What sacrifices will you make to avoid sin?

I. THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN

Sin, as conveyed throughout Scripture, represents humanity’s rebellion against the holiness and perfect will of God. The Berean Standard Bible consistently warns that unchecked sin disrupts fellowship with the Creator, harms us and others, and ultimately hinders true worship. Romans 3:23 affirms, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” signifying that every person is born into this predicament and needs a Savior.

The Bible underscores that sin brings spiritual and physical consequences. Romans 6:23 declares, “For the wages of sin is death,” illustrating that sin’s natural result is separation from God, which left unresolved leads to eternal judgment. Such weighty realities drive home how crucial it is to avoid sin at all costs, even if that avoidance requires substantial sacrifices.

II. THE CALL TO SACRIFICE FOR HOLINESS

When Jesus teaches about sin, He conveys the radical extent to which believers should go in order to avoid it. In Mark 9:43, He proclaims, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into hell...” Though figurative in its imagery, the directive shows the seriousness with which sin must be addressed—no sacrifice is too great to uphold holiness before God.

1. A Personal Decision

Believers are urged to make personal commitments to pursue purity. Romans 12:1 exhorts, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God...” This teaching encourages an ongoing willingness to deny sinful desires, presenting ourselves fully to God’s service rather than indulging in harmful practices.

2. Daily Self-Denial

In Luke 9:23, Jesus states, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Avoiding sin involves continuous attitudes of surrender and self-discipline. This daily sacrifice divorces us from complacency and shapes us into cautious guardians of our own hearts.

III. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICE TO AVOID SIN

Scripture offers numerous portraits of individuals making sacrifices—both large and small—to uphold righteousness and avoid deviation from God’s standards.

1. Joseph’s Flight from Temptation (Genesis 39)

Sold into Egypt, Joseph found himself in a situation ripe for moral compromise when Potiphar’s wife enticed him. His refusal (Genesis 39:9: “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”) shows a readiness to lose social standing or comforts to preserve holiness. Archeological findings in Egypt’s administrative records corroborate an established system of slavery and servants, giving a historical backdrop that aligns with the biblical account of Joseph’s time there.

2. Daniel’s Refusal of Royal Indulgences (Daniel 1)

Daniel sacrificed royal luxuries to honor God’s dietary commands. He and his friends requested a simpler fare (Daniel 1:8: “Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself…”). Ancient Babylonian records and the ruins of the Neo-Babylonian empire illustrate the grandeur of that era, making Daniel’s sacrifice all the more significant and historically tangible.

3. Paul’s Disciplinary Approach (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Paul writes, “I discipline my body and make it my slave…”, describing a life of self-imposed limits to avoid sin and remain faithful in ministry. To Paul, no comfort outweighed the urgency of living unstained by wrongdoing.

IV. PRACTICAL SACRIFICES TO AVOID SIN

Avoiding sin typically calls for concrete, practical choices that may require relinquishing personal attachments or privileges.

1. Severing Unhealthy Relationships

1 Corinthians 15:33 cautions, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” Friendships and associations can unduly influence choices. In some cases, distancing oneself from people who promote ungodly behavior—even if inconvenient or painful—can preserve moral integrity.

2. Renouncing Harmful Habits

Whether addictive substances, entertainment choices, or questionable activities, certain habits must be voluntarily abandoned if they lead to sin. Matthew 5:29 intensifies this point: “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away…”

3. Yielding Personal Freedoms

Some believers choose to give up neutral freedoms for the sake of not stumbling into sin. Romans 14 details how stronger believers may relinquish certain liberties so as not to endanger their own conscience or cause others to fall. Modern parallels might include refraining from certain media or social environments that, while not overtly sinful, pose a risk for temptation.

4. Restructuring Time and Priorities

A commitment to prayer, Scripture study, and service to others can mean sacrificing leisure or personal goals. This reallocation of time helps cultivate an atmosphere of devotion that sets one’s life apart from sinful impulses. Hebrews 12:1 urges, “let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles.”

V. THE HOLY SPIRIT’S EMPOWERMENT

Though the sacrifices mentioned are substantial, Scripture promises divine assistance. Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Avoiding sin is not about human self-effort alone; it involves relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit for conviction and transformation.

Over manuscripts discovered at Qumran (the Dead Sea Scrolls) show consistent testimony to Israel’s laws and the prophetic calls to righteousness, supporting the biblical portrayal that God’s people have always required divine guidance—and to make meaningful sacrifices—to maintain holiness.

VI. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

Even with the best efforts, people inevitably err and fall into sin. First John 1:9 offers assurance: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” True repentance involves a change of heart and direction, reinforced by the willingness to sacrifice anything that obstructs wholehearted faithfulness.

VII. MODERN CONTEXT AND APPLICATION

Today’s world presents expanded temptations through technology, media, and shifting cultural norms. Yet the principle of sacrificial living remains unchanged. Key steps might include installing protective software on devices, creating accountability systems, and restructuring schedules to limit unguarded time.

Historical and archaeological landmarks—from sites like Sodom and Gomorrah’s suspected ruins evidencing catastrophic destruction by intense heat, to the well-preserved biblical manuscripts—underscore the sober warning that sin is real, its consequences are severe, and living in holiness requires vigilant, sacrificial discipline.

VIII. CONCLUSION

Answering the question “What sacrifices will you make to avoid sin?” can be distilled into a clear biblical principle: No worldly gain is worth spiritual rupture with God. From eliminating unhealthy influences to denying personal desires, the call is to relinquish whatever stands between a believer and obedience.

This pathway is humbling and, at times, costly. Yet Scripture, confirmed by historical and archaeological testimony, shows that a holier path is indeed possible. Through prayer, repentance, and the transformational work of the Holy Spirit, believers can walk in freedom, ready to sacrifice anything that might lead them astray, all so they may glorify God and remain in His abiding presence. As Romans 12:2 exhorts, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” so that every sacrifice reflects a heart set upon pleasing Him.