The Battle Inside Every Christian

When someone trusts Jesus, God makes them new. But they still feel a pull toward sin. The Bible explains why, and it shows that this battle is normal for every Christian.

Two sides. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another” (Galatians 5:17). Lusts against means wants the opposite of.

The flesh. In the Bible, the flesh is the old self that wants its own way. It is not your skin. It is the part of you that always wants to be first.

The Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God Himself living in every believer. He wants what God wants, and He gives you new desires.

A new creation. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The old self. “Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6). Old man means the old self.

Count it true. “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:11). Reckon means count it as true.

Not the boss. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Sin still tempts us, but it is not our boss anymore.

Paul felt it. Paul wrote, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19). Even a great apostle felt the battle.

Everyone is tempted. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). You are not the only one.

Jesus understands. Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He knows exactly how it feels, and He never gave in.

Being tempted is not sinning. A wrong thought that knocks at the door is temptation. Opening the door and inviting it in is sin.

Say no, then yes. When the flesh pulls, say no to the wrong thing and yes to a good thing. If you are tempted to say something mean, ask God to help you say something kind instead.

Not alone. The Holy Spirit is called the Helper. Jesus said He would “abide with you forever” (John 14:16).

What we learn. The battle inside does not mean you are not a Christian. Often it means the Holy Spirit is at work, making you want what God wants.

Paul cried, “Who will deliver me?” and answered, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25). Here is how Jesus helps us win the battle each day.

Walk in the Spirit. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Walking means step by step, every day.

Keep in step. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Listen to Him, and follow where He leads.

Led by the Spirit. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

Stay close to Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Abide means stay connected.

The fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Longsuffering means patient for a long time.

God's Word inside. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

A way out. “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Look for God's way out, and take it.

When you fall. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confess means tell God the truth about it.

Someone on your side. “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). An advocate speaks up for you.

Jesus prays for you. “He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Intercession means praying for someone.

Strength in weakness. Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

More than conquerors. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Friends help. God gives us other Christians to pray with us. Tell a parent or a trusted Christian friend when you are fighting a hard temptation. Sin grows in the dark, but it loses power when we bring it into the light.

What to do. When temptation comes, pray right away: Jesus, help me. Then do the next right thing, and trust the Spirit to give you strength.