To Live We Must Die

The life of a Christian is living, and also it is dying. Before we can be born again and live the new life in Christ, we must die to self and to the world. This dying process is painful…it hurts us.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Rom. 6:6-8.

Paul also writes, “That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die.” 1 Cor. 15:36.

“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.

If there would be something good in us, then only the evil part should die, and the good part be preserved. Apostle Paul writes, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” Rom. 7:18.

In a natural man, that is, in an unconverted person, whether he professes religion or not, dwelleth no good thing. His every motive, every desire, and every deed is prompted by selfishness.

He likes to be noticed and appreciated. He wants to gratify his flesh, his eyes, his ears, and give to himself beautiful things to enjoy. He is seeking security, ease and comfort. He is easily offended and dissatisfied. He loves himself, he has made himself his ideal. Even his desire for eternal life is prompted by selfishness.

“There are those who for a time are successful in the struggle against their selfish desire for pleasure and ease. They are sincere and earnest, but grow weary of protracted effort, of daily death, of ceaseless turmoil. Indolence seems inviting, death to self repulsive; and they close their drowsy eyes, and fall under the power of temptation instead of resisting it.” GW, p. 135.

Sis. White writes, “indolence seems inviting.” That means freedom from pain, laziness, love of ease and comfort seem inviting, and, “death to self” is repulsive. No one enjoys the death to self, because it hurts us. It means to carry a cross and to deny ourselves things that we naturally would enjoy. It means to deny to ourselves food and drink that are not healthy, also worldly entertainment; it means to turn off the television and to read the Bible instead. It means to deny to ourselves the enjoyable things that money could buy and give this money to the missionary work instead. It means to deny to ourselves the company of those that do not love God.

Paul writes, “I die daily.” 1 Cor. 15:31. Every time we deny to ourselves things that we would naturally enjoy, we die to selfishness.

“Paul’s sanctification was a constant conflict with self. Said he, ‘I die daily’. His will and his desires every day conflicted with duty and the will of God. Instead of following inclination, he did the will of God, however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature.” Test. Vol. 4, p.299.

This dying process continues every day. It is called the narrow way because every step that we take forward requires self denial. It is a continual struggle against self and selfish desires. The old man struggles to come back. Old desires and habits keep tempting us and it is a constant struggle to keep them away.

Paul recognized this danger and he writes, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, but not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9:26, 27.

There is a constant struggle between our mind and our flesh. And so often the flesh is the winner and the mind becomes servant to the flesh. When the stomach wants a certain kind of food, the mind becomes active trying to supply it. When the eyes want to see certain kinds of pictures or programs, the mind quickly tries to satisfy them. This means to lose the battle.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Rom. 8:13.

We do not have just one tree of knowledge that is forbidden to us, but we have many of them on every side. That is why John writes to us, “Love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15, 16

Sister White asks a question and also answers it. “Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying, humble life? Because professed Christians are not dead to the world. It is easy living after we are dead.” Test. Vol. 1, p. 131.

Now we understand the next quotation from the Spirit of Prophecy. “The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ. 6 BC,p. 1075.

This is the reason why many professed Christians harbour bitterness, ill feelings, and resentment towards others. If they have difficulty loving their brothers and sisters in faith, how could they love their enemies?

Haman felt resentment and ill feelings towards Mordecai, and by it he only accomplished his own death.
Now the important question is, how can we die to self and to the world? To begin, we need daily Bible reading; it is like a filter to purify our thoughts. By beholding Christ we change to His image. Never should we lose sight of Him. Constant prayer keeps evil thoughts away from our minds.

Fasting gives us self-control over our flesh. Missionary work is a powerful weapon to destroy selfishness in us.
By practicing all this, Paul gained victory over self and the love of the world.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but 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.” Gal. 2:20.

Paul had died and Christ lived in him. This must be also our experience or we will never be able to sing the song of victory with the 144,000.
“The Christian life is a battle and a march. In this warfare there is no release; the effort must be continuous and persevering. It is by unceasing endeavour that we maintain the victory over temptations of Satan.” MH, p. 453.

If it is your sincere desire to die to self and to the world that the new birth can take place in you, then God has promised to help you in the process. To help you die as Paul did, God has to place you in fiery trials. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 1:7.

Jesus said, “It must needs be that offenses come: but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” Matt. 18:7
“God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives.” MB, p. 117.

“These self-sufficient souls are not few, and they have lessons to learn by hard experience of discomfiture and defeat. Few have the grace to welcome such an experience, and many backslide under the trial.” TM, p. 169.

In these fiery trials and persecutions something ugly and bad has died and something beautiful has been created. A noble character is not gained by chance, nor can it be inherited. It is gained by strict self-discipline, and by stern effort. When tears dim your eyes and your heartaches, and sorrows seem to be your lot, and death seems preferable to life, then something beautiful is created. Peter writes, “Being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” 1 Pet. 2:24

When we understand the only process there is to sanctification then we will say like Paul, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10