Have you ever heard the two-dog debate? It sounds true to our experience because it fits our experiences at times. Let’s take a look and see why it’s far from the truth. It goes like this.
Your old self (nature or identity) is like a ferocious dog living inside of you, terrorizing you and other people. It controls you and makes you commit all kinds of sins. It’s what makes you selfish, self-centered, and dependent on yourself instead of God. It’s the reason you are tempted and the reason you sin.
In contrast, they say the new self (nature or identity) is like a wonderful, loving dog that always wants to be with you. It protects you and leads you to do what God wants. It’s why you want to live a righteous life. It’s why you want to serve and help others. It’s the reason you can resist temptation and obey God.
According to this illustration, the “dog” you feed the most will be the one that wins the battle in your daily life. To feed the old self usually means things like watching pornography, hanging out with people who cuss, getting drunk, going to clubs, having sex outside of marriage, or just avoiding God. Feeding the new self means doing things like reading the Bible, praying, listening to good sermons, serving God, attending a church, and donating money.
This two-self teaching seems to express what we often experience. Some will use Scriptures that seem to prove this, like Ephesians 4:22-24, which says,
In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. (NASB)
If you look closely, though, you’ll notice that these verses clearly speak about behavior. When it says, “your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self,” it means to get rid of the sinful behaviors that were part of the old self, which is no longer inside you. Then putting on the new self is about living the righteous behaviors that are consistent with the new self you now are, meaning the new identity in Christ you have today.
This series continues next time, when we see that we have only one identity: a Kingdom identity. Understanding this can change your life when you see just how “good” you already are in Christ! Let’s finish with this encouraging Scripture from Romans 15:14a.
I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness. (NIV)
(From “God’s Best-Kept Secret”)
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
Bestselling Author
God’s Best-Kept Secret: Christianity Is Easier Than You Think
