²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26). So said Jesus. Sure, there is a benefit for living a life of sin—a person gains something from it, otherwise he wouldn’t do it. Adam gained something when he ate the forbidden fruit; he gained the forbidden knowledge of good and evil. The deception was that such knowledge, gotten from disobedience to God, was “a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise…” (Gen 3:6). They would be free of the restraint and “be like God” (Gen 3:5). It appeared to be a benefit to them, but it was deceptive. They lost everything.

The question is not whether there is a benefit in sin—there is. The real question is, what is the downside? The downside is death. And that is just not worth it, a price too high to pay. For Christians, the death issue has already been taken care of, in the death that Jesus died for us as our substitute. However, the principle still stands, and why would we voluntarily go back to doing the things that we can now see are detrimental to our spiritual lives? If sin brought death to us before we experienced Christ’s grace, then it certainly can’t be a benefit in any way to us now that we are justified.

Many have discovered the shame of falling back into a pre-justification way of life, indulging in sin as though it won’t matter. Giving in to anger separates friends and family. “Enjoying” the momentary benefits of illicit sexual activity alienates spouses who have vowed “until death parts us.” The temporary advantage of lying gives way to a reputation of being untrustworthy. Greed isolates a person and can never be satisfied. Alcohol or drug abuse destroys a person from the inside out, and can destroy loved ones. Divorce may give relief from a strained marriage, but it devastates children.

Sin in a Christian’s life kills spiritual vitality, murders the worshipping heart, extinguishes the soul’s joy, executes a person’s character, exterminates the fruit of the Spirit, assassinates relationships—sin brings a living death. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). It is only as we voluntarily submit to living the righteous life that we can truly live.

Lord, help me resist the constant temptation to give in to the deception of sin’s benefit. I don’t want to believe the lie, for it only leads to a living death.