Flee and Resist — The Twin Commands of Scripture
Scripture does not leave the believer guessing about how to respond when temptation rises. Two clear, complementary commands run throughout the New Testament: flee and resist. They are not optional suggestions; they are the God-appointed strategy for victory. First, flee. “Flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). “Flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). In the realm of sexual impurity, covetousness, and anything that functions as an idol, the Holy Spirit’s instruction is immediate withdrawal. Joseph did not stay in Potiphar’s house to “prove his strength”; he fled (Genesis 39:12). The man who lingers near the edge of sexual temptation, who keeps the phone nearby “just in case,” who continues to feed the eyes with images he knows are wrong, is disobeying a direct command. There is a time to stand and fight; there is also a time to run. For the lusts of the flesh, the time is always now. Second, resist. “Submit yourselves therefore to ...