How should I deal with sexual temptation?
by Logan
(New York)
Dealing with sexual temptation goes far beyond knowing how to resist temptation. We also need to know how to deal with the practical reality of failing or giving in to sexual temptation so that Satan cannot use our guilt over sin to keep us from enjoying a fruitful Spirit filled Christian life.
Theology conquers biology *
Believing God's truth revealed in the Bible is important to have victory over sexual sin. In plainer words, because I am saved, the twin truths of substitutionary atonement and justification by faith have already conquered sexual sin, Colossians 2:13-14. I simply need to reckon those facts as God's truth, Romans 6:6-14, and make them my truth. If you are saved, all of your sexual sins have already been paid for by Jesus when He died on the cross in your place as your substitute.
Jesus, God the Son, already paid the death penalty for our sins with His blood and His life. Jesus' payment for our sins has already been accepted by God the Father. If you are saved, the payment Jesus made for your sins has already been applied by God the Holy Spirit so that you are no longer an errand boy for a corpse - see #4 below - you now have freedom in Christ, Galatians 5:1.
Justification by faith, part 1 is God's legal declaration that all my sins are gone because Jesus paid for all of them in my place. He died the death I deserved to die. Because God is holy and just, my sins must be punished yet punishing me could never satisfy the justice of God. So Jesus was punished in my place, dying as me for me, Isaiah 53, satisfying the justice of God, 1 John 2:2 and appeasing the wrath of God, Romans 1:18.
My life, including my sexual life, must be righteous in order to please God yet all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags, Isaiah 64:6. I am not sinlessly perfect so it is impossible for me to offer my own righteousness to God, Romans 3:10. Yet when I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior, God takes away my sins and gives me Jesus' righteousness as a free gift, Romans 5:17, 6:23. Give thanks for justification by faith, part 2.
Jesus died as me for me
God counts the punishment Jesus suffered on the cross as my punishment. My sexual sins have already been paid for with Jesus' blood and God has already accepted His payment. God counts Jesus' righteousness as my righteousness. Because Jesus was sinless, He never committed any sexual sins, 2 Cor 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5. Because I have the righteousness of Christ, Romans 4:4-6; 5:1, 5:19; 8:1; 10:4; Philippians 3:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21, God views me as never having committed any sexual sins. That is my standing in Christ.
Because I am in Christ, I have already been given ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3. Because I am in Christ, I am already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6. Because I am in Christ, His death counts as my death, his resurrection counts as my resurrection and His righteousness counts as my righteousness. That is what the grace of God is all about.
The proof that I am saved is not that I live a sinlessly perfect life. My standing is that I am eternally secure and perfectly righteous in Christ. My actual state is that I am a sinner saved by grace. The proof that I am saved is not that I never commit sexual sins. For any Pharisee who may read this, please review Matthew 5:27-28 and remember that according to Jesus, everyone commits sexual sins.
One proof that I am saved is that there is an inward struggle with sin and when I sin, it troubles my conscience. Yet because I am saved, the Bible says that my sins are already forgiven, Colossians 2:11-14. When I sin, I confess my sin to God (never to an earthly priest), 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 4:14, 8:1-6, 1 John 1:9, then fellowship is restored and I keep on living for Jesus.
Understanding that punishment of and payment for sexual sin has already happened in Christ, my victory is already a fact in Him. Understanding that perfect righteousness before God is something I already possess as a Christian, is a huge weapon against Satan, when he tells me that sexual sins or other sins mean I cannot serve God.
Discussion Topics
Review the above teaching until you understand it. Please look up the verses and mark them in your Bible. Discuss what is written above with your Bible Study group. Then, with those rock solid biblical facts in mind, you are ready to discuss the topics below.
1. Remember that God's will for you life is holiness - 1 Thess 4:3-5
2. Rely on God's ever present help - 1 Corinthians 10:13
3. Reckon yourself dead to sin - Romans 6:11-14
4. Remember your Savior is your life - Galatians 2:22
5. Remember to memorize scripture like Jesus did - Matthew 4:1-9
6. Reject pornography - Psalm 101:3 and Remove porn from your computer, phone, tablet and tv
7. Resist the devil and flee temptation - James 4:7 & 2 Tim 2:22 & 1 Cor 6:18
8. Reject friends who lead you to sin - 1 Cor 15:33
9. Reject things that lead to sin - Romans 13:14
10. Sexual self-control is part of sanctification - it's a process over the course of your entire life. We don't give up because it is difficult or discouraging. - 1 Thess 4:1-7
I have found a friend in Jesus,
He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort,
In trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley,
the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He all my grief has taken,
and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now
He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me,
and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.
He’s the Lily of the Valley,
the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He will never, never leave me,
nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where the rivers of delight shall ever roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley,
the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
- written by Charles W. Fry, 1832-1882, in 1881. Fry was a bricklayer and also an accomplished musician. He had a family band and himself played violin, cello, cornet, harmonium and piano. Fry's service for Christ included traveling with Salvation Army founder General William Booth and providing music for Booth's evangelistic campaigns in street meetings and in auditoriums. These lyrics are in the public domain.
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Photo: 29 August, 2011 by Stefan Krause, Germany, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NonDerivative 3.0
* Theology conquers biology
borrowed from Pastor John Piper
