Man’s nature is always derivative from a spirit that indwells him. But there is no such thing as an independent human nature apart from the spirit that drives him. Yet, religion encourages you to try and change yourself, your fallen human-nature.

You see, man was created as a vessel or container, natureless, able to receive and express a nature. The fact is that man expression is always derivative and relating to the prevailing spirit-nature within… to give man a nature… either Satan’s “spirit of error” (1Jn. 4:6) in the “flesh” of all men before salvation (cf. Rom. 5:12) or Christ’s “Spirit of life” within and one with their “spirit of man” after salvation. We are under the influence and dominion of Satan or Christ. “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world [of humanity], and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 (KJV)

The fact is that there has never been a ‘you’ ruling ‘your’ life independent of a dominating spirit in you.

Since Christ indwells the believer’s spirit … even while we still have “sin [nature] in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3), we as believers have been ‘freed by the Cross’ to choose to are either express the self-seeking prideful nature of Satan or the self-giving, love-nature, of Christ. These are the two natures in the believer.

Before we were regenerated by the resurrected “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” we were dominated by the nature of the “spirit of error” (1Jn. 4:6), which is the ‘sin spirit’ that is at work in all mankind, making them the "children of disobedience” (Eph 2:2).

But now, as Christians, we have Christ alive within us ‘as us,’ with the power of His divine overcoming life and… His “nature” (2Pet 1:4) as ours. Thus, while we had been by nature “children of wrath” (Eph 2:3, the fallen Sin-nature), we now are “children of God” (Gal 3:26) by Christ’s life and nature in us.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Man’s daily living is always derivative of or dependent upon a spirit-nature within, to prompt, guide and restrain him – either the Christ’ “Spirit of life” (Rom 8:2) for good, the fallen Sin-spirit for evil. We’ve never had an ‘independent nature.’

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” (Galatians 2:20a)

If you have observed religion at work, we must admit that religion’s systems are often rooted in the prideful self-seeking desire of men to usurp control of the members of Christ’s invisible “church, which is His body” (Eph 1:22b, 23a). These religious systems are not based upon Paul’s pure grace gospel he received directly from the ascended Christ (cf. Gal. 1:12), but upon the Old Testament laws of God for His people Israel, along with manmade traditions and denominational dogma.

Biblical Examples: Scripture records similar motives and abuses among Israel in the days of Jeremiah saying, “The prophets prophesy lies, the priest’s rule by their own authority… (Jer. 5:31) Jesus spoke of man’s self-assuming authority in practicing religion of His day, saying in “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt. 15:9) The Apostle Paul also tells us of religious leaders that harassed and burdened the early Pauline churches, saying of them that they “teach for doctrine the commandments of men” (Titus 1:14). There is no doubt that some are “saved” into such religious organizations of men where they heard at least a fragment of the gospel.

Suffering at the hands of man-controlled religion and its corrupt teachings is oddly useful as it often propels the true seekers of God to come out of the hierarchical, mediatorial, religious systems of man, such as we see it practiced in many Christian churches and groups today. They will ultimately make a transition from religion to the new paradigm of the pure “grace of God” (Rom 11:6) and then have the opportunity to “learn Christ” (Eph 4:20) personally, that is to come to know Christ intimately as He indwells their spirit as their very life. A transition to pure grace is necessary since grace provides the fertile soil in which there can be growth in one’s intimacy with the Lord. Growth is limited while under the dominion of religion’s mediators, who mislead the seekers.

Sadly, much of modern day, neo-evangelical Christianity holds to teachings and practices that deprive the child of God of their loving, unconditional grace relationship with their Father, which may only be enjoyed by coming to know and trust the indwelling Christ personally and intimately. Those who would go on to enjoy the life and liberty that is rightfully theirs “in Christ” require a separation from the usurpation and dominion of religion. Paul tells us that our life is not wrapped up in the practices of man’s religious concepts but rather in their union with Christ as life. Paul says, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God... Christ, who is your life” (Col. 3:3-4a) For Paul, the core issue is a matter of Christ’s life within the spirit of every believer (Rom 8:8-10), to be their life, sustenance, and the inner guide of all their Historical Example: We must admit that religion’s systems are often rooted in the prideful self-seeking desire of men to usurp control of the members of Christ’s invisible “church, which is His body” (Eph 1:22b, 23a). These religious systems are not based upon God’s pure grace gospel, but upon the Old Testament laws of God for His people Israel, along with manmade traditions and denominational dogma. Scripture records similar motives and abuses among Israel in the days of Jeremiah saying, “The prophets prophesy lies, the priest’s rule by their own authority… (Jer. 5:31) Jesus spoke of man’s self-assuming authority in practicing religion of His day, saying in “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt. 15:9) The Apostle Paul also tells us of religious leaders that harassed and burdened the early Pauline churches, saying of them that they “teach for doctrine the commandments of men” (Titus 1:14).

Yet, there is no doubt that some are “saved” while in such corrupt religious organizations of men where they may have heard at least a fragment of the gospel… this is owing to the power of the words of the gospel. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) But these folks must ultimately come out of religion if they are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of God.”