How to fight sin – and win! Overcoming sin by the power of the Holy Spirit

Sin in the flesh is something that we have all inherited and are born with, as Adam and Eve’s descendants. It is not guilt, but the tendency or inclination to follow our own self-will rather than God’s will. We experience this tendency every time we are tempted by our lusts and desires to commit sin. However, if we have not agreed with the temptation, we have not committed sin. This is where the fightAlmost all talk of battles and wars when concerning a Christian life refers to the inner battle that arises when a sinful thought tempts you. God’s Spirit and the flesh are at odds. When you have decided to only do God’s will and are being led by the Spirit, a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit arises: there is... More against sinSin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these laws. The lust to sin dwells in human nature. In other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the sinful tendencies that dwell in all people as a result of the fall into sin and disobedience in the garden of Eden. This... More lies!

To engage in battleAlmost all talk of battles and wars when concerning a Christian life refers to the inner battle that arises when a sinful thought tempts you. God’s Spirit and the flesh are at odds. When you have decided to only do God’s will and are being led by the Spirit, a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit arises: there is... More is to give up every single thing that God points out to you as necessary to give up that would come between yourself and your goal – to be conformed to the image of Christ so that you can be with Him for eternity. (Romans 8:29) Your honor, your will, your desires, your thoughts. All of it must be given up to live according to God’s will for your life.

A desperate longing to be saved

Because the lusts and desiresThe desires that we experience that go against God’s will. In other words, a desire for anything sinful. See James 1:14. Also called “sin in the flesh.” Although the expression “youthful lusts” is often thought of in connection with sinful sexual desires, lusts include anything that go against what is good and right in God’s eyes. (2 Timothy 2:22.; Galatians... More in your fleshSin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these laws. The lust to sin dwells in human nature. In other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the sinful tendencies that dwell in all people as a result of the fall into sin and disobedience in the garden of Eden. This... More are demanding something other than God’s will, denying them satisfaction will cause suffering in the fleshThe Bible often mentions suffering. Though this can refer to outward, physical suffering, in the New Covenant it mostly applies to the suffering that occurs when you deny your own sinful lusts and desires and put them to death. It is an inner suffering that occurs because your lusts are not being satisfied, rather than a physical, outward one –... More, which you will feel acutely. To be faithful requires a firm and decided mindset. You have to acknowledge that nothing good comes from the flesh. (Romans 7:18) This takes zeal, a determination, and a profound dependency on help from God. You have to be aware of how weak you are as a natural person, how powerless you are against sin, and come to the point where you humbly acknowledge that without God you can do nothing. When you are at that point then you will understand why it is written about Jesus that He prayed until His sweat came like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:41-44)

“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:7-8.

Jesus was the Son of God, yet He Himself as a man had to pray with vehement cries and tears to God to receive the strength required to sustain Him in battle. That’s the spirit you also need to be in. A desperate need for help, a desperate longing to be saved from the sin that you find that so easily ensnares you. (Hebrews 12:1) It will also take crying out to God in prayer for you to be saved from sin. You need to pray to get the mind that was in Jesus, the mind to be willing to suffer in the fleshThe Bible often mentions suffering. Though this can refer to outward, physical suffering, in the New Covenant it mostly applies to the suffering that occurs when you deny your own sinful lusts and desires and put them to death. It is an inner suffering that occurs because your lusts are not being satisfied, rather than a physical, outward one –... More and endure in the battle to put sin to deathIs to overcome the temptations to sin that arise when our lusts and desires draw us to react in ways we know to be evil (i.e. pride, hatred, evil-speaking, envy etc.) It is the act of denying those thoughts and refusing to agree with them. The lust to sin is not only suppressed, but it actually dies. (Romans 8:13; Colossians... More. (James 1:12; 1 Peter 4:1-2)

The power of the Holy Spirit to fight sin

Sin lies at the door, and its desire is for you, but you should rule over it! (Genesis 4:7) If you don’t resist in the first moment, it gets a fingerhold, and then it grows and becomes another thought, and another thought. In the end, it becomes a way of thinking. Then it has overcome you, rather than the other way around. Don’t give sin an inch! Resist it until the desire is gone, no matter how long that takes. And then you will be free!

Also read: Are you catching the “little foxes?”

The power of the Holy Spirit from God gives you the energy you need to stand firm in the fight against sin and never give up, no matter how long the temptation continues. (Acts 1:8) To patiently, with endurance, deny the temptations to sinTo commit sin is to consciously do something that you know goes against God’s will. This can be in word, deed, or even thought. (James 1:14-15)... More that rise up inside of you without ever giving in. It is a power that only the Holy Spirit can give you. It’s not something you have in yourself; humans are weak, and prone to giving up. That is why you need to humble yourself, acknowledge your own weakness, and come boldly to the throne of grace“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. Because Jesus was tempted, yet did not sin, it is possible for us to come to Him with boldness to receive grace. This grace is so we too shall not commit sin in our... More to find the mercy and grace for help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

The more you overcome in temptation, the more hope you get for the future. God can transform you, change you, make you new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The future becomes exciting, and filled with amazing possibilities, when you know that you are not bound to react according to the sin in your flesh, but that you can walk in the newness of life! (Romans 6:4) Sin has been put to deathIs to overcome the temptations to sin that arise when our lusts and desires draw us to react in ways we know to be evil (i.e. pride, hatred, evil-speaking, envy etc.) It is the act of denying those thoughts and refusing to agree with them. The lust to sin is not only suppressed, but it actually dies. (Romans 8:13; Colossians... More! We are born with an inclination to many sins that dwell in our flesh, but we do not have to die with them! Grace and peace will be multiplied to you, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)

You may be interested in reading more in our Battle against sin theme page, or in the following: