“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

through lust

This particular word for “lust” conveys something that someone greatly desires. It denotes deep intensity. This person longs for some object very much. “Lust” almost carries the idea of an obsession. Addictions control people, and then they become captive to these lusts.

“Lust” here is the sphere of lust (Greek). The nature of this word means that we direct our being towards something (the intensive part of the word). It is a desire that attaches itself to or upon its object. Lust in this verse corresponds to our depraved capacity. This capacity is the root of our corruption.

Ga 5:16-17, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

The Christian is responsible for putting to death the idolatry of “evil desire [lust].”

Col. 3:5, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Sexual lust is something every Christian must face,

2 Tim. 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

2 Tim. 3:6, “For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.”

Tit. 3:3, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

There is a lust for false doctrine,

2 Tim. 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.”

2 Pet. 3:3, “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.”

Jude 16, “These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.”

Jude 18, “How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.”

Lusts are not necessarily base and immoral; they may be refined in character but are evil if inconsistent with God’s will.

1 Pe 2:11-12, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, ¹²having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

1 Pe 4:2, “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Jesus crucified our lust pattern on the cross positionally and legally,

Gal. 5:24, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

PRINCIPLE:

There is an inborn predisposition in each of us to focus on obsessions that are not the will of God.

APPLICATION:

Do certain lusts control your life? Are you so addicted to something that it dominates you? Jesus already defeated those lusts on the cross. Turn to the cross and allow Him to defeat those sins that ruin your life.

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”