The Bible addresses the issue of sexual temptation and sexual sin with clarity and depth. The Bible contains scriptures that offer guidance, wisdom, and encouragement for those who want to find a way out of sexual temptations and achieve freedom. When we understand what the Bible says about sexual temptation, we can find strength and direction in our journey to freedom.
In this article
What the Bible says about Sexual Temptation
1. The Bible acknowledges that temptation is a common human experience.
1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”
The bible verse reassures believers that we are not alone in our struggles and God will not allow us to face temptations beyond our control.
2. The Bible warns about the consequences of sexual immorality
In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
This bible verse encourages believers to flee all forms of sexual temptations and immorality because God hates the sexually immoral.
3. The Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
God wants us to honour him with our bodies because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The Holy Spirit doesn’t stay in an unclean temple; therefore, we must honour God with our bodies.
4. Guard Your Heart with all diligence
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
If we want to overcome every form of sexual immorality, we must be willing to guard our hearts from all corrupt and obscure things that can trigger us.
5. Avoid Lustful Thoughts
Matthew 5:28
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Jesus taught that even lustful thoughts are sinful. The words of Jesus in this scripture implore us to keep our minds pure.
6. We must rely on God’s Strength to prevail
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Whenever we face any form of temptation, we should always remember that God will make a way, and we should never be discouraged or give in to the enemy.
7. Renew Your Mind regularly
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
The Bible encourages us to renew our minds regularly so we will not become complacent. We can renew our minds by meditating on the Word and regular communion with God.
8. The Fruits of the Spirit Include Self-Control
Galatians 5:22-23
“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.”
We are encouraged by the Scripture to build our self-control. We need to be able to control ourselves because lack of self-control is harmful. Self-control, a fruit of the Spirit, is essential for resisting sexual temptation.
9. Avoid Compromising Situations
Proverbs 5:8
“Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house.”
Wisdom involves steering clear of situations that could lead to temptation. We are encouraged to avoid relationships or places that can lead to sexual temptations.
10. Sexual Immorality is Against God’s Will
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”
Living a sanctified and honourable life involves avoiding sexual immorality and controlling one’s desires.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of avoiding sexual temptations and immorality. We must fill our hearts with the words of God and let the Bible guide us in all we do.
[Satan] offers a cup of promised refreshment, but doesn’t disclose the drop of poison within. He is a master counterfeiter, assuring you that compromise will not kill; you can escape any time you like. Like a fisherman who presents the bait and hides the hook, Satan fishes for us with personalized lures. He has studied you and knows what you like, maybe even more than you do. . . . Satan desires nothing more than to keep you from seeing Christ. So he does all he can to keep your Bible closed, your prayer closet empty, your fellowship shallow, and your trust in God’s promises hollow.
Garrett Kell; Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God (Page 62–63)
27 Bible Verses About Sexual Temptation
1. James 1:14-15
But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
2. Proverbs 6:25-29
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
3. Job 31:1
I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.
4. Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
5. 1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
6. Romans 13:14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
7. Colossians 3:5
– Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
8. 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
9. Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
10. Ephesians 5:3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
11. Proverbs 7:25-27
Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
12. 1 Corinthians 7:2
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
13. 2 Corinthians 12:21
I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
14. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
15. Proverbs 5:3-5
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
16. Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
17. Proverbs 5:3-5
“For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.”
18. Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
19. Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
20. 2 Timothy 2:22
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Paul advises Timothy to flee from youthful lusts and focus on pursuing positive virtues with others who share a pure heart.
21. Ephesians 6:11
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
22. Psalm 119:11
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
23. Hebrews 4:15
“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.”
24. 2 Samuel 11:2-4
“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah.’ Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.”
25. 1 John 2:16
“For 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.”
26. Titus 2:12
“It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
27. 1 Corinthians 7:5
“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Final Thoughts
The Bible is clear about sexual temptation, and we must flee when we find ourselves in situations that will test us or lead us to fall. God wants us to keep our bodies clean and avoid all forms of sexual immorality and perverseness. We must learn to develop self-control and accountability and trust God for strength.
