Whether you’re just beginning your walk with Jesus or you’ve been strolling along for decades, all believers have something in common – temptation. Our forgiven status as believers does not make us immune to all desire to sin. It could be that you fight against temptations for “little sins” like being quick to anger. Or maybe you find yourself drawn to a “big sin” like adultery. And let’s be honest, who hasn’t briefly considered murder when someone cuts you off in traffic?
Until our lives end or when Jesus returns, believers will continually be engaged in a war between our sinful nature and our redeemed identities. Thankfully, we aren’t fighting that battle alone. God has given us tools to resist temptation if we’ll simply choose to use them. Let’s take a look at a few verses on how to fight temptation and what to do if we fall to it.
GOD GIVES US A WAY OUT
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
This verse doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that we’ll always deal with temptation. It’s nothing new. It’s going to happen. But God won’t allow you to be tempted more than you can handle. He will give you a way out.
When you face temptation, God may give you a moment of clarity, allowing you to choose sin or obedience. Or it could simply be a nearby door to exit a tempting scenario. But if you look for a way out, He will gladly provide because He’s faithful to you.
WALK IN THE SPIRIT
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Yet again, the reality of our battle is painfully clear. The flesh and the Spirit will forever be at odds. However, the solution here is to “walk in the Spirit,” to live in accordance with His word and His leading in our transformed lives. But what exactly does that look like? Just a few verses down, Paul provides an astounding list of the things the Spirit will produce in our lives if we let Him.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
FIGHT TEMPTATION AS JESUS DID
In Luke 4:1-13, we find an incredible account of Jesus battling temptation after 40 days in the wilderness. Jesus is exhausted and hungry when the devil presents 3 temptations. Each time, Jesus resisted by quoting Scripture, setting an example for how we ourselves can be victorious over temptation.
But how can we quote Scripture if we don’t know it? When faced with temptation, we usually don’t have time to look up resources in our Bibles which might not even be on hand. Jesus knew the Word by heart. Maybe we should do the same.
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE FALL TO TEMPTATION?
As much as we’d love to live perfect lives, the truth is that we can’t. Yes, we’re going to miss the mark. We’re still going to sin sometimes. We will even endure consequences for those actions. But thankfully, God continues to offer grace and mercy.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
WHAT VERSES HELP YOU WITH TEMPTATION?
As you battle temptation in your own life, what helps you find victory over it? Tell us in the comments!
