The Struggle of The Two Natures in The Believer

 

 Begin with prayer to the Holy Spirit 

Readings : Romans 7:15-25

 

    These eleven verses in Romans seven personify the struggle between man's two natures. These two natures defined as the Adamic nature and the divine nature regenerated by the Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation. St. Peter infers this understanding of the two natures in 1Peter 1:23 when he uses the term perishable and imperishable seed. "You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God."  Once again it is established that this idea of self effort connected with the law is futile in having the means to bring about salvation. To take it a step further into the realm of Judaizing as did Paul prior to his conversion and many of his peers, then it fits perfect into what Paul is writing in verse 8 when he speaks of sin taking occasion by the commandment. This would bring the issue from merely a generalization to something specific as in the incident where Gentiles were being told they had to be circumcised to be authentic believer's. 

 

    This also demonstrates one aspect of the struggle that Paul is speaking of in this strife between the two natures. Paul says I delight in the law of God, 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. Law works to our good and can be used by our flesh to bring about selfish gain and control. These standard also assist in our feelings of condemnation, guilt, and self imprisonment. And very often we instill similar restrictions on others in a very pious way. This is why it is so important to remember Rom. 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When we have been caught in the human dual of our natures warring and making us feel almost schizophrenic it is important to realize that what is causing the war may be the battle between good and evil. The exciting thing about this is that there is something going on inside of you that is refusing to put up with anything contrary to the will of God. Try not to focus on the outcome or even the battle focus on who you belong to and who won the battle for you, and I am sure He will take you through. 

 

    I think it is appropriate to take a lesson in the kind of  evangelistic approach that directs ones attention to conforming to more than a simplistic child like belief in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Perhaps anything more than this may be something too much for one to handle or that is tolerated by the teaching of Sacred Scripture and the Church. But without watering down our understanding of what brings about our salvation as understood from Sacred Scripture and the Church we can all agree with both of these standards which have recently been mentioned by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI when he said quoting Acts 4:10-13, "Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The zealousness and perfectionism of the judaizer's along with modern day believers can sometimes bring more harm to the work of Christ than good. 

 

    

                                                                                                            

Quotation for Meditation

 

Realize more and more that the spiritual life is essentially the work of the Holy Spirit. Our participation, although it may appear to be a very active struggle to do good-to "press on," in the words of St. Paul -is ultimately a cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Our essential task is not to do things for God, but rather not to resist God's trying to do good things for us. Holiness is his work. Our task is to avoid resisting him. Many people waste a great deal of time and effort doing what they want on the spiritual road instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead: they must do this, they must be there, they must learn some other things. This is not really following Christ; it is walking beside him and making suggestions.

 

Quiet Moments With Benedict Groeschel, St. Anthony Messenger Press-Servant Books, Cincinnati, Ohio, Pg.101

 

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

 

Questions for Meditation

  

1. Why is the idea of self effort connected with the law futile in having the means to bring about salvation?

2. Were Gentiles being told they had to be circumcised to be authentic believer's?

3. What is one aspect of the struggle that Paul is speaking of in this strife between the two natures? 

 

Prayer 

 

O Lord Jesus Christ, give me the grace to become your true disciple. Let me see ever more clearly  that faith in you is not simply a conviction of my mind--but a call to live my life for and with you. Amen.

 

 

 Fr. Benedict J Groeschel, C.F. R., Healing The Original Wound, Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Pg.101