10 Biblical Guidelines For Overcoming Sexual Lust and Temptation

I have decided to print this list out and keep it in my wallet. The Bible seems to speak of carrying the truth of His word with us. I think that whenever I am tempted to sin sexually, pulling out this list will remind me of whose that I am, that I do not own myself, and that my body is for the Lord, and for my wife alone. Not another woman, and not myself. It is the truth of God's Word, right theology, connected to the gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit working through the regenerate heart, that enables us to overcome worldly lusts and live for the glory of God.

10 Biblical Guidelines For Overcoming Sexual Lust and Temptation

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           1.) Seeking righteousness satisfies and fills us, not sexual sin. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Mat. 5:6)

·         2.) Adultery of the heart is lusting after a woman. We kill this sin by starving, destroying, the members that cause us to sin. Our eyes cause the lust, our hand carries out the sinful deed. Don’t look upon women that will stir up lust. When you do, resist acting upon that sin with your hand. The alternative is being thrown into hell, and it is better for a few members to go unsatisfied and suffer from unfulfilled sinful longings, than for the whole body to suffer the torments of hell. (Mat. 5:27-30)

·         3.) Sexual sin is a unique sin, it is the sin against your own body. The body is the Lord’s, it was not made, and is not meant, for sexual immorality. Though the body craves sexual sin, the Lord will raise it up by His power and one day free us from those lusts. Even now, though, the body is a member of Christ, and should not be used for sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:13-17).

4 ·     4.) Resisting sinful impulses of the flesh is one way in which we bring God glory. For our body is the Lord’s, both because He made us, and He redeemed and purchased us with the blood of His own Son. The Holy Spirit dwells within me, and my body is the temple of God. Sexual immorality defiles the temple. (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

·         5.) Sexual temptations should be fled, not fought. The war is won by starving the enemy, the flesh, not by expecting the flesh to give up the fight and be persuaded that chastity and purity is superior and better. Only God can make that change, and that will not happen until this physical body perishes and is made anew. (1 Cor. 6:13-20, 15:35-54)

·         6.) I do not have authority over my own body. However, my wife does. Likewise, the wife does not have authority over her body, but the husband does. The giving of the body is representative of the giving of Christ’s body for the elect, and through faith and regeneration the elect become the body of Christ. The purpose of marriage is to reflect the love Christ had for His people, and the love Christ’s people have for Christ. It is an exclusive love. So how can I lust sexually and gratify the deeds of the flesh, when my body is not my own, but Christ’s first, and then my wife’s? (1 Cor. 7:4, Eph. 5:22-33).

·         7.) Sexual sin cheapens us, defiles us, defiles God, and defiles our spouse. It is a sin against our own bodies, our God, and our spouse. Christ’s body was given to us pure and holy, undefiled. It had to be, else it could not save us. If I am to represent Christ in marriage, every time I sin sexually I misrepresent Christ, for I am giving myself, my body, to another, who is not my own. Christ was pure before He died for us. Therefore, I should keep myself pure sexually for my wife before I am married to her as well, not just once I am married. (Eph. 5:22-33).  

·         8.) Conversely, remaining sexually pure, with our bodies and in our hearts and minds, is rightly imitating Christ, and is an expression of His love for us. How pleased was God when Christ gave Himself for His bride, and His bride alone? Very pleased indeed. How pleased will God be when we imitate Christ by showing love and passion only for our bride, and no one else? Very pleased indeed. (Eph. 5:1-3).

·         9.) I can resist the impulses of the flesh. But not by my own power, but rather through the power of God, the Holy Spirit. We are sanctified by the Truth, and the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. Killing sexual sin is done by living and walking in the Spirit. The Spirit and the flesh war against one another. The mind and the flesh war against one another. The Spirit, however, renews the mind and convicts us to resist temptation and live for the superior worth and goodness and glory of the Truth. Therefore, understanding why sexual sin is so sinful, and why sex within marriage is so good and glorious, is the ultimate key to defeating the sinful deeds of the flesh. (Gal. 4:16-18,24-25, Rom. 7:14-8:39, Eph. 4:17-24, Colossians 3:1-17).    

·         10.) Ultimately, it is Christ Himself who has freed us from slavery to sexual sin, by dying for our sins. This grace itself teaches us that we are to deny lusts of all stripes and live for Him. For He died to purify us from sins and make us zealous for Him and for good works that glorify Him. Sexual purity glorifies Him. (Titus 2:11-15)