Sinful nature and cross bearing

That battle can be a form of bearing the cross, and that battle certainly involves suffering, doesn’t it?

During his ministry Jesus spoke on three separate occasions (Matthew 10:38; 16:24; Luke 14:27) of the need for his followers to take up their cross and follow him. We usually understand cross bearing to mean the sufferings and persecution that result from our connection to Jesus Christ in faith. In that regard, our sinful nature certainly rebels against our new self and our connection to Jesus. It does try to stir up all kinds of trouble in our life. Part of our battle in living the Christian life is that we deny ourselves and put down the desires of our sinful nature. This is where people can see the connection between battling against the sinful nature and bearing the cross. Then, again, unbelievers have a sinful nature, and we would not describe any attempt on their part to resist the sinful nature, for whatever reason, as cross bearing.

Additionally, if cross bearing is a holy imitation of Jesus’ life, suffering as he suffered (1 Peter 2:21), there is a big difference between Jesus and us: he had no sinful nature.

While there can be questions regarding the relationship between battling the sinful nature and bearing the cross, there is no question that we need to confront our sinful nature daily through contrition and repentance. The struggle between the old self and the new self is real (Romans 7:15-25). It is constant, as you noted, but “Thanks be to God” (Romans 7:25) for forgiving all our sins, for giving us the spiritual weaponry to fight against temptation and for assuring us of our ultimate and complete victory over sin, death and hell.