What does this make you think of? Sin. The exact same principle applies. Philippians 2:12 says we must "work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling." It does not say we can lazily sit back and expect sin to to take care of itself. We cannot just ignore the sinful issues in our life and expect them to go away on their own. Although in some cases deliverance can be instantaneous, realistically we must continually work at keeping habitual sins at bay.
How do we keep addictive sins from accumulating as deep as the dust on a neglected bookshelf? First, and most important to remember, you cannot do it on your own! John 15:4-5, Jesus reminds us, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Apart from help from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we are unlikely to have permanent success on our own. That is why so many addicts return to their vices after claiming victory, because they do not allow Jesus to take control of their life and use His Holy Spirit to fill in the void that addiction has left. They still feel empty and hopeless even after they have done their best to take control of their sin, but since they are still denying the love of Jesus, the hole in their heart remains and therefore, they return to their sins.
2 Peter 2:22 puts it this way, "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
Although this verse has to do with those who have "known the way of righteousness" (in verse 21) and then backslidden, the same concept can be said for those who claim to have gotten rid of sin but still live in rebellion to the Lord. You are allowing the dust to permeate your heart and soul over and over again until you surrender yourself to Jesus and allow Him to make you clean every single day!
Even when you allow Jesus to take control of your sinful nature, you still must be proactive in battling your temptations. If your addiction is pornography, get rid of your source of porn (movies, Internet, etc.), just as you would remove the alcohol from your home if you were trying to quit drinking. If you find yourself perpetually angry and fighting with others, stay off of social media if you feel it will tempt you to lose your temper and displease the Lord.
Remember what I Corinthians 10:13 promises, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." So you never have an excuse to say you were not able to simply say no and walk away from your sin.
You may need to seek personal or professional Godly council. As Provers 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Which means it is always a good idea to find someone trustworthy to whom you can be accountable. And pray for one another and encourage one another in living for the Lord.
If you are trying to claim victory over sin, especially ones that deal with addiction, you need to find something to fill in the gaps left by the sin you have purged yourself from or you will fall backwards and need to fill in the lonely, desperate, hopeless holes in your life. First, admit you have a problem, ask God to forgive your sins and surrender your will to Him. Daily make the decision to live a life of honor. No one is capable of being perfect, but it is important that we all strive to walk down paths of righteousness. God sees your effort and your heart and that is what pleases Him most. Fill in the gaps with Bible study, Godly preaching, praise music, etc. Do not rely on ungodly entertainment to be of any assistance as it filled with all the issues that only contribute to the problem. Secular music and books, television, movies, and even Calvinist preachers will all tell you that your sins are perfectly normal and acceptable and never encourage you to give them up. They do not care about your soul or if you succeed in cleaning up your life, but God does and He will be your champion in helping you find permanent victory over sin.
I will end this by posting Psalm 51:1-17. Print it out or memorize it and make it your daily prayer as you work on keeping the sin from accumulating in your life.
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:1-4; 6-13; 16-17
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