Sensual: The Unrestrained Pursuit of Fleshly Pleasure

Sensuality is appetite without boundaries — the pursuit of physical pleasure that has slipped the reins of self-control. This article considers how unrestrained desire takes hold, what Scripture says about it, and how to live a disciplined, Spirit-led life instead.

What is sensuality?

Sensuality is a loss of control over one's passions and evil desires. The largely unrestrained catering to the fleshly appetite includes not just the actual activities — be it over-eating or excessive devotion to a pastime or sport — but also the attitudes and thought life, such as mental adultery (Mt 5:27-28).

If an action is sinful, then desiring it is sinful as well

The sensual desires resident within humanity drive so much of modern society into behaviours which are contrary to God's standards. These shortsighted, selfish cravings have little regard for others or eternity; they show a lack of discipline and self-control, with no serious thought being given to the reality of the life to come. Rather, people just live for 'me' and the present. Paul warned that in the last days people would be lovers of themselves and of pleasure, more than lovers of God (2 Tim 3:1-4). The Bible also outlines the digression of those enslaved by sensuality, which leads to sexual perversions and eventually a reprobate mind (Rom 1:21-32).

The Bible's remedy: live by the Spirit

The Bible's message is, "Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature… those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Rom 13:14; Gal 5:24). We are to put off the old way of life and replace it with the new (Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:9-10). So "live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature", for these two natures are contrary to each other (Gal 5:16-17).

What areas of my life must I be disciplined in?

Consider yourselves dead to sin: those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God, and those who practise this lifestyle will not inherit eternal life (Rom 6:2,11, 8:4,8; Gal 5:19-21). Sensual desires are not to control a Christian; rather, we are to live for the will of God. We are answerable to God for all we do, so we need to be disciplined — like Job, who 'made a covenant with his eyes' to avoid lust (Job 31:1; Rom 14:12; 1 Pet 4:3).

From the beginning, God intended mankind to rule — over creation, and over the appetites within. He warned Cain that sin "desires to have you, but you must rule over it" (Gen 4:7). A person without self-control, Scripture says, is like a city whose walls are broken down — exposed and defenceless against every attack (Prov 25:28). To be controlled by the flesh is to surrender that God-given authority, letting impulse make our decisions for us.

The believer's position is the opposite: "Everything is permissible for me — but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Cor 6:12). Paul modelled this discipline, disciplining his body and keeping it under strict control so that he would not be disqualified (1 Cor 9:25-27). Self-control is not merely willpower; it is the fruit of the Spirit growing within us (Gal 5:22-23), as God's grace trains us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled lives (Titus 2:11-12). If the Spirit of God governs us, the flesh need never again rule.

We are to be the master, not the servant

A gift to be rightly managed

Sensuality, in the sense of the senses and physical intimacy, is a gift of God — but it must be rightly managed to be enjoyed (Prov 5:18; SOS 2:7). When sensitivity is lost, people give themselves over to sensuality, indulging in all kinds of impurity with a continual lust for more (Eph 4:18-19). Their hearts are hardened and they transgress the boundaries God has given for our protection and blessing.

Reflection and Application:

Ask God to reveal which appetite most easily masters you, and name it honestly.
Follow Job's example: make a definite 'covenant' — set boundaries for what you watch, think and do.
Practise 'put off / put on' — replace each sensual habit with a Spirit-led alternative.
Walk by the Spirit daily through prayer and Scripture, so that desire is ruled rather than ruling.