Paul explained why. We sin, or miss the mark, because of something that dwells in us, in our flesh. Jesus identifies the most significant characteristic of the “flesh,” or our nature, that causes sin. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). It is the weakness of the flesh that gives birth to sin. Our challenge, then, is to manage our desires. God expects us to seek and use His help to direct them into legitimate channels. While defending himself before the Roman governor, Felix, the apostle Paul “reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25). The need to maintain self-control is one of the major teachings of the gospel. Paul admonishes us to “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14). Rather, we must properly control our desires so they do not become sinful lusts. John summarizes the scope of the problem as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Improperly managed, unrestrained desires stimulate these basic categories of sin.
Roger Foster
