What Happened To Denying Self?

[MarieA27]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

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?

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....