no longer enslaved to sin because they have died with Christ. However, the effects of the old man persist in the form of residual thought patterns and habits, which leads us to the next term.
Sin in Our Members: Residual Sin
Sin in our members refers to the lingering influence of sin in our physical bodies and desires, even though the old man has been crucified. Paul describes this as a law or principle that wars against the Spirit and inclines us toward sin.
Key Scriptures:
"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Romans 7:23).
"Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts" (Romans 6:12).
Sin in our members manifests in bodily cravings, temptations, and inclinations toward sin. It does not define who we are as new creations in Christ, but it remains a reality that requires active dependence on the Holy Spirit for victory.
The Flesh: Residual Patterns of the Old Man
The flesh is broader than just the physical body. It encompasses the residual thought patterns, attitudes, and coping mechanisms that stem from the crucified old man. Essentially, the flesh is the practical outworking of the old man’s influence, even though the old man has been put to death in Christ.
Key Scriptures:
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5).
"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6, NIV).
The flesh often operates through a “know-it-all attitude,” a self-reliant mindset that resists surrender to God’s wisdom. It is characterized by striving to achieve spiritual goals through human effort rather than trusting in God’s grace.
How These Terms Interact
The Sin Nature (Old Man): Crucified with Christ, no longer defines our identity (Romans 6:6).
Sin in Our Members: The residual influence of sin in our physical bodies, inclining us toward disobedience (Romans 7:23).
The Flesh: The self-reliant attitudes and coping mechanisms left behind by the old man, opposing the Spirit’s work (Galatians 5:16-17).
While the old man is dead, sin in our members and the flesh remain active. Together, they represent the ongoing battle between the Spirit and the remnants of the old way of living.
Victory in Christ: Walking by the Spirit
Although these realities persist, God provides the means for victory. Believers are called to walk by the Spirit, relying on God’s power rather than striving in the flesh.
Key Scriptures:
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
"Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:11).
"Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Romans 6:13).
Victory comes through recognizing our identity in Christ, appropriating the truth of the old man’s crucifixion, and daily yielding to the Spirit’s leading. The Spirit empowers us to put to death the deeds of the body and live out our new life in Christ.
Living in Light of These Truths
Understanding these terms equips us to navigate the Christian life with clarity and hope:
Recognize the Old Man Is Dead: Your identity is now in Christ, not in Adam.
Acknowledge the Struggle: The presence of sin in your members and the flesh is real, but they do not have the final say.
Walk by the Spirit: Depend on God’s grace to overcome, resting in His sufficiency rather than striving in your own strength.
Practical Application:
Reflect on areas where self-reliance (flesh) might be hindering your walk with God.
Confess and surrender those areas, asking the Spirit to lead you in His wisdom and power.
Meditate on Romans 6 and Galatians 5 to deepen your understanding of life in the Spirit.
A Closing Thought
God’s provision for victory over sin is complete, rooted in the finished work of Christ and empowered by the Spirit. As we walk in these truths, we experience the fullness of His grace, living as new creations who reflect His glory.
Let’s press on, not by the flesh, but by the Spirit who gives life and peace.