What Happened To Denying Self?

[Aquila]

People don't seem to realize that Regeneration takes place the instant one is baptized with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ Jesus Himself comes to reside in their being.

Sanctification is the life long process of realizing the reality of the indwelling Christ and thereby being transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus Himself.

If one can continue in sin without reservation or sense of guilt, condemnation, or shame... they haven't experienced regeneration. Therefore, for the unregenerated, merely aspiring to change behavior into religious forms and fashions is nothing but "getting religion".

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by MarieA27

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....

Yes the majority here believe just what you said at least going by what is posted. They have accepted the false Evangelical Protestant teaching. Jesus is trying to stir his people to action. The Christ of scripture calls his own to depart from iniquity and overcome sin. Denying self is absolutely essential to that.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by navygoat1998

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.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

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.

Hardly anyone that actively posts here teaches the little Pentecostal standards like no beards or trimming hair. What I see is that many here once they find out their old Pastor taught wrong about this they spend untold years of their life crying about it. As if thats all thats ever mattered!

Yes I am going extreme but its to make a point.

Once a disciple understands most of this walk has to do with the inner man they then need to actually beginning to RUN THE RACE as Paul said he did. The real meat of discipleship can then begin.

The new wave of Pentecostals who have declared their freedom from exaggarated "standards" now need to understand to Christ there is only ONE STANDARD.

BE YE PERFECT EVEN AS MY FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT. Matt. 5:48

Instead of the countless posts about how hard Pentecostals made it for them they (and all of us) need to consider that Christ Jesus does have commandments that he requires of his people. And that he reveals himself to those who do them.

Jesus is the one who said we must deny ourself and follow him. Mostly heart issues for sure. As far as practicing what is preached we all must do this. If 99%
of Pentecostals are playing the hypocrite that does not excuse the 1% from doing the will of God.

There are more tares than wheat. They are planted by satan for this cause. To get true Christians confused. They wont obey the word nor love the brotherhood. Then the weak Christian reasons "Gee I guess if they can get away with it it must be ok".

"I guess its not really so serious as it seems in the scriptures after all everyone feels this way".

The true Christian must stay focused on Christ himself and his teaching. The very fact people challenge teaching like this proves the majority are not being taught sound doctrine.

Rather than being something burdensome this is very basic Christian teaching.

[Michael The Disciple]

People don't seem to realize that Regeneration takes place the instant one is baptized with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ Jesus Himself comes to reside in their being.

I think most of us see that.

Sanctification is the life long process of realizing the reality of the indwelling Christ and thereby being transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus Himself.

Its true we are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. However if one chops off the great amount of scripture teaching on what we (empowered by the Spirit) must do they will never really be changed.

The Apostle Paul thought it important to say things like this to the saints of God.

Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 3:6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 3:7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; 3:8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. Col.3:5-8

Paul was inspired of Christ to tell these saints who were spirit filled they needed to put to death things that were still tempting them. Because they had the mighty Holy Ghost power he expected them to do this.

It was God working in them both to will and do his good pleasure. YET THEY were told to do it. Thats where todays preaching corrupts the gospel. By leaving out the fact there are things a saint must do to walk with God.

If one can continue in sin without reservation or sense of guilt, condemnation, or shame... they haven't experienced regeneration. Therefore, for the unregenerated, merely aspiring to change behavior into religious forms and fashions is nothing but "getting religion".

The new wave Pentecostals following the Evangelical Protestant doctrine like to make it seem as those who teach what Christ and the Apostles taught are just Pharisees and "religous".

If the Holy Ghost baptism merely set on on "auto pilot" Christ would not have needed to give commandments of things to do or not do. His teachings are full of them.

The neglected part of the great commission:

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 28:19 Go,* and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matt 28:18-20

Christ commanded the apostles to teach us to DO ALL HE HAD COMMANDED.

The Protestant Evangelical cults say "not so lord"! You have done it all! Im on "auto" and if I try to deny myself to do your will I would be adding works"!

So this spirit has almost entirely prevailed in the Pentecostal movement. Partly because several generations of Pentecostals were themselves snared in some false standards teaching. They have disillusioned many to the life and power of Christ.

Yet one cannot throw the blame on them and feel they will not have to give account to Christ concerning his commands.

[Jack Shephard]

I tried denying myself, but myself didn't like it.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Jack Shephard

I tried denying myself, but myself didn't like it.

And it never will. It works best if our faith tells says this:

6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:10-11

Let our faith be that we are dead to sin! Then go from there. Many start from the position they will never be done with sin in this life. They say "We all sin every day".

Denying self is the battle of faith to keep our lives in tune with what scripture says about a saint.

Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 1:11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1-11

[seekerman]

Don't forget the part about hating your family too. Deny yourself, hate your family. Oh yeah, and carry your cross. Anything else we've overlooked?

Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Maybe one or two out of three ain't bad.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by seekerman

Don't forget the part about hating your family too. Deny yourself, hate your family. Oh yeah, and carry your cross. Anything else we've overlooked?

Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Maybe one or two out of three ain't bad.

If you forsake all it will cover everything. If one did not know this is basic Christianity they might think you are being sarcastic toward Christ.

But really you prove my point. Since these things are very rarely taught it sounds foreign to people tho its the words of our Saviour.

[KeptByTheWord]

The death of self-will is not something that is a "one time" experience, like many Christians are led to believe. Self has to die on a daily basis. This is something easily ignored in the Christian walk with the Lord, because it requires so much of us. It is more fun to indulge our flesh than to deny it. It is not a popular doctrine because our flesh doesn't like it. But if we want to leave pleasing, overcoming lives, then our will must be surrendered to the Lord.

There is a price to pay for an overcoming life walking with the Lord, but eternal life is definitely worth that price!