An apple tree bears apples. The apples are the fruit of the tree, but are not the tree itself. The tree is that upon which the apples grow, and if each apple were picked off, the tree would still be an apple tree. Its nature would remain unchanged.
So it is with the root sin, from which spring the fruits sins. Many a one is in distress about that which he finds within him. Where do these evil thoughts and actions come from? They come from the old nature which we inherit from Adam.
You may try to improve and cultivate the old nature in order that it may no longer bring forth bad fruit. You try to keep the law, that by it you may make the old nature better, but you never will.
An honest man must own that all his efforts have ended in failure; he has not been able to produce anything suitable to God. You have done your best, and failed, but it has been your work. You have tried to improve, get rid of, or, by law, act upon that old nature, and have not thought of Christ and His work on the cross.
Can you be sheltered from judgment by your own work? Have your own good deeds, has law-keeping saved you from your sins? No, that was Christ's work altogether. How has He done it? He forgives my sins, but He does not forgive the nature that produces those sins.
That must be condemned, brought to an end, by death. God never justifies the old nature—never! The only thing that can free me, in the sight of God, is death. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
Not only did the Lord Jesus Christ bear my sins in His own body; not only was His blood shed to wash them away, but, He died and I died with Him. That is, God looks at the one who believes on Him as having died with Christ.
The Apostle Paul could say: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
He knows that you cannot improve your old nature, so He has done away with it at the cross. Think of it! Our judgment has been borne by Christ, our sins forgiven through His name, and the believer is now a new creation in Christ!