War Against the Passions of the Flesh: Protecting Your Soul

The Battle for Your Soul: Fighting the Passions of the Flesh

Do you ever feel like you're in a constant battle within yourself? Like there's a war raging inside you, and you're not sure which side will come out on top? If so, you're not alone. The Bible tells us that as Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual battle against the passions of the flesh.

In 1 Peter 2:11, Peter warns us to "abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." He doesn't mince words here - he tells us that these passions are at war with our very souls. It's a serious battle, and one that we can't afford to ignore.

But what exactly are the passions of the flesh? Well, the Apostle Paul gives us a list in Colossians 3:5-6: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming." These are the things that wage war against our souls, and if we don't fight against them, we will face the wrath of God.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute, I thought once I became a Christian, I was saved and secure in my salvation. Are you saying that I can lose my salvation?" Well, that's a valid question, and one that many Christians wrestle with. The answer lies in understanding the nature of our salvation and the role we play in it.

You see, salvation is a gift from God that we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. It is not something we can earn or lose by our own efforts. However, that doesn't mean we can just live however we want and expect to go to heaven. Jesus himself said, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matthew 5:29). He is telling us that if we don't fight against sin, we will face the consequences of our actions.

Now, let me be clear here. I'm not saying that true Christians always succeed in every battle against sin. We all stumble and fall at times. The issue is not that we succeed flawlessly, but that we resolve to fight against sin and not make peace with it. We are called to make war against the passions of the flesh.

So, how do we fight this battle? Well, it starts with recognizing that we are in a battle. We need to be aware of the temptations and desires that wage war against our souls. We need to be on guard and not let our guard down. As the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." We can't afford to be complacent or think that we are immune to temptation.

Next, we need to arm ourselves with the weapons God has given us. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us to put on the whole armor of God - the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. These are the tools we need to fight against the passions of the flesh. We need to be rooted in the truth of God's word, standing firm in our righteousness in Christ, and ready to share the good news of the gospel with others.

But it's not enough to just have the armor - we need to use it. We need to actively engage in the battle, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We need to resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7). We need to flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). We need to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). In short, we need to fight.

Now, you might be wondering, "Why is this battle so important? What's at stake?" Well, the stakes are much higher than any earthly calamity or threat. Jesus himself tells us that if we don't fight against lust, we will go to hell and suffer there forever (Matthew 5:29). The passions of the flesh wage war against our souls, and if we don't fight, we will lose our souls. Forever.

This is not a battle we can afford to lose. The wrath of God is coming on those who give in to the passions of the flesh (Colossians 3:6). And let me tell you, the wrath of God is immeasurably more fearful than the wrath of all the nations of the world put together. This is a battle for eternity, and the consequences are eternal.

So, my friend, I urge you to take your soul and the souls of others seriously. Don't make peace with sin. Make war. Arm yourself with the armor of God and fight against the passions of the flesh. Don't let them wage war against your soul. Stand firm in the truth, resist the devil, and flee from sexual immorality. The stakes are too high to ignore.

In conclusion, the battle against the passions of the flesh is a serious one. It's a battle for our souls, and one that we cannot afford to lose. We must be vigilant, armed with the armor of God, and actively engaged in the fight. The consequences of giving in to the passions of the flesh are eternal, and the wrath of God is coming. So let us resolve to fight, to make war against sin, and to cling to our salvation in Jesus Christ. May God give us the grace and strength to fight this battle and to keep our souls secure.