Lust and Salvation in the Christian Life

This truth addresses the struggle many believers face, where they acknowledge the sinfulness of their actions, yet continue to succumb to them. Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good," but this does not negate the reality of sin's presence in the believer's life. The Reformed tradition affirms that true believers can and do struggle with sin, but the difference lies in their response to it - a response marked by repentance, sorrow, and a desire to flee from sin.

The Westminster Confession of Faith notes that believers may fall into grievous sins, but this does not necessarily mean they are lost. Rather, it is the pattern of their life and their response to sin that reveals their true spiritual state. A person who knows lust is bad and yet continues to indulge in it may be a believer struggling with sin, or it may indicate a heart that has not truly been regenerated.

The gospel connection here is crucial - it is only through the work of Christ that believers can find victory over sin, and it is the Holy Spirit who enables them to mortify the deeds of the flesh. The fact that one recognizes the sinfulness of lust and feels conviction over it may be a sign that the Spirit is at work, convicting them of sin and guiding them towards repentance. Ultimately, the question of whether one is truly saved or lost is between them and God, but the biblical call is clear: to flee from sin and to pursue holiness, knowing that it is only through Christ's righteousness that we are justified before God.