RECOGNIZING AND OVERCOMING WORLDLY PASSIONS

RECOGNIZING AND OVERCOMING WORLDLY PASSIONS

The biblical Word of God says: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And sin involves “everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1John2:16). However, the Bible states that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus encourages us, saying, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

RECOGNIZING AND ADMITTING WORLDLY PASSIONS

The Bible says: “All [except Christ] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But it tells us, people who do not recognize and admit their sins cannot prosper spiritually and obtain God’s (Proverbs 28:13). However, ^“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9).

King David lusted, committed adultery and killed the woman’s husband. But when he was confronted by the Lord’s prophet, David said, “I have sinned against the Lord”. Although David deserved to die (Deuteronomy 19:21), God’s prophet Nathan told him, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die” (2 Samuel 12:13).

RECOGNIZING OUR NEED OF GOD’S COMPASSION

Like David, we come to recognize our need of God’s compassion after we admit our sins.

We learn that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

RECOGNIZING OUR NEED OF GOD’S CONTINUING HELP TO OVERCOME

After we believe in Jesus as our Savior, the Bible counsels: “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1). However, as born-again believers in Christ, we may wonder how we will overcome and completely rid ourselves of the sin that so easily hinders and continually haunts and harasses us. The answer is evidently found in the fact that God has given us his Son to save and be our example of overcoming the world.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:12-24).
Jesus is our perfect example of depending on God for everything; Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing” (John 5:30)—”It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:10).
The Son of God prayed to and depended on the Father throughout his ministry on earth (Luke 5:16; 6:12; Mark 1:35; John 17:20…)
And he prayed to the Father when he was faced with agonizing on the cross for salvation of the world Matt 26:39).

The Word says, “apart from [Christ] you can do nothing” (John 15:5). But “[we] can do all things through Christ who strengthens [us]” (Philippians 4:13).
Jesus taught his disciple to “always pray” and depend on God (Luke 18:1).
In his Word, he said, Without the Lord we can do nothing (John 15:5). But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)
The Lord has given his followers the Holy Spirit to guide, help and strengthen them in overcoming the world (John 14:15-16; Acts 1:8).

Conclusively, the biblical Word of God avows, if we believe in and remain in Christ, we are able to overcome the fleshly passions of the world (Galatians 5:19-21; and produce much fruit of the Holy Spirit (John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-25).