The Doctrine of Lusts


Written and compiled by Gary Kukis


These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God.” (John 3:16–18). “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!” (John 14:6).


Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud.


NASB is used below, unless otherwise specified. The general principle is found in 1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. Also in Col. 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV) Rom. 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (ESV) See also Gal. 6:8 James 4:1–3 1Peter 2:11.

Lusts of the Soul

1.      Every person deals with his own lust pattern. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14–15; ESV)

2.      Lust occurs in the soul. And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20–23; ESV)

3.      A list of lusts:

         1)      Monetary Lust (1 Timothy 6:10)

         2)      Sexual Lust (Matthew 5:28)

         3)      Power Lust (Isaiah 14:13-14)

         4)      Approbation Lust (Matthew 23:5)

         5)      Social Lust (Matthew 23:6-7)

         6)      Pleasure Lust (James 4:3)

         7)      Chemical Lust (drugs and alcohol) (Galatians 5:20; 1 Peter 4:3-4)

         8)      Inordinate Ambition (James 4:2)

         9)      Crusader Lust (2 Corinthians 11:20)

         10)    Lust for Revenge (Genesis 34:25-29)

         11)    Criminal Lust (Matthew 21:13)

         12)    Eating Binge Lust (Gluttony) (1 Samuel 2:12-16)

         13)    This list is from Bible News; which goes into more detail on some of these lusts.

4.      Sexual lust. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids. For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned? read more. Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched? So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished. (Prov. 6:25–29) “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:28) See also 1Cor. 6:18 2Thess. 4:3–5 2Peter 2:14-18

5.      Perverted sexual lusts. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. read more.Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. (Rom. 1:21–27) See also Lev. 18:22 1Tim. 1:10.

6.      Equality lust. The woman wanted to be as wise as God. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen. 3:6) This might be filed under power lust as well.

7.      Pleasure lust. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. (1Peter 4:3) See also 1Tim. 3:3.

8.      Power lust.

9.      Approbation lust.

10.    Ambition lust. James 3:16. This does not mean that we reject all ambition in life and it does not mean that we are forbidden from getting ahead in life. This is more a matter of focus and inordinate desire which makes this a sin. It is legitimate and admirable to work hard in your profession and to be the best at whatever you do.

11.    Money lust. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1Tim. 6:9–10)

12.    Materialism lust. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. (Psalm 119:37; ESV)

13.    The key to lust is the discipline of the soul, brought on by the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine in the soul. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (Col. 3:5) I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1Cor. 9:27) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5:24) How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! (Psalm 119:9–10; ESV) See also Eph. 4:22 1Thess. 4:4–5 2Tim. 2:22 Titus 2:12 1Peter 2:11.

14.    When we give in to the lusts of our souls, it is then that we immediately rebound—we name these sins to God. 1John 1:9

15.    John tells us: And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1John 2:17; ESV)

References from http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Lust and http://www.openbible.info/topics/lust; the list of lusts is from Bible News; all accessed August 29, 2015.

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Bibliography

References from http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Lust and http://www.openbible.info/topics/lust; the list of lusts is from Bible News; all accessed August 29, 2015.

 


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