What does it mean to DIE to SELF?
Throughout the New Testament we learn the true essence
of the Christian life means to take up our cross and follow Christ.
Dying to self is part of being born again, because when the
Old Self Dies 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.
This means that dying to self is not only a one-time event,
but a lifelong process.
Jesus spoke repeatedly to His disciples about taking up their cross
(meaning an instrument of death) and following Him, and that this means
denying themselves, spiritually, symbolically, and even physically,
if necessary. This was a prerequisite for being a follower of Christ,
who proclaimed that trying to 'save' their earthly lives would
result in losing their lives. He then went so far as to say that
those who are unwilling to sacrifice their lives for Him cannot be His disciples.
When we are baptized, the action of being immersed in water symbolizes
dying to all our sins and being buried with Christ,
and coming out of the water is a picture of Christ’s resurrection.
Water purifies and is a symbol of cleansing and renewal which identifies
us with Christ in His death and resurrection, portraying symbolically
the whole life of the Christian as a dying to self and living for and I Him.
My friend, dying to self is not an option for Christians —
It ’s A Choice That Leads To Eternal Life.
Have you crucified yourself to Christ,
or are you still living in this world for yourself?
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