Do believers need to die to self?

Quick Answer: Do believers need to die to self? Some say believers need to “die to self.” However, the phrase “die to self” does not appear anywhere in the New Testament. Instead, Scripture teaches that our old self has already died – past tense – and we have been raised with Christ as new selves in Him (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1). Think about it: You don’t need to “die to self” if you’re the new self!

Diving Deeper: Some teach that believers need to “die to self” every day in order to successfully live the Christian life. This implies that the believer’s “self” is sinful, but the Scriptures state the opposite: We are the new self (Colossians 3:10)!

While we do have opponents (the world, fleshly attitudes, the power of sin as a tempter), we are not fighting a war against our own self. Jesus said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25). You, as a believer, are not a kingdom divided against itself.

You don’t need to “die to self” if you’re the new self! In fact, Scripture tells us the opposite – that our old self died with Christ at salvation (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20). We were then raised with Christ as new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old has gone, and the new has come! Therefore, why would we try to “kill” what God has called new?

Some might cite 1 Corinthians 15:31 in which Paul stated, “I die daily.” However, the context reveals that Paul was referring to the physical dangers he encountered on the road while sharing the Gospel message. He was simply stating that he risked his life every day to get the Gospel message out. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:31 have nothing to do with trying to kill off some spiritual part of himself.

The bottom line is that, as a believer, you don’t need to “die to self.” Instead, you are called to count yourself dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). So, learn who you are in Christ, and be yourself!

Let’s Make It a Conversation!
1. Were you ever taught to “die to self”? What did you think that looked like?
2. React to this statement: You don’t need to die to self, because you’re the new self.
3. React to this statement: You can be yourself and express Jesus at the same time.
4. Why do you think it’s so easy to turn “self” into a dirty word for Christians? What aspect of the Gospel does this ignore?