Drew's Stuff

Romans 8:12 -- "Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do."

The Spirit gives you a desire to do what's right.  Before becoming a follower of Jesus, that desire either wasn't there or was produced by the expectations of others or the way we were brought up or how we wanted to appear.

And before salvation, we had no power to change.  Our only option was doing our own thing.  When the Spirit comes into our life, we have the power to change. 

That's why we should never expect those who are not-yet Christians, to act like it.  God doesn't say, "Clean up your life and then come to Me."  He says, "Come just the way you are."  He cleans us up; we can't do it on our own.

The Holy Spirit gives you a new nature, as opposed to the sinful nature you've always had.  The new nature wants to do right.  You're powerless against the old nature, without God's Spirit.  But, the Spirit brings God's power to change.  Your desire to change is a confirmation that God's Spirit lives in you.