Dying to Self – Galatians 2:20 – Bible study
DYING TO SELF
Galatians 2:20
Cooper P. Abrams III
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet notI, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live
in theflesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, andgave himself for me.”(Galatians 2:20)
INTRODUCTION: God created you for a purpose! You are veryimportant to Him. You have the great potential to be used bythe Lord and to have Him directing your life. Think what it means to have the Lord, who knows all things and certainlywhat is best for you…to be guiding your life. Think about the mistake you would avoid and the heartache that could beavoided. Think too about what it would mean to be a part ofGod’s plan for the world.
To be used of God we must understand what we reallyare and how it is that God can use us. I am assuming thatevery child of God wants to be used.
”By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:8)
That’s God’s plan….saved to bear fruit. First God wantsus to have a personal relationship with Him. That beginswhen we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. That establishes the relationship and begins a new life for us withHim directing us. Being saved is more than just getting to goto heaven when we die. It is to have God the Holy Spiritleading us daily and helping us through life. More it is tohave a purpose for life and to have the satisfaction of knowingwe are doing what God created us for.
Paul was addressing this when he said, “For to me, tolive is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
The purpose of his whole life was to live for Christ.
The Bible knows nothing of what some call a Sundaymorning religion. That means that the only time God has a parin our lives is when we go to church on Sunday morning. When a person receives Christ there is a great positive changetheir lives.
All things became new, “Therefore, if anyone is inChrist, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)
Becoming a child of God is not just adding the church, orChristian beliefs to your life. It is to become a disciple ofChrist. A devoted disciple who gives his all to serve hisMaster.
The world’s philosophy is simple. Live for self. TheWord of God says die to self.
Many came to Jesus and ask to be His disciples. Butmost were turned down. Not because Christ did not wantthem! They were turned down because they would notwhole give themselves to Christ.
Jesus told us in Matthew 10:37-39, “He who loves father
or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he wholoves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Andhe who does not take his cross and follow after Me is notworthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he wholoses his life for My sake will find it.”
”Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires tocome after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24)
It does not mean our relationship with our families isnegatively impacted. What it does mean is that we put Christfirst in our lives, that will have a positive effect on everythingin our lives.
THIS IS NOT POPULAR IN OUR MODERN TIMES. BUT IT IS GOD’S REVEALED TRUTH.
I. ERRORS IN THINKING IN REGARD TO SELF.
A. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-WORTH.
The Bible says we are more valuable that the lower formsof God creation (Mt. 6:26, 10:29-31, 12:12, Luke 12:7, 24)
”Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reapnor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26)
We are intimately know by God. “But the very hairs ofyour head are all numbered.” (Matt. 10:30)
However, we still deserve death because of our inherentsinfulness. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory ofGod” (Rom. 3:23)
Being adopted into God’s family should cause us to praiseand thank Him for the glory of His grace. Ephesians 1:5-6says, “having predestined us to adoption as sons by JesusChrist to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has madeus accepted in the Beloved.”
It is wrong for us to think in any way we are worthy toreceive Christ’s unmerited favor (grace).
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in thatwhile we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
READ 1 Cor. 1:26-31……………. God explains to us andsays, “Let him who glories glory in Christ.”
ILLUS: We go to doctors and seek their advise as to how tohave better health or deal with health problems. Many go tocouncilors seeking help. Millions of dollars are spent on“How to” books with deal with everything from diets,managing our money, buying houses, retirement…and youname it. . .we all are seeking advise. Psychiatry is a billiondollar a year business….offering someone advise as to how todeal with their problems. Rarely if ever is the counsel help us.
I once helped a Psychiatrist with his computer problemsand I got to know him. He worked for the state and peopleon welfare and with mental problems. It did not take long tosee this fellow’s life was a mess, yet he was being paid lots ofmoney to advise others on how they were to fit the problems in their lives. You see the problem?
Often we are disappointed in the advise and because itoften does not really help. However, God’s help is 100%correct every time and He will never steer us wrong.
B. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-ASSURANCE.
A dependence on yourself or your possessions instead ofGod will lead to a fall.
