“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
Romans 13:14
The cure for habitual sexual sin is Christ and crucifixion. Christ as the primary object of your affection. And your own crucifixion of your flesh. You need both to gain victory over pornography and masturbation: adoration and action, worship and willpower, the Savior and self-denial.
This is what the Apostle Paul means when he says you must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” You used to walk in lewdness and lust (Romans 13:13). Now you are to walk properly, decently. And that requires both adopting something new and abandoning something old. It means embracing Christ, and forsaking the flesh.
To “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ means to clothe yourself with Him. It’s the same phrase that appears in the Letter to the Ephesians, where Paul tells the believers there to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). To “make no provision for the flesh” means to give no forethought about your earthly lusts and how and where and with whom you will satisfy them. You aren’t to manufacture any plans, or construct any scenarios, or make any opportunities, for satisfying the lusts of your sinful flesh. You are to crucify them.
Do you long to conquer habitual watching of pornography and to break free from masturbation for good? Me, too. Your plan of attack must include this two-fold remedy for your sin. You need Christ as your example, as the object of your affection, and as the indwelling source of your power. And you need to take practical steps to avoid sexual temptation, to deny yourself any opportunity to satisfy your sinful sexual desires, and to stay out of harms way.
Don’t expect to live a life of sexual purity with Bible study, prayer or church attendance alone. And don’t think that willpower and self-denial alone will keep you sexually pure. You need both—Christ and crucifixion.
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