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What is the Christian Life?  Self-Denial

 

Acts 11:25 - Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 

Acts 11:26 - And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And

it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church,

and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in

Antioch.

The disciples were called Christians at Antioch because they were acting like

Christ. Previously we learned the Christian life is a life of service. We learn

in Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to

obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of

obedience unto righteousness? 

All of us are servants, either to sin unto death or obedience unto

righteousness.

  1. The Christian Life is a life of self-denial.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after

me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

What did Jesus mean by telling His disciples to deny self.

Titus 2:12 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should

live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

So we are told to deny some things and also in Ephesians 4:22 - That ye put off

concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according

to the deceitful lusts; 

Ephesians 4:23 - And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 

Then we are told in Ephesians 4:24 - And that ye put on the new man, which after

God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

We see the Christian life is about service and to properly serve there must be

some self-denial, some putting off some things and the putting on of some

things.

Who are you serving today?