Temptation and sin are related, but temptation itself isn’t sin. Jesus was tempted, but he didn’t yield to it. The world’s way is to resist temptation with our own will power without God. God’s solution though, is to concentrate instead on remaining led by the Holy Spirit at all times, as Jesus did. When his disciples asked him how they should pray, he included these words in his answer: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God… and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.“
Romans 6.13 KJV
Is eating too much food sin?
Yes! The word used in the Bible is “gluttony”. The Holy Spirit isn’t going to lead us to do harm to our own bodies. If you’re a Christian who’s seriously overweight, seek the Lord’s help with that now! Learn to hear his voice through the day, rather than the attraction of unhealthy foods.
Does Temptation control us, or does God?
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
1 Corinthians 6.12 NKJV
Paul was keenly aware of how we end up sinning. He points out in the verse above that the issue is whether or not the Holy Spirit is in control of our thoughts and actions. Anything that controls us other than the Holy Spirit is wrong in the sense that it’s other than what God intends for his children. If alcohol controls you, then to you alcohol is wrong. If tobacco or sweets or pornography or television or the Internet control you, then they too are wrong… to you! This is an important passage in scripture that even experienced Christians often overlook.
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit“.
Ephesians 5.18 KJV
This quote about alcohol can apply to food as well. Note that the issue is that you’re yielding your members to the draw of alcohol and not to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We can approach this by struggling against the behavior on our own, but God’s solution is to draw closer to him and let the Holy Spirit in us overcome the unwanted behavior.
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.“
Romans 6.13 KJV