As Christians, we are by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body. Romans 8:12-13 “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” I understand that none of us can put to death the deeds of the body with our own strength. We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit of God. And yet, you have a part to play in removing sin from your life. Jesus said in Matthew 5:29-30 “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” If necessary, pluck out your eye or cut off your hand to remove the cause of sin from your life. The principle is that whatever in your life causes you to sin, remove it. It is better for you to remove sin causing things from your life than that you be cast into hell. Let us look at some things in your life that might cause you to sin.
People in your life might cause you to sin. While you should be a good influence to others to bring them to Christ, they may also be a bad influence on you to cause you to sin. 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” If you keep company with those who do evil, they can corrupt you to follow their ways. Their evil speech may influence you to copy their speech. Their lust for the things of this world may influence you to also lust for the things of this world. Their bad habits may become your bad habits. They may convince you to join them in some evil practice. The Israelites were told to destroy the people in the land of Canaan and not make covenants with them because of the potential that they would be a snare to the Israelites (Exodus 34:12-16). The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” If other people in your life cause you to sin, end your relationship with them, if possible. It is better that you remove their influence for you to sin than that you would be cast into hell.
Most people have access to the internet, either on a computer or on their phone. You can find much useful information via the internet. You can have communication with friends and loved ones through social media. But the internet can also cause you to sin. It can certainly cause you to waste your time and money. It can bring you false ideas and doctrines. It can bring you sexual immorality through pornography. Because of the easy access to images and information that are evil, the internet can cause you to sin. If that is the case with you, I encourage you to cut it off and cast it from you. End your use of the internet. Like the internet, television has the capability for good. But like the internet, it also has the potential to be a source of sin in some of the same ways as the internet. If television causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you.
Places that you visit might also cause you to sin. If going to a bar or business that serves alcoholic drinks cause you to get drunk, don’t go to the bar. If a casino or other location of gambling causes you to gamble away your money, then don’t go to these places. If some store causes you to buy things that you don’t need or can’t afford or are evil, then don’t go to that store. If visiting a licentious city causes you to commit sin in any way, don’t go to that city. I remember the time when my parents and I drove through the city of Las Vegas; my godly father hated the evil of that place so much that he was extremely nervous in just driving through the city. If a place causes you to sin, “cut it off and cast it from you.”
You may think of other things in your life that cause you to sin. Most of the things that cause you to sin do so because you are tempted to love the world or the things in the world. 1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.” The real answer is to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” It is in your mind and heart where you decide to either love the things of the world or love God and present your body as a living sacrifice to Him.
Until you reach the state of loving God with all your heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37), there may be things in our life that cause you to sin. My encouragement to you is to cut these things from your life and “cast” them from you. It is better that these things be out of your life than that you sin and be cast into hell.