Beginning with Grace
“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
Grace – let’s begin there. There’s grace for you. You’re not alone. Help is available.
The apostle Paul wrote those words to a church that had many issues, some of which were sexual sin. As he began his letter, he did not start it with a note of guilt, shame, disappointment, or disgust. He began with gratitude and God’s grace.
That’s where God begins with you – not with shame but with grace. The Bible says, “he gives grace generously” (James 4:6 NLT).
Change is possible
Maybe you’ve tried to stop but you can’t. Perhaps you had some short-term success, but it happened again. You feel caught in a cycle of guilt and shame and repeating behaviors you don’t want to do. You might feel like the apostle Paul, who said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:18–19 NLT).
If that’s you, there’s grace for you. Friend, change is possible. But the answer is not found in trying harder, beating yourself up, or hiding it and promising to change. It’s found in Jesus Christ. Only He can remove our shame and empower us by His grace to change.
“Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 7:24–25 NLT)
14 Biblical Truths to Help You
Break Free from Sexual Addiction
God loves you and has a heart of grace and compassion for you.
“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
(Psalm 145:8–9)
God wants you to regularly remind yourself of who He is.
“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.”
(Psalm 86:5 NLT)
God wants you to see yourself through His eyes.
“You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.”
(Isaiah 43:4 ESV)
God wants you to stay away from all sexual sin.
“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 NLT)
God wants you to run and flee from sexual sin.
“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT)
God placed our sin and guilt on Christ so we could be forgiven.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
(Isaiah 53:5–6)
God extends complete and total forgiveness to you.
“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
(Psalm 32:5 NLT)
God wants you in His presence—to cleanse you of the guilt and shame you feel.
“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
(Hebrews 10:22 NLT)
God wants you to replace the lies you’ve been led to believe with His truth.
“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
(Psalm 25:5)
God wants you to find your identity in Him—as His beloved child.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
(1 John 3:1)
God wants you to fight sin—avoiding and getting rid of things that tempt you.
“So if your eye – even your good eye – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away … And if your hand – even your stronger hand – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”
(Matthew 5:29–30 NLT)
God wants you to seek accountability.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17)
God can use counselors to help you find victory over sexual addiction.
“For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
(Proverbs 24:6 ESV)
God wants you to help others who struggle with sexual addiction.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Galatians 6:1–2)
Helpful Resources for You
Video Course
No matter how tangled a person is in the web of addiction, the Lord offers hope and a way out. This video course provides a context for life change – to study and reflect on what God’s Word says about sexual addiction and receive practical guidance from experienced counselors to find healing and freedom in Christ.
Keys for Living Book
It may have started as a “harmless” interest but now it’s out of control. This book will show you how to escape the tangled web of sexual addiction. With God’s help, you can overcome temptation and experience lasting victory.
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