“Behold, I am vile.”
(Job 40:4)

This was Job’s reply after listening to Almighty God describe the majesty of His glorious character. This is good ground to be placed upon. Because it is only when we hear God speak as God and reveal Himself to us as God that we know something of our own sinful character (Isaiah 6:1-5). However, according to the statement of scripture in Job 1:1 God said, “that Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and hated evil.” How can Job be perfect and vile at the same time? Job was a believer like Abraham, David and all other believers who are made righteous and considered perfect only by receiving a justifying righteousness through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ (1st Corinthians 1:30).

There is in every believer two natures. That spiritual nature when we are made new creatures in Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:17; 2nd Peter 1:4) and the old, ruined, and vile nature we received by natural birth in Adam (Romans 5:12). The spiritual nature can’t sin (1st John 3:9) and the old nature cannot produce anything but sin (Romans 3:9-12). The believer is painfully aware of his sinful and corrupt nature and grieves over his sin. However, he never makes the corruption of his heart an excuse for the corruption of his life. We should never use our fallen nature for a reason to sin (Galatians 5:13-17). Because of our indwelling sin it is a daily miracle that we continue and persevere in faith (1st Peter 1:3-5). The enemy would be much easier to fight off if he didn’t have an ally on the inside. One of the worst fears the believer has is the deceitfulness of his own heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21).
We carry within us an infamous traitor to our own soul! Beware, when he speaks to you of trusting others, rather than the Lord Jesus Christ alone; and heed the warning of scripture (1st Corinthians 16:22). Beware, when he says to you that sin can be put away and we can be justified apart from the substitionary sacrifice and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; and heed the warning of scripture (1st John 1:7). Beware, when the old nature raises his ugly head and says that the gospel of grace is only for the theologian and the intellect; and heed the warning of scripture (Galatians 1:7-9). Beware, when the old nature says that those sitting, partaking and believing a false gospel are saved; and heed the warning of scripture (1st John 5:11-12). Beware, when the old nature says to you that it doesn’t matter how I live, how I act and what I say; and heed the warning of scripture (Ephesians 4:17-24).

Beloved friend, the old nature doesn’t grow weaker as the new man grows in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The old nature remains a powerful enemy to our soul and an ally to the devil. Beware!

T. Harding