Page Suggestions: Bible Facts

What does the BIBLE say about Addictions

"Purity" Breaks the Cycle of Addiction

Many Christians battle with addictions in their life. Through Jesus, we have the ability to overcome them. But how you might ask? We must first understand what an addiction is. One definition given in a dictionary states, "An addict is one given over to a habit or a drug."

You did not wake up one morning and find yourself addicted to a substance, PORNOGRAPHY, SEX, FOOD, SMOKING, FIRE, etc. It first became a "personal custom" or something you chose to do. Over time it became more and more ingrained in your behavior that after a while you could mindlessly go to that behavior almost in a "zombie" like fashion. That is what is considered "giving oneself over" to something. As this habit grew in strength, it may have even started to invade other areas of your life. What once was a "beer after work with the guys" became just a cocktail at lunch and then maybe "one to start the day." Maybe your addiction isn't alcohol. One day at work a coworker called you over to their desk to "check out this hot website" they found. You might of thought to yourself, "My wife won't find out. What harm will it do?" Before long you had an uncontrollable urge to look at pornography every chance you could.

A pastor once said to me, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and make you pay more than you want to pay."

An addiction is a device of Satan to destroy your health, relationships and ultimately take your life. We are not to be ignorant of Satans devices. If we know there are traps out there trying to ensnare us we will avoid them if we are wise.

The opposite of an addiction is purity. The definition of purity in the Greek is:

As Paul writes to Timothy, he explains how to be an "example of the believers." Let's look closer at verse 12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in WORD, in CONVERSATION, in CHARITY, in SPIRIT, in FAITH, in PURITY.1 Timothy verse 12:

The Greek definition for the word "WORD" means:

3056 logos {log'-os}
• doctrine, teaching
• anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative

In "CONVERSATION":

391 anastrophe {an-as-trof-ay'}
• manner of life, conduct, behaviour

"CHARITY":

26 agape { ag-ah'-pay}
• brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence

"SPIRIT":

4151 pneuma { pnyoo'-mah}
• the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
• the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one ^[3] decides

"FAITH":

4102 pistis { pis'-tis}
• conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the New Testament of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it.

"PURITY":

47 hagneia { hag-ni'-ah}
• purity, sinlessness of life ^[4]