5 Things You Should Know About Fighting Sin
1. The threat is real.
The Bible makes it clear that we face significant temptations from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Those are all significant enemies.
The world is not on our side. The system of the world often is conspiring to push us in a certain direction. This is why Paul warns all Christians, “Do not be conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2). Being conformed to the world in terms of what it prizes, what it tolerates, and how it defines success may change from culture to culture, but it must be resisted and tested against Scripture at every turn.
Our flesh also wars against us. We are sinners by nature, bent away from God and toward our sinful lusts. Sometimes, in the miracle of the new birth, God graciously removes some of our sinful tendencies, but the remnants of our sinful life remain. We cannot simply follow our hearts and expect them to lead us in the right direction.
Then there is the devil. The Scriptures warn us to watch out, because “your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). If a skilled assassin was hired to kill you, you would be on your guard constantly. You would lock every door and check around every corner for his presence. Satan is much more powerful than any man. We must always be sober and watchful.
2. Temptation starts before you know it.
When we fall into sin, it is often because we have failed to protect ourselves ahead of time. We cannot engage in our normal activities as if we are not susceptible to sin. Often, the best way to fight against sin is to avoid places and activities that tend to lead us in the direction of temptation. For some, this means that they need to keep busy, since solitary boredom leads them into temptation. Some need to avoid certain people, whose influence will put them in the path of sin. Some need protective mechanisms to keep them away from certain content. There are things we know we should never watch, places we should never go, and times we should never be by ourselves. While these people, places, and occasions may not be immediately sinful in themselves, engaging with them can make us susceptible to temptation and put us at great risk of falling into sin.
3. The fight against sin must address the heart.
Jesus makes it clear that sin comes from within (Matt. 15:19). Our hearts are the source, and so fighting sin must address the inner man. We must be careful to cultivate our hearts in accordance with God’s Word.
Psalm 119:11 puts this succinctly:
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
The psalmist knew that his heart needed to be overflowing with God’s Word to keep him from sin. The same is true for all of us.
We cannot simply follow our hearts and expect them to lead us in the right direction.
This is why daily Bible reading, Bible memorization, and prayer according to God’s Word is so vital. What we think about will reflect in our words and actions. In light of this, the Apostle Paul writes, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).
4. The triune God empowers us.
Despite the temptations that we face as Christians, the Lord is on our side. The Bible says that those who are born again, “beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). Christians have the promise that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). And again, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
More than that, we are told specifically:
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13)
While the enemies we face are strong, God is stronger. His Holy Spirit—who raised Jesus from the dead—is at work in our bodies today. The Bible reminds Christians that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
5. It never ends until glory.
Until we enter the presence of our Savior, we can expect to be in a fight against sin. The Bible makes it clear that “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
The fight against sin means that our time on earth is a time of spiritual warfare. We should never expect to be able to rest until we enter the eternal rest of heaven.
But one day, we will be changed. When Jesus welcomes us to our eternal home, we will be like Him. The battle will be over, and the fight will be won.
