Everyone has sin problems. (Romans 3:23) It is part of the Christian life to have to deal with the struggle between our old sinful nature and the new nature we have in Christ Jesus. If we deny it, we are only fooling ourselves. (1John 1:8-9) Usually, the Christian finds that several sins are more difficult to resist than others.
My most difficult sins to control are lust and alcohol abuse. There are fine lines that get crossed. Appreciation of a woman’s beauty gives way to carnal thoughts and desires. Having a beer or two turns into downing a sixpack. There are others, but focusing on these two will suffice.
What can we do when tempted? The Holy Bible tells us how to overcome.
“… The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1Corinthians 6:13-20 ESV) [1]
When we give way to sin it is putting our desires ahead of how God wants us to live. That is idolatry, and idolatry is committing spiritual adultery against the God who loves us and died to pay the price for our sins – which is death.
“Therefore
let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No
temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he
will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he
will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1Corinthians 10:12-14 ESV) [2]
“But
I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the
flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the
desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each
other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are
led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh
are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,
divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn
you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25 ESV) [3]
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8 ESV) [4]
Praise the Lord. We are nothing without Him. Jesus said:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) [5]
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in
me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in
him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV) [6]
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