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Seitenzahl: 47
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018
KYPROS PRESS
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Copyright © 2016 by Thomas Watson
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The Duty of Self-Denial
Christian Reader,
The weightiness of the argument here discoursed on justly merits a larger volume. But I have contracted it, so that it may possibly come into more hands. I must profess I do not know a more necessary point in divinity. Self-denial is the first principle of Christianity! It is the life-blood which must run through the whole body of piety. Self-denial is not learned at an academy, but from the oracles of Scripture.
It is my request to the reader to pursue this manual with seriousness, knowing that the practice of self-denial is that wherein his salvation is nearly concerned. “May the Lord work with His Word and cause the dew of His blessing to fall with this manna,” is the prayer of,
Your Friend and Servant in the Gospel,
Thomas Watson, 1675
1. Exposition of the verse.
“And He said to them all—If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” Luke 9:23
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16. The Word is compared to a lamp for its illuminating quality, Psalm 119:105, and to refined silver for its enriching quality, Psalm 12:6. Among other parts of sacred writ, this is not the least, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.”
These words are dropped from the lips of Christ, the oracle of truth. In the preceding verse, our blessed Savior foretold His suffering, “The Son of Man must suffer many things.” And His suffering is set down in two expressions:
1. He must be rejected. Thus He was the “stone which the builders rejected,” Psalm 118:22.
2. He must be slain. This diamond must be cut! He who gave life to others, must Himself die. And as Christ thus abased Himself for us—so we must deny ourselves for Him. “And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.”
Self-denial is the foundation of godliness, and if this is not well laid, all the building will fall. Let me explain the words:
1. “And He said to them all.” Self-denial is of universal extent. It concerns all; it respects both ministers and people. Christ spoke it as well to His apostles as to the rest of His hearers.
2. “If any man will come after Me.” That is—if he will arrive at that place of glory where I am going—"let him deny himself.”
3. “Let him deny himself.” Beza and Erasmus render it, “Let him lay aside or reject himself.” Self-denial is a kind of self-annihilation. The words have two parts:
First, a supposal: “If any man will come after Me.”
Second, an imposal: “Let him deny himself.” These words are not only a permission—but an injunction. It carries in it the force of the command. It is as if a king should say, “Let it be enacted.”
The PROPOSITION I shall insist on, is that a true Christian must be a self-denier. “Let him deny himself.”
2. Explanation of the Proposition
In what sense must a Christian NOT deny himself?
1. He must not deny his promise. A man’s promise should be sacred. He is to keep it though it is to his loss, Psalm 15:1,4. He who makes no reckoning of his promise—God makes no reckoning of his profession.
2. A Christian must not deny his grace. He must not disown any good work wrought in him. He ought not to say that he is a dry tree—when the dew of heaven lies upon his branches. As it is a sin for a man to make himself better than he is—so it is to make himself worse. To say he has grace when he has none—is presumption. To say he has no grace when he has—is ingratitude. It is bearing false witness against the Spirit of God.
In what sense MUST a Christian deny himself?
In general, he must deny that carnal part which is as near to him as himself, that which is as the apple of his eye. But more particularly:
1. A Christian must deny his REASON. I do not say renounce it—but deny it. Some cry up the Diana of reason, making it the rule and standard of faith. Indeed, that there is a God and that this God is to be worshiped, is a law written in the heart of man and is consonant to reason. But who God is, and the right mode of worship, is such a sublime matter, that reason can no more find out—than the Philistines could Sampson’s riddle. Job 11:7, “Can you by searching find out God?”
Reason must be denied in DOCTRINES proposed to be believed: