The Spirituality of Self-Mortification, Death to Self.

Understanding why discipleship is pegged on our ability to subjugate our "Self"

Most Christians, in my observation, have trouble walking in the newness of life (Romans 6:4). It is a matter of nature, not nurture, that presents the challenge of nominal Christianity. That is, rather than confronting the fundamental root cause of the difficulty in leading a deeply Christian lifestyle, the majority of us are attempting to treat its symptoms.

There is no way a vibrant Christian life can be achieved with a vibrant “self” life. Detachment from Christ implies attachment to "self.” Instead of being only a band-aid or behavior modification, the Christian lifestyle is developed from its roots outward.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24

Jesus states in the verse above that to be a disciple of His, one must confront the aspect of human nature that inhibits one from aligning oneself with Christ. You have to mortify “self.” Your Christian life will be contested as long as "self" is still alive. Self will try valiantly to keep you from following Jesus and living out Christianity. 

Christian lifestyle is Spelled as D.E.A.T.H

A Christian's way of life is spelled D.E.A.T.H., implying that in order to live out what God has done in you, you must focus more on “dying” than “living.” Letting go of your own image brings you closer to the image of Christ. The inner man must submit to Jesus Christ, the Inner Man. Note what The Lord Jesus says in this Scripture.

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27

Whoa! Did you note that Jesus said “cannot?” How come? What an admission: A Christian lifestyle or discipleship without death to "self" is untenable. He made no mention of trying to walk as a Christian by doing the right thing. The majority of ministers will push you to try this or that or adjust this or that to be a good disciple of Jesus. Jesus attributes the death of "self" to a healthy Christian lifestyle.

What is “Self?”

God gave man the gift of "self," which gives him control over his own life. The rise in popularity of self-driving, or autonomous, vehicles serves as a great illustration. Therefore, "self" is what God has given you, enabling you to live the life you want and pursue your dreams.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; Deuteronomy 30:19

Humanity is centered on choice, which is driven by "self." Animals lack this attribute; instead, they move based on reflexes and instincts. Only humans possess the complexity to make nuanced decisions using their will.

“Self” is a gift from God that grants man autonomy over his own life.

This raises the question of what would happen if the system that gives humans their capacity to choose was compromised. Referring back to our self-driving car example, what would happen if the software that controls self-driving vehicles was compromised? It is impossible to even consider the repercussions of it. Property and lives might be lost.

When Satan used deception in the Garden of Eden to seize control of man's autonomy, mankind experienced a similar takeover. Our lives seem to be controlled by a puppeteer hidden behind the curtain. Similar to how autonomous automobiles can be taken over by remote software from someone in a basement somewhere.

Death to “Self”

Man requires redemption in order to restore the "self" that the devil has taken over. Redemption is the process of regaining our stolen identity and voluntarily placing ourselves under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Giving up one's independence in order to follow the Holy Spirit is what it means to die to "self." Death and resurrection are figurative language for salvation.

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4

Jesus died our death. Jesus took on the sins of a fallen humanity, making his death on the cross a true death for us. He died as one on whom sin was laid, not as a sinner.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Death to “self” implies giving up one’s autonomy to become a servant of The Holy Spirit.

By embracing that plan of salvation, we are able to enter into Christ's accomplished work by faith, since He died our death. Baptism is the perfect example of this. We are united to Christ's death on the cross as we descend into the water; we are baptized into that death by faith. We are raised from the water, signifying a new life—that is, Christ's resurrection becomes our own resurrection.

This suggests that the life we currently live is not our own. Remember, this is all based on faith. Redemption is a spiritual practice that has tangible benefits.

Nicodemus Was rather perplexed when Jesus told him that he needed to be born again, and he challenged if a man could return to his mother's womb. Jesus stated unequivocally that a person born of flesh is flesh, and a person born of the Spirit is spirit. As a result, the life we are living is not our own. We have chosen to follow in Jesus' footsteps, and we must cede our will of "self" to the realities of this brand-new existence.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

In Christ, we live, having died in Him.

Through faith, we are able to mortify "self" inside this framework of salvation. We are given the right by law to offer our "self" as a "living sacrifice" due to our salvation. The phrase "living sacrifice" has a fascinating resonance to it, almost contradicting reason. A sacrifice is incapable of living. This is why faith is involved. These realities have bodily consequences, but they are spiritual realities. We have died in Christ and now we live in Him.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Finally

Consecration

We must never raise that which has perished by faith. Self-mortification is an ongoing, continuous process. Every day, we humiliate "self." Every day we have to die.