What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Our Saviour taught,

10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 10:38 He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. 10:39 He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt. 9:37-39

It seems little is taught today about being a disciple to Christ. The overwhelming majority of "Christian" ministers are ignoring it. They teach that Jesus died on the cross so there is nothing for us to do but accept his sacrifice.

The devil loves when only a PART of the whole counsel of God is proclaimed. Once a would be disciple is washed from sins in the blood of Christ he begins a walk in the spirit. The devil and his instrument, the world is constantly attempting to sidetrack that walk.

The Christian life is empowered by the Holy Ghost indwelling yet is marked by self crucifiction. Paul uses himself as an example:

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. Gal. 2:20

The love of Christ in the heart is ever drawing us to abide in him. Yet it is not just automatic that we will do his will. The denying of self is by faith in Jesus nonetheless it is to be "lived out" in the flesh.

The message of denying self to follow him must be restored to its rightful place in todays Churches.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. Gal. 5:22-24

If they who HAVE crucified the flesh are those who belong to Christ what about those who have not?

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Watcman Nee wrote a book "Sit, Stand, Walk"

He bases this book on Ephesians, the book that explains how to be a mature Christian.
First we must sit, rest in the Lord and comprehend our riches in Christ. We need to understand that we are in Christ, we have access all the riches of our Father, in him by faith, we are well, whole, delivered, empowered.

Next we must walk the Christian life, developing our Christian Character, learning how to love others with Christian virtue, sharing the riches of Christ with others.

Finally, we must take a stand against the enemy of our souls and not allow him to steal what God has given us for ourselves and others.

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

We've taught people to turn away from self and to turn towards... standards. That never sticks.

We need to teach people to deny self... and then to grow into the very image and likeness of Jesus Himself.

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

I don't know about you, but from my understanding from reading posts on this board, it seems that people believe that they are automatically crucified to the flesh and the world when they get baptized, or when they "accept" Christ by "faith".

That when they believe that Jesus died for their sins, that they're forever covered under the blood, once they "turn" to Christ. And that they are not to do anything, or take part in any sanctification, or dying to sin, or denying our flesh, that Christ will automatically work, and do it for them, because if they do anything, it's work salvation, and they can't be saved by works, because they're saved by grace....

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Nope you got that wrong! I am one who believes that one is saved by grace through faith but one must live an overcoming life.

I don't believe that anything that I can do on my own can save me without the Holy Spirit being the agent of change.

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Self? What self?

(There. Happy now? :lol)

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Timmy you have issues :laffatu

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

:icecream

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Nope. You must be misunderstanding people on this board.

Sanctification is not long hair and raiment without embellishments. Sanctification is a condition of the heart.

Most of us are on a lifelong journey walking with Christ. Christ calls out to us to come to him. He tells us to take His yoke upon us...that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

So why do we have men and women trying to give us a heavy burden of doing this or that to be saved?

Of course we should want to die out to sin, or deny our flesh. Truth is...I've never seen too many OPs actually practice what they preach other than the outward appearance.

Re: What Happened To Denying Self?
 

Good question. To truly serve the Lord means to be his disciple. Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you everything!