”He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous willflourish like foliage.” (PROVERBS 11:28)
John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Hewho abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for withoutMe you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
A believer is to live in total dependence upon Christ, whois the power and wisdom of God.
”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not onyour own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
”I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I wholive, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in theflesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gaveHimself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) “I can do all things throughChrist who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)
C. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-LOVE
Nowhere in the Bible are you told to love yourself.
”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deut. 6:5)
That command is unnecessary because man naturallyloves himself.
”And the second is like it: `You shall love your neighboras yourself.” (Matt. 22:39)
”So husbands ought to love their own wives as their ownbodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one everhated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just asthe Lord does the church. For we are members of His body,of His flesh and of His bones.” (Eph. 5:28-30)
The last days will be marked by those who love self:
”But know this, that in the last days perilous times willcome: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, withoutself control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong,haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, havinga form of godliness but denying its power. And from suchpeople turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
D. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-ASSERTIVENESS.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of powerand of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7)
God has not given us a spirit of timidness or weakness, however, the Bible says we are not to assert ourselves.
”Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better thanhimself. Let each of you look out not only for his owninterests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4)
E. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-CONFIDENCE.
You are not to trust yourself, but are to trust God. Thatmeans we test everything in light of God’s word. We trustHim in following God’s principles we find in the Bible. Mostpeople rely on their own wisdom and reasoning, and few seekGod counsel. This is what this means. Our confidence is inthe advise God gives us because we know it to be true.
The believer knows that he has a carnal or fleshly naturethat is corrupt. It seeks to destroy us. But the believer hasthe Spirit of God and a new nature that comes from God. That nature allows to understand God’s principles and toapply them in our lives. In other words, we learn from theBible the principle and we with God’s help apply that in ourdaily living.
”For we are the circumcision, who worship God in theSpirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in theflesh” (Phil. 3:3)
We are to live my faith. Not in our selves but in Christ.
”For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Andthis is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” (1John 5:4)
F. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We are not righteous in ourselves.
”As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks afterGod. They have all gone out of the way; they have togetherbecome unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, notone.” (Rom. 3:10-12)
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isa. 64:6)
Your true righteousness is based ONLY on a sincerebelief in the Lord Jesus Christ. That means we are “right”when we follow God’s instructions.
This is not a head knowledge of Christ, but a personalbelief and commitment to Him that changes your life. It is atrue belief that directs and controls your life.
”For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through theone, much more those who receive abundance of grace and ofthe gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One,Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:17)
G. THE ERROR OF MAN’S THINKING IN REGARDTO SELF-EXALTATION.
Exalting ourselves above others has no value. It iscertainly wrong or unrighteous behavior.
”For not he who commends himself is approved, butwhom the Lord commends.” (2 Cor. 10:18)
Those who exalt themselves will be humbled.
”And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he whohumbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt. 23:12)
WE ARE ONLY TO BOAST:
In the Lord. “that, as it is written, “He who glories, lethim glory in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:31)
In the Cross. But God forbid that I should glory exceptin the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world hasbeen crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal. 6:14)
In your weakness. And He said to me, “My grace issufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect inweakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in myinfirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor.12:9)
II. Conclusion.
A. The Lord who made and created us wants us to live a godly and productive happy life. He has a purpose for us to be here and we live the best lives possible when we allow Him to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Everyone will have problems in life, but those that live by God’s principles found in the Bible can overcome these difficulties and not be defeated by them, kept depressed, or down troddened. B. Even the so-called difficult problems of life, chronic depression, child abuse, battered spouse, alcohol and etc are only solved effectively from a biblical perspective of pleasing God.
1. Paul said to the Colossians:
”That you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasingin the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10)
2. We must rely on God’s instructions to us.
”Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledgeof God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has givento us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through theknowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, bywhich have been given to us exceedingly great and preciouspromises, that through these you may be partakers of thedivine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in theworld through lust.” (2 Pet. 1:2-4)
”All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instructionin righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
B. God has a plan and a way for you to live. It is away by which you will over come the difficulties of live.
”For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Andthis is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes thatJesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)
An assignment: READ Matt 5:3-12. Beatitudes.
God’s cure for the problems of “self” is a transformation.
”I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I wholive, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in theflesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gaveHimself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
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