What instructions does God give for handling our sinful passions?

Romans 7:5When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.

Galatians 5:24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Titus 2:12We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.

Titus 3:3Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

God’s Word identifies sinful passions as part of the old way of life that has been replaced by our new life in Christ. The Bible tells us of the presence of these tendencies and instructs us to “nail” them to Jesus’ cross, recognizing that his suffering on the cross gained us forgiveness for these sins. Practically, we don’t always recognize these responses immediately, and discipleship is the extended process of allowing God to point out these passions so we can crucify them.