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What does the Bible say about sacrifice yourself?

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The Bible calls believers to self-denying love and wholehearted service to God, not to seek harm for themselves or to earn salvation by sacrifice. Jesus Christ alone gave the perfect, atoning sacrifice for sinners, and His love becomes the pattern for His people. John 15:13 and 1 John 3:16 show that Christlike love willingly serves others at real cost. Romans 12:1 urges Christians to offer themselves as living sacrifices in grateful worship, while Luke 9:23-24 and Matthew 16:24-25 call them to deny themselves and follow Christ. Galatians 2:20 grounds this life in union with Christ, whose grace enables humble, loving obedience.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • John 15:13

    Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

  • 1 John 3:16

    By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

  • Romans 12:1

    Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

  • Hebrews 13:15-16

    [15] Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. [16] But don't forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

  • Luke 9:23-24

    [23] He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. [24] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

  • Philippians 2:4-8

    [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider it robbery to be equal with God, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

  • Matthew 16:24-25

    [24] Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

  • Mark 8:35

    For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's will save it.

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