Truth is ancient; it's grey hairs may make it venerable;
it comes from Him who is the ancient of days. --Thomas Watson

 

9 November, 2006   comments: (0) Classic Devotion   Self-Denial: An Obscure Concept in Today's Church    Quoting Walter Chantry . . . Self-denial is a practice that lies at the very heart of true religion. Without its exercise there can be no conversion to Christ. Qualities most basic to a Christian frame of heart - notably humility and meekness - would dissolve without it's active expression. Self-denial awaits the sons of God as they enter upon their private devotions. It stands at the threshold of witnessing and other service to our holy Lord. It is a most painful element in each struggle after holiness. Denial of self is the key to the solution of numerous practical questions which perplex the sober-minded believer today. A right understanding of this basic biblical demand would silence a host of errors regarding evangelism, sanctification, and practical living. Yet too little is written and preached upon self-denial. Sometimes the most profound truths are ignored because they are obvious. Perhaps this particular biblical truth lies forgotten because of the perversions of the past. There have been such varied forms of fanatic asceticism in the history of the church, that some might shy away from the subject. A recent set of preachers offered self-denial as a step to a "second work of grace". Perhaps there remain from the same source intricate and confusing dissections of human personality which becloud the simple term 'self'. One does not wish to be identified with these elements. All of this has contributed to silence on a vital theme in scripture. [We] should resurrect the biblical teaching on self-denial from its unjust obscurity. It is not the property of Medieval Flagellants. We dare not yield it as the property of the the "deeper life" movement. It was the Son of God who said: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. - Mark 8:34 From:  The Shadow of The Cross   Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.530   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism