Why Are We Against Lust? Because We are For Sex.

We are against lust because we are pro-sex. Lust is so dangerous because it ruins good, God-created sex. In Genesis 1, God creates sex. We should be all about sex if it's the way God has truly created it.

Have you ever read Song of Songs? It's about romantic love between a man and a woman inside the context of marriage. The Bible does not shy away from sex. This is why we're against lust.

For further distinction between sex and lust, check out Sex is Not the Problem (Lust Is) by Joshua Harris.

Lust Defined

We might not have a clear definition of a common word. Joshua Harris defines lust as "craving sexually what Gad has forbidden." That's a great definition. Here's my definition, "a self-centered, wrongly focused sexual desire, thought or action." Lust is self-centered. You never look at a girl with lust in your heart for her best interest. Second, lust is wrongly focused. It's aimed in the wrong direction, someone who is not your spouse. Third, it can be a desire, thought or action. It can be a desire or thought that works itself out through pornography, masturbation or a physical relationship.

Why is Lust So Dangerous?

1. Lust can sometimes seem a lot like love or romance. But it's actually the enemy of love and romance. Especially in a dating relationship, lust seems a lot like love.

2. Lust creates lasting damage that can even affect your future marriage. Porn, and even intense movies, can be incredibly hurtful down the road. You don't easily forget your fantasies.

3. While it's not more damning than other sins, lust can overwhelm you with shame, guilt and embarrassment in a unique way. It makes you feel dirty and affects all other parts of your life.

4. When lust leads to things like porn and masturbation, it can become incredibly addicting.

5. Lust is a sin against a holy God.

Where Should I Go from Here if I'm Struggling with Lust?

1. Repent. Get it out in the open. Say it and admit it, first to God then to other people. Let the light of repentance shine upon the darkness of your sinfulness.

2. Go to the cross. At the cross Jesus died and paid the penalty for your sin so that you can be fully, completely forgiven for every sin and every lustful thought.

3. Embrace practical and violent ways to turn against the sin of lust. Guys, maybe you need to sign up for an accountability software program. Girls, maybe you need your small group leader to ask you every week about your thought life. Be violent against the sin.

4. After you've started getting the lust out of your life, you must replace it with something better. You need to get rid of it and replace it with godly relationships, time in scripture and prayer, and the church.

Q&A and further discussion proceeded

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