Death to Self

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.

If we think we have escaped idolatry as NT believers, we may need to think again. We may not make idols from silver and gold with our own hands…but we run the same risk of making God in an image we create in our minds and not who He really is.

Genesis 1:26-28 – We were created in the image and likeness of God, not the other way around. What we many times fall into, is the trap of making God in our own image.

We take our opinions, experiences, etc. and we form an image of God based upon how we feel instead of what God’s Word really says.

The difficult reality is that most the time, we can find scripture to back up or support our opinion of who God is.

Perhaps the greatest thing keeping us from being made and formed into His image…is our false perception of who God is. If we can’t see Him for who He really is, then we can’t see ourselves for who we really are.

2 Corinthians 3:13–18 (NLT)

We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Jesus removed the veil…but when we hold on to our opinions and our perception of God is based upon past experiences and not the whole truth of God’s Word…we put the veil back on.

The veil doesn’t block our view of God…it distorts our view of God. And we begin to behold a false view of Him…and therefore remain in a false view of who we are called and destined to be IN CHRIST.

The veil…our distorted view of God…is taken away IN CHRIST. But to experience NEW LIFE IN CHRIST…I have to GIVE UP MY OLD LIFE.

THE PATH TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS DEATH TO SELF

We know that we are a NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST!!!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB95)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

We LOVE QUOTING THIS SCRIPTURE. But we forget the context and what it’s really saying. Let’s read the preceding verses.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (NLT)

...Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

We’ve said all along in this series that what we really want is for our thoughts, feelings, and actions to look like Christ. To be made new again in His image.

The way to have new thoughts and new feelings and new actions…is to put to death the old ones.

THE PATH TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS DEATH TO SELF

APPLICATION

1) Deny yourself and live for Jesus

Matthew 16:24–25 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Other translations – deny yourself.

I can’t live for myself anymore. I have to live for Him. There’s no neutral ground.

I can’t have my way and His way….I must submit my ways to His ways.

DREAMS, DESIRES, & DELIGHTS

Death of a dream

Psalm 37:4 (NASB95)

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

THE PATH TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS DEATH TO SELF

2) Put off the old nature and put on the new nature

Ephesians 4:17–24 (NLT)

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Any part of my nature that doesn’t line up with God’s nature…I have to THROW THAT AWAY.

Put off FEAR and put on God’s LOVE

Put off PRIDE and put on HUMILITY

Put off GREED and put on GIVING and GENEROSITY

3) Put to death the deeds of the flesh

Romans 8:5–9 (NLT)

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.

Romans 8:12–14 (NLT)

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

I WON’T PUT TO DEATH SOMETHING I’M FRIENDS WITH. SIN IS NO LONGER MY FRIEND.

Galatians 5:19-21 TPT

The behavior of the self-life is obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, 20 chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, 21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

We put to death the deeds of the flesh by focusing on the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22–23 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

THE PATH TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS DEATH TO SELF

Ultimately, we know these truths. We’ve heard them over and over. But it comes down to trust.

Do I trust God enough to give up everything that once brought me a temporary pleasure, sense of security, sense of self…

We are afraid to put to death the self-seeking nature because it’s all many of us know.

When we hold on to our self-life what we are saying is that we trust ourselves more than we trust God.

We resist what we fear, and we fear what we don’t know or don’t understand

Proverbs 3:5–8 (NASB95)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

LANDING

THE PATH TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS DEATH TO SELF

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

You are a new creature in Christ. Changed into His glorious image…Greek word metamorphoo

Metamorphosis – caterpillar to butterfly

When the caterpillar goes into the cocoon…or chrysalis…it literally digests itself.

Enzymes are released that disintegrates all of its tissues…so it can transform into a new creature now called a butterfly.

It goes through a death of its former self so it can take on a new form.

In Christ…you’re a new creature.

As silly as it would be for a butterfly to spend the rest of its life on the ground crawling around and scrounging for food…that’s how silly it is for us to remain living the way we live.

Romans 12:2 (NASB95)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Your thoughts and feelings and actions that are conformed to the world…your worries, your fears, your lusts, your greed, your rage…is keeping you grounded.

Your old way of life, conformed to the image of the world is keeping you attached to this world, when your destiny and new nature is being attached to heaven.

THE PATH TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS DEATH TO SELF

We won’t be scared to die to our self-life when we understand what’s waiting on the other side is His resurrection life.

When I die to self:

I get to exchange the SELF-LIFE for the SPIRIT-LIFE

I get to exchange my perspective (earth) for God’s perspective (heaven)

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