Overcoming Lustful Sin and Spiritual Struggle Guidance

Lust, defined as sinful longing, represents an inward sin that can lead to a departure from God ^[5]. The Bible frequently addresses lust, often connecting it to "fleshly desires" or "carnal desires" that wage war against the soul ^{[2, 4]}. These desires are not merely external temptations but originate in the heart, which is considered the center of moral forces and spiritual activity ^[5].

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 6:12, exhorts believers not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies, leading them to obey its lusts ^[3]. This highlights the active struggle against sinful desires. The Geneva Bible's translation of 1 Peter 4:3 speaks of having spent time living "after the lust of the Gentiles, walking in wantonnes, lustes, drunkennes, in gluttonie, drinkings, and in abominable idolatries," indicating a past life characterized by various forms of sinful indulgence ^[1].

Overcoming lust involves a conscious effort to resist these desires. The Tyndale House commentary on Matthew 18:8-9 advises individuals to "Get rid of whatever causes you to sin" ^[14]. This echoes the broader biblical call to abstain from fleshly lusts ^[4]. The struggle against lust is not unique to any particular age group; while "carnal pleasures are the sins of youth," ambition and the love of power are identified as "sins of middle age" by Adam Clarke, who notes that the "lust of power" is a particularly "bewitching passion" ^[15].

The New Testament offers guidance on how to combat these desires. Paul's instruction in Galatians 5:16, "Walk in the Spirit," suggests that by allowing the Spirit of God to dwell in and rule the heart, the "carnal mind" can be destroyed, leading to the abandonment of "works and propensities of the flesh" ^[17]. This implies a spiritual transformation that goes beyond mere outward conformity.

The nature of sin, including lust, is understood as a universal human condition. All human beings are born with a sinful nature ^[7]. However, while the wicked indulge this nature, the godly actively fight against it ^[7]. Sin is not merely an action but can also be an attitude, such as insolence or arrogance, particularly in the case of deliberate sins ^[10]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on 1 John 3:8 states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil," contrasting this with those who do righteousness ^[9]. Augustine, as cited in the same commentary, clarifies that one becomes a "child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth," emphasizing that sin is a choice rather than an inherent state of being from the devil ^[9].

The concept of sin also includes the idea of "vanity," which encompasses "all sorts of sinful acts" ^[8]. The Tyndale House commentary on Romans 1:18-3:20 emphasizes the universal sinfulness of humanity, stating that both Gentiles and Jews are "equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" ^[11]. God's anger is presented not as an emotional outburst but as a "necessary response to sin" ^[11].

Even after conversion, believers may still commit actual sins ^[12]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on 1 John 1:10 distinguishes between "having no sin" (referring to the guilt of a corrupt nature) and "having not sinned" (referring to the commission of actual sins) ^[12]. To claim one has not sinned is to make God a liar ^[12].

The path to overcoming lust and spiritual struggle involves a commitment to spiritual disciplines and reliance on God's grace. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23 notes that believers are "claimed by God" through Christ ^[13]. Baptism is also mentioned in Acts 22:16 as a means by which sins are "washed away" ^[16]. The struggle against lust is part of a broader spiritual battle against the "works of the flesh," which also include strife, an evidence of a carnal spirit ^[6].

Sources

I Peter “I Peter 4:3 (Geneva1599) — For it is sufficient for vs that we haue spet the time past of ye life, after the lust of the Gentiles, walking in wantonnes, lustes, drunkennes, in gluttonie, drinkings, and in abominable idolatries.”
I Peter “I Peter 2:11 (DRC) — Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,”
Romans “Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. -- Romans 6:12”
1 Peter “Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; -- 1 Peter 2:11”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lust — Sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). "Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity." In Mark 4:19 "lusts" are objects of desire.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 18:8: 18:8-9 Concern shifts to the individual: Get rid of whatever causes you to sin (see 5:29-30; Col 3:5-17).”
2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 2:22: Flee also youthful lusts - Not only all irregular and sensual desires, but pride, ambition, and, above all, the lust of power, to which most men will sacrifice all other propensities, their ease, pleasure, health, etc. This is the most bewitching passion in the human heart. Both in Church and state it is ruinous; but particularly so in the former. Timothy was now between thirty and forty years of age, the very age in which ambition and the love of power most generally prevail. Carnal pleasures are the sins of youth; ambition and the love of power the sins of midd”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 22:16: 22:16 be baptized. Have your sins washed away: See “Baptism” Theme Note.”
Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:16: Walk in the Spirit - Get back that Spirit of God which you have grieved and lost; take up that spiritual religion which you have abandoned. Ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh - If the Spirit of God dwell in and rule your heart, the whole carnal mind will be destroyed; and then, not only carnal ordinances will be abandoned, but also the works and propensities of the flesh.”

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