Death to Self

This is a rather heavy topic--death to self--yet, it's the only way to fruitful living. Years ago, Logos produced a book by Earl Jabay that was entitled The Kingdom of Self. In this book, Earl told us that we need to overthrow the kingdom of self and replace it with the Kingdom of God. Obviously, this requires death to self.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:24-25). As with the corn of wheat, we must die [to self] in order to become fruitful.

The Apostle Paul put it this way: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, put Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

How does one die to the self-life? It is accomplished at least in part by letting the life of Christ well up within us and take over everything. This, of course, will require the annihilation of self-pity, self-defense, self-centeredness, and every form of selfishness. It is a matter of absolute surrender of everything to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Andrew Murray wrote, "Notice how Christ uses that word deny twice. He said to Peter the first time, "Deny self." He said to Peter the second time, "Thou wilt deny me." It is either of the two. There is no choice for us; we must either deny self or deny Christ. There are two great powers fighting each other--the self-nature in the power of sin, and Christ in the power of God. Either of these must rule within us.

"Self made the devil. He was an angel of God, but he wanted to exalt self. He became a devil in hell. Self was the cause of the Fall of man. Eve wanted something for herself, and so our first parents fell into all the wretchedness of sin. We, their children, have inherited an awful nature of sin" (From Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray, published as a Pure Gold Classic by Bridge-Logos Foundation).

Which kingdom do you serve? Are you in bondage to the kingdom of self, or are you crucified with Christ? Are you denying yourself or denying Christ?