Dying to self or Denying self
What does the Bible mean by Denying self or dying to self?
How to Take Up Your Cross Daily & Follow Jesus
Luke 14:26-27
Denying self and dying to self are the keys to a successful Christian life. Dying to self is portrayed in
Scripture as one choice in the Christian life. It is the reality of a new birth; no one can come to Christ
unless he is willing to see his old life crucified with Christ and begin to live in obedience to Jesus. Jesus
describes lukewarm followers who try to live partly in the old life and partly in the new as those whom
He will spit out (Revelation 3:15–16). A lukewarm condition characterized the church of Laodicea as well
as many today. Lukewarm is an unwillingness to die to self and live for Christ. Death to self is not an
option for Christians; it is a choice that leads to eternal life.
How are Christians to Deny Self: Take Up their Cross Daily & Follow Jesus? What are we to Deny?
Believer in Jesus Christ is to Biblically Deny Self. In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, “Deny himself, Take Up Your
Cross Daily & Come Follow Me.” (Deny Self: Matthew 16:24-25, Mark 8:34-35, Luke 14:26-27). Many
preach unbiblical watered-down “Gospel” SELF LOVE & SELF-ESTEEM VS the TRUE GOSPEL OF
REPENTANCE & FAITH IN JESUS & TAKING UP YOUR CROSS DAILY & DENYING SELF & FOLLOWING JESUS.
Dying to self in the New Testament expresses the true Christian life; we take up our cross and follow
Christ. Dying to self is part of being born again; the old self dies and the new self comes to life (John
3:3–7). Not only are Christians born again when we come to salvation, but we also continue dying to self
as part of the process of sanctification. Dying to self is both a one-time and a lifelong process.
Jesus made it clear that if any would follow Him, they must deny themselves, giving up their
lives—spiritually, symbolically, and even physically, if necessary. This was necessary for being a follower
of Christ, who proclaimed that trying to save our earthly lives would result in losing our lives. Those who
would give up their lives for His sake would find eternal life. Jesus say that those who are unwilling to
sacrifice their lives for Him cannot be His disciples.
Anyone who wants to follow Jesus and to be his disciple must do two things. He must “deny himself”
and “take up his cross.” Luke clarifies that we are to take up our cross “daily.”
What does this mean?
To “deny” yourself means to say “No” to yourself and “Yes” to God. Paul is not talking about self-
restraint — forgoing earthly possessions, not eating certain foods, ignoring the world, etc.
The process of denial is “to humbly submit our will to God.” It is to go through life repeating the words
that Jesus said the night before he died. When he was praying in the garden, he said to God his Father,
“Not my will but Yours be done.” Millions of Christians have prayed what we call the “Lord’s Prayer.”
“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Not many do it or live it out!
WHOSOEVER WILL WORSHIP MINISTRIES
La Marque Texas 77568
Assoc: Pastor Wesley Fulton
Need Prayer call: 409/938-1799?
