Miles J.
Stanford

We will briefly consider the “one-nature” error.

Wesleyan
One-Naturism

This is the traditional Pentecostal aberration: “Total
Depravity does not mean that human nature is essentially and completely
evil, but that every part of it is damaged and infected by inherited
Adamic sin. “It is insisted that there is no new nature involved at conversion,
but rather the impartation of spiritual life that regenerates the old Adamic
nature.

Eradication: This is the teaching that all sin is
eradicated from the sinful Adamic nature. The Wesleyan “pure heart,” is
attained when the “second blessing” experience of the “Pentecostal flame”
consumes the sinful propensities of the old Adamic nature. Presto, new divine
nature!

Arminian
One-Naturism

Another type of “one-naturism” is set forth by J. Sidlow Baxter in
his book, A New Call to Holiness. This holiness theory is that of
amelioration of the sinful Adamic nature. Dr. Baxter writes:

“Sin is a diffused infection of thought, desire, motive, impulse,
inclination, and even of instinct, right through the moral nature. From the
moment the Holy Ghost fully possesses us, He begins to correct, purify, refine,
inbreathe and renovate all the qualities, tempers, urges, propensities, and
functions of the mind, the sensations, and the will. This is how holiness
begins and continues to be inwrought” (p. 116).

This is the humanistic theory of change in contradiction to
the spiritual principle of exchange; “Not I, but
Christ.”

The most prevalent and insidious type of “one-naturism” today is
that of Covenant Theology. Through the error of considering Romans 6:6 to be
actual (condition), rather than positional, it is claimed that the old
Adamic man is actually crucified, dead, and gone–eradicated. Those holding
this view are forced, however, to admit to indwelling sin in the Christian.
Some teach that it is simply a residual influence left over from pre-salvation
days.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Dr. Jay Adams refer to indwelling sin
as “old habits.” Dr. John MacArthur terms it the “old coat of humanness.” Dr.
Charles Solomon says it is the “energy of residual sin.” Another erroneous term
for the indwelling old man is “condition of flesh.” The one-nature proponents
separate the alleged eradication of the old man from the indwelling “flesh.”

However, the Word teaches that “flesh” is a person, as well as a
condition. “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is
flesh” (Gen. 6:3). “Fathers of our flesh” (Heb. 12:9) sire progeny of flesh.
Belief in the eradication of the old man tends to relieve the Christian of much
of his responsibility concerning the activity of his indwelling Adamic
life and nature. He is wont to place the blame for his sinning upon Satan, and
upon “residual tendencies” and “habits” developed prior to salvation.

But here is the crux of the matter: it is not possible for the
source of indwelling sin to be eradicated, while retaining sin, the
product of that sinful source. Effect must have a cause! If you sin,
you have its source, i.e., Adam.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones taught that “The old man is non-existent. Your
old self is gone” (Romans Six, p. 65). Dr. MacArthur: “The old man is
dead, destroyed, removed…it isn’t around” (Tape GC 2147). Dr. Solomon:
“The old man and sin nature no longer exist in the Christian” (Rejection
Syndrome, p. 106). Dr. Bob George: “That old man is dead and gone; he will
never exist again” (Classic Christianity, p. 90). Dr. Bill Gillham: “I
claim by faith that the old man is extinct” (Lifetime Guarantee, p.
187).

What the one-nature eradicationist fails to understand is that death ever
means separation! Separation from God is living death. I, as a
new creation in the Last Adam, was positionally separated from the first
Adam at the Cross (Gal. 2:20). Hence I reckon myself dead (separated) from sin
and its source, the sinful indwelling old Adamic man. This is the meaning of
Romans Six.