Struggling with Lust and Masturbation: Seeking Spiritual Freedom
Lust, in a biblical context, refers to sinful longing or an inward sin that can lead to a departure from God [1]. It is often described as a powerful desire originating in the heart, which is considered the center of moral forces, impulses, and spiritual activity [1]. The term "lusts" can also refer to the objects of desire themselves [1].
The New Testament frequently addresses the concept of lust. Paul, in Galatians 5:17, describes a conflict where "the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire" [4]. This passage highlights an internal struggle within believers, where the corrupt nature ("flesh") opposes the Spirit [9]. This opposition can lead to a state of self-opposition and distraction, making it difficult to do what one desires to do [10]. Adam Clarke interprets this as God continuing to strive with individuals, even in apostasy, to show them where they have fallen and to encourage their return [10].
The apostle Peter also warns against "fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul" [5, 6]. He urges believers, as "strangers and pilgrims," to abstain from these desires [5, 6]. Adam Clarke explains that as those who profess to seek a heavenly country, believers should not entangle their affections with earthly matters, contrasting them with those who are "at home" in the world and neglect their souls [8].
Lust is not limited to sexual desire. While often associated with concupiscence, or the "passion of lust" [13], biblical writers and commentators expand its meaning. Adam Clarke, commenting on 2 Timothy 2:22, notes that "youthful lusts" include not only irregular and sensual desires but also pride, ambition, and especially the "lust of power" [7]. He describes the lust for power as a "bewitching passion" that can be ruinous in both church and state [7]. John Gill, in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4:5, discusses the "lust of concupiscence" as cherishing the first motions of sin in the heart, which can draw a person away and entice them [13]. He contrasts this with the behavior of Gentiles who "know not God" [13].
The struggle against lust is an ongoing theme. The "flesh" is understood as the corruption of nature that remains even in regenerate persons [9]. This corruption is called "flesh" because it is propagated by carnal generation, focuses on carnal things, and its lusts and works are fleshly, manifesting in the body's members [9]. The Geneva Bible's commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:9 speaks of "the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man," suggesting that "the dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire" [11]. Augustine is also referenced in this context, emphasizing the need for grace [11].
The concept of self-deprivation and focusing on God is presented as a counter to self-serving desires. Isaiah 58:3, for example, suggests that fasting should be a time of self-deprivation to focus on God and please Him, rather than merely pleasing oneself and continuing in sin [12]. This highlights a broader principle that desires should be directed towards God rather than self-gratification.
The internal conflict described in Galatians 5:17 suggests that the Spirit actively opposes the desires of the flesh [4]. This implies a dynamic tension where the Spirit provides a means to resist sinful inclinations. The psalmist expresses a similar struggle and reliance on God, stating, "In the day I have trouble, I seek the Lord. At night my hand stretches out continually; my soul refuses to be comforted" [2]. This illustrates a persistent seeking of divine comfort and intervention in times of distress.
The desire to be "loosed and to be with Christ" [3] as expressed in Philippians 1:23, can be seen as a spiritual desire that stands in contrast to fleshly lusts. This longing for Christ represents a redirection of desire towards a heavenly goal, which is considered "best of all" [3]. This spiritual aspiration provides a framework for understanding how believers are called to reorient their desires away from worldly and sinful inclinations.
Sources
- 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.”
- Psalms “Psalms 77:2 (LEB) — In the day I have trouble, I seek the Lord. At night my hand stretches out ⌞continually⌟; my soul refuses to be comforted.”
- Philippians “Philippians 1:23 (Geneva1599) — For I am distressed betweene both, desiring to be loosed and to be with Christ, which is best of all.”
- Galatians “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. -- Galatians 5:17”
- I Peter “I Peter 2:11 (Geneva1599) — Dearely beloued, I beseeche you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstaine from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soule,”
- 1 Peter “Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; -- 1 Peter 2:11”
- 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”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 2:11: As strangers and pilgrims - See the note on Heb 11:13. These were strangers and pilgrims in the most literal sense of the word, see Pe1 1:1, for they were strangers scattered through Asia, Pontus, etc. Abstain from fleshly lusts - As ye are strangers and pilgrims, and profess to seek a heavenly country, do not entangle your affections with earthly things. While others spend all their time, and employ all their skill, in acquiring earthly property, and totally neglect the salvation of their souls; they are not strangers, they are here at home; they are not pilgrims,”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:16: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,.... By "flesh" is meant, not the carnal or literal sense of the Scripture, which is Origen's gloss, as militating against the spiritual sense of it; nor the sensual part of man rebelling against his rational powers; but the corruption of nature, which still is in regenerate persons: and is so called because it is propagated by carnal generation; has for its object carnal things; its lusts and works are fleshly; and though it has its seat in the heart, it shows itself in the flesh or members of the body, which are yielded as”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit - God still continues to strive with you, notwithstanding your apostasy, showing you whence you have fallen, and exciting you to return to him; but your own obstinacy renders all ineffectual; and through the influence of these different principles, you are kept in a state of self-opposition and self-distraction, so that you cannot do the things that ye would. You are convinced of what is right, and ye wish to do it; but, having abandoned the Gospel and the grace of Christ, the law and its ordinances which ye have chosen in”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:9: if they cannot contain--that is, "have not continency." burn--with the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man. (Compare AUGUSTINE [Holy Virginity]). The dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 58:3: 58:3 Fasting should be a time of self-deprivation in order to focus on God and pleasing him (Lev 16:29; see Zech 7:5). However, these people were only interested in pleasing themselves and continuing in their sins.”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:5: Not in the lust of concupiscence,.... Or "passion of lust"; for the mere gratifying and indulging of that; for a man so to possess his vessel, is to cherish the sin of concupiscence, the first motions of sin in the heart, by which a man is drawn away, and enticed; to blow up the flame of lust, and to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof: even as the Gentiles which know not God; for, though they knew him, or might know him with a natural knowledge, by the light and works of nature, yet they knew him not savingly and spiritually, as he is r”