The Inner Battle of the Believer #
Every follower of Christ knows what it means to struggle with thoughts that do not honour God. Many expect that once they are saved, such thoughts will vanish. Yet Scripture and experience show that the battle of the mind is real and ongoing. The question then arises: how can a believer deal with impure thoughts while remaining confident in Christ’s victory?
The Apostle Paul described this battlefield with striking clarity:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not physical but are mighty before God for the destruction of strongholds. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (AMP)
Paul shows us that the battleground is not external but internal. Thoughts, imaginations, and attitudes can either exalt themselves against Christ or submit to His Lordship. The struggle with impurity is therefore not a sign of defeat but the arena where Christ’s life proves stronger than the Adamic nature.
The Difference Between Temptation and Sin #
One mistake many believers make is to confuse temptation with sin. A thought may pass through the mind without becoming sin. The problem begins when we welcome, dwell on, or entertain it. James explained this process:
“But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited to commit sin by his own worldly desire. Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.” — James 1:14–15 (AMP)
Here, temptation is like a seed offered to us. It becomes sin only when it is received, planted, and allowed to grow. Even Jesus was tempted, yet He remained without sin. The distinction matters because the very awareness of the struggle shows that the Spirit of Christ is alive within us, making us sensitive to what is unholy. The unregenerate person may feel no conflict at all, but the believer feels discomfort when confronted by impurity. That discomfort itself is a sign of new life.
Understanding the Flesh #
The New Testament uses the word “sarx” to describe the flesh. This is more than the physical body; it is the old Adamic principle of life, self-centred and resistant to God. Even though our old man has been crucified with Christ, patterns of the flesh remain in memory, habit, and thought.
Paul described this tension in Romans 7 with deep honesty:
“For I do not understand my own actions. I am not practising what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. If I habitually do what I do not want to do, that means I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. So now, if that is the case then it is no longer I who do it, but the sin nature which lives in me.” — Romans 7:15–17 (AMP)
Paul identifies the persistence of the fleshly principle even in one who delights in God’s law. Yet the solution is not despair but recognising that Christ has already dealt with the root. The old Adamic identity has been crucified, even if the fleshly habits still seek expression.
The Renewed Mind #
The gate through which thoughts flow is the mind. If the mind is filled with old patterns, impurity finds room. If the mind is renewed, Christ’s life flows freely. Paul wrote:
“And do not be conformed to this world with its superficial values and customs, but be transformed and progressively changed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2 (AMP)
The Greek word “anakainosis” means renewal or making new again. The believer is called to replace lies with truth and fear with faith. When a thought arises, we expose it to the light of Scripture and bring it captive to Christ. In practice, this means asking: what does this thought imply about God, about me, about others? Then, by faith, we replace it with God’s Word. Over time, the mind becomes a garden filled with the seed of truth rather than weeds of impurity.
Walking by the Spirit #
The greatest safeguard against impure thoughts is living by the Spirit. Paul assured the Galatians:
“But I say, walk habitually in the Spirit, and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature.” — Galatians 5:16 (AMP)
Walking in the Spirit means daily dependence, moment-by-moment yielding, and constant awareness of Christ’s presence within. It is like choosing between two paths: one led by the flesh, producing anxiety and impurity, and one led by the Spirit, producing love, peace, and self-control. As believers abide in Christ, like branches in the vine, the life of the Spirit flows naturally, starving the desires of the flesh.
The Role of Confession and Grace #
Even the most mature believers stumble. When impure thoughts gain ground, the response must not be condemnation but confession. John assures us:
“If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, true to His own nature and promises, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 (AMP)
Confession is not despair but agreement with God’s truth. Grace is always available at the throne of God. The believer must not run from Him in shame but run to Him for cleansing and renewal.
Fixing the Eyes on Christ #
Victory comes not by focusing on the impurity itself but on Christ. The more attention is given to sin, the stronger it appears. The more attention is given to Christ, the weaker sin becomes. The writer to the Hebrews exhorted:
“Looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith.” — Hebrews 12:2 (AMP)
Fixing the gaze on Christ fills the mind with His purity, His truth, and His victory. Impure thoughts cannot dominate where Christ is enthroned in the imagination and desire.
Living from Christ’s Victory #
The battle with impure thoughts is real, but the victory is already secured in Christ. Temptation is not sin. The flesh persists but has been crucified. The mind can be renewed, the Spirit can guide, grace can cleanse, and Christ can fill the gaze. The journey of sanctification is not about self-effort but about yielding to the One who lives within.
Every believer is called to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. This reckoning is not theory but practice. Each day, we choose to stand in His finished work, walk in His Spirit, and fix our eyes on Him. In this way, even the most stubborn impure thought bows to the obedience of Christ, and the believer learns to live as a new creation in Him.
In Christ,
Godwin.
