Over the years
I have heard so much about the “self” life. You know, “It’s all about me.” Well-meaning
folks have taught that we should learn to deny ourselves so we can be free from
this self-life. It sounds good and it sounds right. However, what are we truly
denying? You’ve heard the expression, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath
water.” If we’re not careful, we will find ourselves throwing out the very
thing God wants us to retain.
If you don’t
understand the truth of being born again and becoming a new creation, then the
“self” that you see is probably the old self. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says
that the “old things passed away.” The Greek word for old is “archaios.” It
means: original, primitive, ancient. It suggest a nature or original character.[i]
According to Paul, the original sinful nature that focused on “me” or “I” is
gone. There is a new nature that is different from the old.
There is,
however, a programming that has been left behind from that old self. Paul
mentions that “old self” in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9.
“Old” in those verses is the Greek word “palaios.” It refers to something that
is “worn-out” as in our mode of thought, feelings and actions.[ii]
We have made
the mistake of thinking our old self is still alive and well, when the truth is
it has been crucified with Christ. The enemy has deceived us into believing it
is still alive, so we spend a good portion of our time fighting sin through
behavior management protocols.
The new man or
new creation is a new “self.” This new self has been created in the image and
likeness of God. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that was God’s original
design found in Genesis 1:26. We now have His image restored through the work
of Christ in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
In this new
life we have the privilege of living the “I Am” life. Our new self is a
co-union of God and me. That is the “self” from whom God wants us to live. This
new self is not the old self-centered, selfish, sin-generating creature. The
new self is “heaven-bent” on producing holy and righteous behavior that
glorifies God. This is the heart of understanding Colossians 3:4, “When Christ,
who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
(NASB)
Embracing the
“I Am” life is not an act of arrogance or pride, but it is humbly believing
what God says is true of us. Out of the “I Am” life flows the fruit of the
Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 and the characteristics of love found in 1
Corinthians 13:4-7.
When we believe the lies the enemy throws at us, we will struggle with "lust of the flesh." His biggest lie proclaims that we are our struggle. When we believe the truth, peace flows in like a light that invades the darkness.
When we believe the lies the enemy throws at us, we will struggle with "lust of the flesh." His biggest lie proclaims that we are our struggle. When we believe the truth, peace flows in like a light that invades the darkness.
We must trust our own heart for it belongs to Him. The battle is in our mind, not in our heart. Our heart longs to embrace the truth of who we are in Christ.
“ I pray that
the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who
believe.” (Eph. 1:18-19a, NASB)
