Dear brethren,
There’s a wide spread heresy today worldwide that says we must be continuously dying to self. This subtle but destructive doctrine promotes an attitude that we’ll always just be “sinners,” and not the saints of God.
Both Jesus and Paul were in unison when they taught that we as saints are dead to sin and alive to God after the new birth. It’s a completed act, a done deal. Jesus did it all, and He paid the price, one sacrifice, once for all.
The holy word proclaims:
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”
John 8:10-11 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
Was Jesus being unrealistic?
No, we think not.
Do you believe by faith that you can walk pure, in full holiness? If you don’t, you won’t, for your faith is lacking to walk worthy of our great calling.
Once a brother from past ministry ventures came to visit us in our country house for some counsel on a matter that I could speak about effectively. He and I had drifted apart for our chosen paths were divergent.
He took the American Christian path of success that meant lots of money stored up, a-muse-ment as a main past time, patriotism in like “God bless American and also blow up Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., etc., etc. and any other possible threat to American earthly world empire success”, associating with the lofty vs. lowly in Rom. 12.16, promoting the institutional church culture, i.e. clergy vs. laity separation and following the head buffalo leader, program mania vs. a simple, gracious obedient walk with our Lord Jesus, proclaiming a pre-trib rapture, and fully believing once saved, always saved is a scriptural doctrine.
I’m sure you get the picture.
So, anything I proclaimed to him as true truth was suspect from the get go. But I had recently been the recipient of God’s grace in that my walk with Him had taken a new turn since I really believed the old Marc was dead…really dead.
Dead People Don’t Sin
We’re not to look at our past experience…but to God’s holy Word and the enormous truth that ou
r brother Paul exhorted all his church plants to embrace.
As I joyfully and zealously related this and the new fruit experienced, my old friend had a coy smile on his face.
“So, Marc,” he stated somewhat condescendingly, “is this like the power of positive thinking?”
Obviously, he wasn’t persuaded in the least.
We weren’t physically far apart at our kitchen table. But his words, facial expression, and body language has made his point.
I leaned in a bit and smiled back asking, “Brother, do you believe you can go and sin no more?”
He response was immediate and final. “No,” he declared, “we’re just sinners.”
“Well,” I bemoaned, “if you don’t think you can, then you can’t. Over and over, Paul actually calls us saints. We have to believe in faith. Be it done to you according to your faith.”
Our brother Paul writes:
Romans 6:5-7 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God (the Father) in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Remember the woman set up by the men and caught in adultery in John 8? The Father was very merciful because if they would have brought the man as well Jesus would have permitted the stoning as part of the Old Testament law.
Notice the Lord didn’t say she has twenty years to rid herself of any addiction, or join a Twelve Step Group. None of that.
Go And Sin No More
Go and sin no more. Never. Ever. And we don’t even know for certain if this woman was saved and a member of the kingdom of God.
Then we have the man who Jesus healed in John 5 after being afflicted for thirty eight years. Is this a “kind” response from our Lord? Hardly.
So what would be worse?
Seduced by demons by not keeping the swept house clean, therefore being erased from the book of life?
Luke 11:24-26 “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…
Romans 8:12-13 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die (spiritually); but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
A main objection that folks throw up in the face of overwhelming evidence is the verse that Paul would “die daily.” But look at the context: it was made during his explanation of fighting with wild beasts in Ephesus. It was a euphemism, a figure of speech, for a daily physical death.
There’s much more to say on this, and we pray to have that opportunity as the Spirit leads…
Many years ago, I received a piece that at its heart was wonderful, but still embraced this “dying” doctrine vs. being already dead. The source of the piece, unfortunately, was credited as unknown. But in re-writing it to reflect this truth of being already dead to self, I offer it for our edification.
Dead to Self – author unknown, revised by Marc White
When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and your flesh begins to sting and hurt with the insult of the oversight…
…but you overcome this test by the power of the Holy Spirit, and your heart becomes joyful, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ – that is being dead to self.
When your good is evil spoken of, your holy preaching of God’s word ridiculed, and you refuse to let unrighteous anger rise in your heart…
…but instead you continue to boldly defend the name of our wonderful heavenly Father, and His Jesus – that is being dead to self.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, or any annoyance, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility…
…and still rebuke but endure it just as Jesus endured it – that is being dead to self.
When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any attitude, any interruption by the will of God…
…and still give the great sacrifice of thanksgiving to Him – that is being dead to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown…
…and instead are yearning for your Home in heaven – that is being dead to self.
When you see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances…
…and still continue to give sacrificially like your poor brethren the Macedonians – that is being dead to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart…
…and even see the loving hand of the Father behind this help to walk more closely with Him – that is being dead to self.
Saints, walk alive to God…and dead to sin.
Only in that way can we sin no more. And please God in every respect.
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You may also listen to the outstanding three part audio series by Michael Pearl on Sanctification By Faith here. This changed my life in a big way. I’ve listened to it at least six times for it’s that good.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
Steve Kilgore says
Re: Rom. 8:13 I have considered this putting to death the deeds of the body as being the same as dying to self. Where do I err?
jesusislord says
Brother Steve,
Here’s how we see the Scriptures and our lives lining up for holy living. The Word declares emphatically that the old man is dead, gone and buried into His death. Agreed? We then who are saved from our sin and the wrath to come are resurrected to new life as a new creation. To go and sin no more. Still agreed?
Ok good! We must believe this wholly as a faith work that was accomplished by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s a completed work, this sanctification by faith, and not a “work.” But remember we do have participation in that we must believe it to be true with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This part of ours is not considered a “work.”
We must never look at our experience of any past or current sin as being normal for the new man, but trust the abiding Word in deed and in heart that we can indeed be free of all sin so that nothing worse happens to us. The best messages on the planet on this vital doctrine are Michael Pearl’s talks on this subject. Please listen here. Your life will never, ever be the same if you believe and walk in that new Truth.
The old man is dead. We never, ever need to die to self after salvation, since that man is already dead. That die-to-self and die-daily false doctrine is nothing more than an excuse to sin from Satan himself and an affront to the holiness of God and His promises to us.
The new man, however, is still encased in a physical body and this body is capable of sin. That’s by God’s immaculate design and wisdom. In so doing, we then will be able to put to death (i.e. prevent before it becomes a sin) any temptation 100% of the time, for we are without excuse due to the escape He always, always provides. Why does God allow this? Our faithful God can then bring to bear His magnificent power when we cry out to Him to deliver us prior to any and all sin, prior to any possible stumbling that causes another to miss God.
Then, He can display us as trophies of His marvelous grace in front of the great cloud of witnesses, in front of the evil principalities and powers, the forces of wickedness in the heavelies. He also, then, can reward us according to our fruit when we put to death the possible sinful deeds of the body before they arise and are counted against our judgment. The passage of 2 Corinthians 5.10, in the context of pleasing God, we find the loving and gracious warning, the admonishment:
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear (terror) of the Lord, we persuade men…
So, we do put to death every possible sinful deed before it can be counted as a sin since the new man can really and truly go and sin no more. The old man is dead. Dead men don’t sin. God rewards His faithful ones, and gives them heavenly rewards, and extra grace here on the earth.
We hope this was helpful, and comforting. If you have thoughts to contribute, please do so dear brother!
Brother Marc