To Deny Self 4 When we identify self or I or ego to be what it is, a personal concept of oneself as being independent of God, then we can appreciate the importance of denying self in order to be a true follower of Christ. A follower of Christ is essentially one who lives and walks in absolute dependence on Christ. He does what Christ does and goes where Christ goes. This is only possible with someone who is in full submission to Christ and in whom Christ lives His life. But the sinful nature with which everyone is born coupled with a self concept of oneself makes it impossible for one to submit to the Lord. To reconcile rebellious humanity to Himself, God crucified and destroyed self including self embodiment in the old sinful nature of man with Christ on the Cross. When we accept the work of the Cross, we actually personalize the truth of the crucifixion of ourselves with Christ. We take up our cross in Christ. Our self or I becomes crucified with Christ. Hence, we are able to deny self, to affirm that our self is non-existent. All who believe and accept the crucifixion with Christ of the self or I which they once believed they were are actually denying self and taking up or acknowledging their personal identification with the Cross of Christ. It is important that we understand this wonderful truth because many teach and perceive self-denial in discipleship to be self denying self. But the idea of self denying self is confusing. And moreover self will not and cannot deny itself. But first one must understand what self is and understand the main purpose of the crucifixion of Christ was for God to crucify self and raise up a new selfless man in Christ to exist and live in absolute dependence on Christ. Hence, having become a new selfless being in Christ we can deny self, affirm self is no longer associated with us, and go on to live the Christ-life in us in absolute reliance on Christ as true disciples of Christ. Romans 6:4-6: For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 06:34:12 +0000
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