BradC,
You are not understanding the meaning of the terms you are using. One will never be able to walk in the Spirit if they have a sin nature. It is not a matter of choice. Sin becomes your state of being, ones essence. That is why the Original Sin theory is so unscriptural.
Let me give you an analogy. If the essence of water is that it is wet. You want it to be dry at particular times. You want to have a choice, be able to walk in the Spirit which would be impossible if your essence is a sin nature. It would be impossible to be forgiven of ones sins or to repent, or refrain from some habitual sins.
Which is why the Bible NEVER uses the term "sin nature" but describes our essence as a mortal nature.
Where does scripture even imply this phenonemon, let alone state it. I can assure you that every believer sins, and we succumb to the appitites of the flesh.
We have not gotten into this because it was another development of Augustine that he used in his arguments with Pelagius also. That is, that of man's total depravity which is an introduction of his former Manichean theology where they and the Gnostics believed man had a dual nature. One of the flesh which was evil and one of the spirit which was good. That one can walk in the Spirit with his spirit, but sin in the flesh and it has no bearing on the spirit.
This statement is categorically in opposition to your Original Sin theory. Which is why the theory is false and unscriptural. If you either have a sin nature you have no choice. You have become sin, it is your essence, not a matter of doing it. If sin is passed on to man, you also do not have a choice. You cannot live by faith, you cannot choose to walk in the Spirit, you cannot choose to not sin. Unless you also believe as the pagans did in Augustine's time that man as a person has both the flesh and the spirit but can live independent of each other. Their idea of salvation is for the soul to be released from the body which is why they did not believe in any resurrection.
We must reckon ourself to be dead indeed onto sin but alive unto God. We still have a sin nature until the redemption of our bodies. Then the old sin nature will be put away forever and corruption will put on incorruption. We must walk in the spirit to not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Let me give you an analogy. If the essence of water is that it is wet. You want it to be dry at particular times. You want to have a choice, be able to walk in the Spirit which would be impossible if your essence is a sin nature. It would be impossible to be forgiven of ones sins or to repent, or refrain from some habitual sins.
Which is why the Bible NEVER uses the term "sin nature" but describes our essence as a mortal nature.
Without the effects of the cross crucifying the old sin nature man has no way to be free from sin or from the desires and appetites of the flesh.
We have not gotten into this because it was another development of Augustine that he used in his arguments with Pelagius also. That is, that of man's total depravity which is an introduction of his former Manichean theology where they and the Gnostics believed man had a dual nature. One of the flesh which was evil and one of the spirit which was good. That one can walk in the Spirit with his spirit, but sin in the flesh and it has no bearing on the spirit.
We walk by faith in the finished work of the cross and put off the old man and put on Christ, the new man. The life that we live in the flesh we live by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave his life for us.