Die to self. What does this mean? I think there are two differing opinions. and which way we slant, is which gospel we will follow..
I think this would be a good place to start our discussion.
To me, to die to self is an act of faith; having faith in Christ and the cross. I feel it's like THE thing to believe in above all else.
It means that the "you" who existed prior to Christ no longer exists after Christ (
Matthew 16:25). He/she died. Really, really
died (
Galatians 2:20). And he/she was not resuscitated.
I feel it means the you who once identified with the family, culture and heritage exemplified by your surname *no longer exists* (
Matthew 12:48). It means the you here, now, did not come from Adam like all the rest do (
John 8:23). The you who's here, now, isn't from {insert earthly parents' names here}. The brothers and sisters of your flesh are not YOUR siblings. They were the siblings of the one who died on the Cross (with Christ) to satisfy the judgment of sin against him/her.
And the you who's here, now, was born to this earth
just like Christ was born to it (
John 3:6). You are His descendant. His kin. Yes even the way you were born into this world was the same as Christ, the moment you die to self. Yes in the *same exact* manner (i.e. through the Spirit of God).
To me "dying to self" isn't a decision or commitment of being selfless. It's another way to say you're "born again/anew/from above". It's a belief that the person who was born however many years ago lost his/her life on the cross with Christ because of his/her sins the moment you confessed Christ, by faith. And that is the awesome power of Faith in the beloved act of Christ. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and
the evidence of things not seen (
Hebrews 11:1). This means it's only really true if we are truly convinced it really happened.
He/she no longer exists, but you now exist instead.
Again to me, to die to self means *you* are truly not from here, but he/she who died was from here. Yet you came from where Christ came from, and not until THIS you was born did you come from where he came from (
John 1:12-13).
As all mankind were in Adam's body as his descendants at the time of his corruption, so likewise anyone who believes is in Christ's body as his descendants at the time of his resurrection (
1 Corinthians 15:22). You have his heritage. You have his character traits. He is your ONLY ancestor; your SOLE patriarch; your great great great great [...] grandfather. You are just like him. All he can do you can do, and even greater now (
John 14:12; Philippians 4:13).
Yes, we are children of wrath, and by nature, self serving.. Excellent points.
question,
Can a non born again child of God do the things God wants them to do, why or why not?
No, because they aren't from Christ's family. They aren't children of God. They don't have Christ's character traits (i.e. "Spirit") of love, humility and obedience. So if God said he wants us to "hop on one leg each Wednesdays for 30 mins", the non-born again person would protest saying "I can't do that" or "I won't do that", simply because God commanded it. But Christ and his descendants would say, "OK. Not my will but yours Father. I'll gladly do it."
Romans 8:7-9
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:5
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.