Denying Self through the Cross...

The last two Wednesday nights we have focused on Self Denial and The Cross.

As we looked at self denial, we saw that man tries many ways to deny self or overcome the sin nature. Some try to get out of the world, but the problem is that the sin nature goes everywhere with us. It dwells within. (It is also interesting that we are told to be a light in the world to others which is kind of hard to do when you are hiding from the world). Others try real hard to take care of self themselves. But self never casts out self. Others try to always be involved in church activities and church education to overcome self. While being involved in these things is not bad...these things will not overcome the sin nature. We cannot make the sin nature better. It is as bad as it can be and does not get better.

What we really need to know and be taught is that the sin nature has already been defeated. The victory came at the cross. The old sin nature was crucified with Christ so that it would no longer have power over us. The power of the sin nature has been rendered inoperative in the life of the believer. While man tries many ways to overcome self, God has but one way...the cross.

We often think of the cross as the means for salvation, and it is. Praise the Lord, we have a relationship with God and the assurance of eternal life because Christ has provided salvation for us by His death on the cross. We must simply believe (faith). But our sanctification was also provided for us at the cross. When we realize that our old self was crucified with Christ and by faith count this as true in our lives, we realize that not only were we freed from the penalty of sin at the cross, but also freed from the power of sin. Sin no longer is our master; sin no longer controls me. But just as we believe by faith that our salvation is provided at the cross, we must believe by faith that our sanctification was provided as well. Colossians 2:6 , "so then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him" We received Christ by faith and we should live by faith.

Oh the freedom we will have when we rest in the victory of the Cross not only for our salvation, but also for our sanctification.