As with anything in life, outside forces are trying to get us off the objective on which we are focused. We know that by settling for less than the desired outcome we seek is to live less than “our best life.”
For instance, if we are on a diet, we are tempted to consume something that is not the healthiest for us – like chocolate cake or donuts. Just because a thing is good to us doesn't mean it is good for us. Unfortunately, those things we crave and the temptation to consume those things can be intense. However, we must keep pushing forward if we desire to achieve our goals.
Similarly, as Christ followers, we have an objective to live according to God's statutes. It means living a life in His favor according to His plans. We have the most significant benefits promised to us as believers within those plans.
Unfortunately, this path is not the easiest to take because forces are working against us in our fleshly desires, tempting us to settle for pleasures outside of God's plan for us.
What is Temptation?
Temptation is the desire to do something wrong, harmful, and unwise. In addition, a temptation can be viewed as a situation where someone experiences a challenge or “test” in their obligations toward God. The test often determines if a person will choose fidelity or infidelity to God.
Fidelity to God is to walk according to His life for us… a life where He empowers us by His Spirit to live a life reflecting His values and demonstrating His love in the earth. It is not the easiest thing to do, especially when someone has wronged us. Moreover, it can be challenging to walk in God's values when it seems others are taking shortcuts and seeing immediate success.
And then there is our mental state of mind. We’re often tempted to give up when circumstances get complicated because of self-limiting beliefs. However, according to scripture, those who take those alternate routes of compromise will bring much sorrow into their prosperity and momentary happiness.
They may have material wealth but lack the mental and spiritual peace that comes with it. But in the plans of God, we may face opposition, but His blessing has no added sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22).
Infidelity to God is to give in to what makes our flesh feel good, not considering the plans of God. For example, God desires His followers to show love to all humanity. But giving in to the flesh is to get back at someone when they have angered us.
Going contrary to God’s plan is called sin. If we are honest, giving in to sin feels much better than ignoring the situation, smiling, walking away, and forgiving a person.
The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26 that we can be angry but not to sin. Yet the sin of seeking to get even and not spreading the love of Christ can feel so good and satisfying at the moment.
The thing with temptation is this: if it were not good to us, we could not be tempted by it. To illustrate this, I will share one of my temptations. I am a diabetic. Yet I love bread! I really love bread!
However, bread for the diabetic is not the best to consume. The carbs from the bread raise a person's blood glucose levels which can be very harmful to people with diabetes.
Our bodies have issues producing enough insulin to bring those numbers down to the appropriate levels. Therefore I know bread is not the best thing to eat, and I have to limit it if I eat it.
But I love it so much it can be a challenge not to overindulge, especially when eating out at a restaurant that serves bread as an appetizer.
No one said resisting or overcoming temptation would be easy, but the benefits of it far outweigh the temporary satisfaction. The Bible tells us so. Truth be told, temporary happiness will soon turn into a much larger problem in the end.
Just because we are tempted doesn’t mean it has to result in sin. Let's explore Bible verses about temptation and how we can resist and overcome them.
25 Bible Verses about Resisting or Overcoming Temptation
1. James 1:14-15
“But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.”
2. 1st Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”
3. John 14:15
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.”
4. Philippians 3:8
“But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ.”
5. 1 Timothy 6:11
“But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.”
6. Matthew 6:13
“And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]”
7. Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.”
8. Psalms 119:11
“Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”
9. Ephesians 6:10-12
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.”
10. Galatians 6:1
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.”
11. Galatians 5:16-17
“But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.”
12. 1st Peter 5:8-9
“But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.”
13. James 1:12
“Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” – James 1:12
14. James 4:17
“So, any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.”
15. Job 31:1
“I have made a covenant (agreement) with my eyes; how then could I gaze [lustfully] at another woman?”
16. Psalms 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.”
17. Psalms 97:10
“You who love the Lord, hate evil; He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers), He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.”
18. 2nd Timothy 2:22
“Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
19. Matthew 4:10
“Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
20. Hebrews 4:16
“Therefore, let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”
21. Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome and conquered by evil but overcome evil with good.”
22. Hebrews 2:14-18
“Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.
For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance]. Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind].
Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.”
23. 1st John 4:4
“Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God, and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].”
24. Philippians 1:6
“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”
25. Hebrews 11:24-25
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”
Final Words on Bible Verses about Resisting or Overcoming Temptation
If we are Christ followers who love God, we are to love Him and keep His commandments. In doing so, we follow His plans for our lives. This is similar to honoring our commitments to marriage or a steady relationship.
Our duty keeps us working toward a happy and fruitful outcome in the relationship, even in the face of temptation. Then, when the temptation comes, we can resist it because of the commitments we made in our hearts to our loved ones.
What is comforting is that we have the Spirit of God to guide us and empower us when those opposing choices are presented to us. But, unfortunately, those forces come wrapped in ways meant to entice us and get us to let our guards down and take the bait. Temptation is not always obvious.
Much like fishing, a hook is hidden in that bait; creating problems we were not bargaining for. However, we can resist and overcome temptations by remaining committed to God.
And if you want more inspirational bible verses, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 37 Bible Verses About Perseverance Through Hard Times
- 41 Bible Verses about Living with Anxiety & Fear
- 55 Bible Verses About Gratitude to Be More Thankful in Life
