Many Christians believe that when they are walking according to their new nature in Christ Jesus, they are improving their flesh nature. If this was true, then eventually, when we have lived by our spirits dominating our thoughts and actions long enough, we can simply switch onto auto-pilot, and allow our flesh to influence us. After all, it would have been improved enough to know what is right, and by instinct keep us walking in right standing with God. If that was true, it would mean, at some point, we wouldn’t need to live controlled by our spirit-man anymore and our own self-righteousness would be sufficient. But that’s simply not biblical. When we learn to be led by the Holy Spirit, we don’t fix or improve our un-redeemed nature, we just become skilled at denying it! Paul taught how essential it is for us to keep our flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit by training our minds to think as God does, so we speak what He says and act like we belong to Him. The moment we begin to slack off from renewing our minds to the truth of God’s Word, we begin to shut off the influence of God’s Holy Spirit over our flesh. Look at what Romans 8: 6-8 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” (ESV). Backsliding simply means choosing to stop the influence of God’s Spirit in and over our lives by giving the reigns over to our carnal nature. Never neglect renewing your mind to God’s Word – it has the power to save your soul as it keeps your spirit-man in control and your flesh in subjection to it – preventing you from backsliding and instead – living in victory over sin. (James 1:21).