Dying to Self: The Secret to Living in Christ

What does Jesus teach us about surrender, discipleship, and eternal life?

Lesson Text:  John 12:20-26

Golden Text

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25 NIV.

What is Jesus Teaching?

Read John 12:20-26, and you will see three major things: the Gentiles seek to see Jesus through Andrew and Philip. We’re not sure if Jesus met up with the Gentiles, but we do know what Jesus said to Philip and Andrew. If we die to self, will it be well with our souls?

At first glance, we wonder why this teaching was so important at that moment. Yet it is because it is time for Jesus to face His sacrificial death for us. Andrew and Philip would most likely remember this lesson later in life.

His sacrifice comes first; our surrender follows.

Jesus spoke a truth that every Christian has to face: Live for self or die to self. There’s no in-between option. Self must die, and only we can lay it on the altar.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.Romans 12:1 NKJV

There is a cost to follow Jesus because He was willing to pay the price for you and for me. He knew it was time now for Him to lay his life down for the Jews and Gentiles as well.

His time had come.

It’s now our time. Time to realize that the cost of obedience is powerful. Christ had to sacrifice Himself to rescue us from self-destruction. We see death; He sees eternal life. He sees mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace.

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our path. Psalm 85:10-13 NKJV.

God’s ways are not our ways. Because our fallen nature thinks it knows best. If we seek God in His Word, He will lead us rightly to eternal life. We can walk in His ways, will, and Word because He is the Resurrection and the Life.

We think our lives are all that there is. Is it? Make our lives our first priority, and we lose them. Yield our lives to the Eternal One, trusting Him along the way, and we’ll gain not just eternal life, but mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace.

Die to Self?

He knows the truth. Dying to self seems so hard. Self has had its way long enough! Selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-righteousness lead to condemnation – self separated forever from the true Giver of Life.

Self is in bed with the enemy of your soul.

Daily we must die to self. Self-preservation kills. If we look to self and say, “Poor self, she doesn’t deserve all this,” then we take the first step on the path of self-destruction to the delight of Satan and sorrow of the Lord.

His ways are not our ways. His ways are good. His thoughts toward us are good.

What Happened to Philip and Andrew?

Philip and Andrew, at that time, may not have understood what Jesus was telling them. It wasn’t their time. But I’m sure later, not too far in their future, it would all come back to them.

Philip

Philip did not die a natural death.

Christian tradition tells us that Philip left Israel and traveled to Greece, Phygia (Turkey), Scythia (Ukraine & Russia), and Syria, preaching the Good News. It wasn’t easy. How often did he die to self in spreading the gospel?

Ancient Christian traditions tell us that Philip died in Hierapolis, but accounts of how he died differ. That’s not as important as remembering this fact: he suffered martyrdom for his faith.

The message could not be silenced.

Today, Philip is alive and well with our Lord Jesus Christ as promised.

Andrew

So, what happened to Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter?

The traditions about Andrew’s missionary travels and martyrdom are ancient, so their details are not equally reliable. Historians, such as Eusebius, connect Andrew with Scythia (Ukraine and Russia).

But there’s one thing we can be certain of: Andrew is remembered as a martyr who remained faithful to Christ even unto death.

The Gospel could not be silenced.

Today, Andrew is alive and well in eternity with Christ as promised.

Dying to Self?

Jesus was the model for them to follow. He does first what He asks them to do. He confronts the danger before they encounter it. They will always remember Him, the Resurrection and the Life.

Dying to self daily brings an eternal reward.

The yielded self in the hands of the Soul Keeper is safe. We are reconciled to Christ no matter what happens. Mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace will follow us all the days of our lives.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Col 1:19-20 NKJV.

The reconciled state of the soul is at peace – Christ Jesus is peace. The one who attempts to preserve their soul will lose it. But the one who willingly dies to self daily will see the presence of the Lord go with them.

… It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil 2:13 NKJV.

Even when you die to self, you’re not doing it on your own. He who asks you to die to self is working in you both to will and to do it. This pleases Him.

Does following Jesus require us to kill all personal goals and ambitions? Or does it require surrendering them to His lordship? When we do so, then we begin to be of use to Jesus.

Death to self not only makes us alive in Christ, but it also makes us true servants of God!

What now?

The sense of peace we gain in Christ Jesus is not determined by our circumstances, but by our state of mind.

When we die to self, our minds stay focused on the Lover of our Soul. His majesty and love for you are real. Seeing our life from God’s perspective is a reward beyond measure.

We may see heartache and pain, but not alone. The day is coming when God will bring suffering to an end. He personally cares for you and will provide not only peace, but everlasting joy in your presence.

Trust me, self can’t offer that.

An honest spiritual quest always brings a great reward: finding God and receiving His blessing. He’s thinking of you today, and it’s a good thing – a very good thing.

For I know the thoughts I think toward you,” says the LORD, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” says the LORD… Jer 29:11-14a NKJV.

I understand that this promise was addressed to God’s people in Babylonian exile. They had to die to self in a foreign land while seeking God’s plans for them. Is it any different for us who are in exile on earth as citizens in heaven?

This promise was addressed to a nation, but it does not negate the truth for you as a Christian who belongs to the Lord. Die to self, seek Him wholeheartedly, and watch what happens.

In Conclusion

Christianity involves a real relationship with a Person. What we experience as we follow Him is real.

The challenge of every Christian is to deny ourselves. We naturally tend to focus on self rather than God. But if Christ is ever to have his rightful place in us, then we must set “self” aside to make room for Him.

Trying to save our lives and manage them ourselves only shows that we do not trust God. The only way to experience life with God is to submit your yesterday, today, and future to Him. Trust me, He walks and talks with us and tells us we are His own.

Is there any greater reward than that love that is an everlasting love?

Think about it: the truth is, in losing, you always win!

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him. John 12:26 NKJV

Call to Action

Pause and Consider.

Jesus did not call us to surrender our lives so that we would have less life. He called us to follow Him into the “with-God” life.

What are you holding so tightly that you hesitate to place it in His hands?

Take a moment today to sit quietly before the Lord. Open your Bible to John 12:24–26 and prayerfully consider what Jesus is teaching you about surrender.

Ask yourself: Am I simply trying to live a better Christian life, or am I allowing Christ to live His life through me?

Remember, dying to self is not the end of living. It is the beginning of a deeper life with God.

And you don’t walk that path alone, and you don’t die to self alone.

The One who calls you to follow Him is faithful – He works in you, giving you both the desire and the strength to obey (Philippians 2:13). It’s a good thing, a very good thing, to be in the hands of the living God.

What will you surrender to Him today?

If this post resonated with you, send me a shout-out. I’d love to hear from you.

"God, harden me against myself." Amy Carmichael