The Cross Teaches us to Deny Self

We will have to carry our crosses until we learn to deny. Deny what? The one thing that constantly hinders God's work in our lives: self. Look at what Jesus said: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." We are misinterpreting this message if we emphasize self-denial, that is, the rejection of material or unlawful things. Jesus was not calling upon us to learn self-discipline before we take up our cross. It is far more severe than that. Jesus is asking that we deny ourselves. This means to deny our own ability to carry any cross in our own strength.

There are millions of professing Christians who boast about their self-denial. They don's drink or smoke or curse or fornicate; they are examples of tremendous discipline. They would say statements like this: "I can quit any time I want." "The devil can't trick me." "I know what's right and I try to do it." "I keep all the commandments." They are practicing self-denial, but they have never denied self. In some ways, we are all like that. We experience spurts of holiness, accompanied by feelings of purity. Good works usually produce good feelings, but God will not allow us to think our good works and clean habits can save us. That's why we need a cross.

I believe Jesus is actually saying to us, "Before you take up your cross, be ready to face a moment of truth. Be ready to experience a crisis by which you will learn to deny your self-will, your self-righteousness, your self-sufficiency, and your self-authority. You can rise up and follow Christ as a true disciple only when you can freely admit you can do nothing in your own strength. You can't overcome sin through your own willpower. Your temptations can't be overcome by your self-efforts alone. You must deny self and allow Christ to help you with your cross.