Publication date
11/15/18
Volume
39
Number
22
The WatchTower
Self-denial - Its purpose and its importance
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1918/22/1918-22-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
VOL. 
XXXIX 
PITTSBURGH, 
P 
A., 
NOVEMBER 
15, 
1918 
No. 
22 
SELF~DENIAL-ITS 
PURPOSE 
AND 
ITS 
IMPORTANCE 
"Whosoever 
he 
be 
of 
you 
that 
for3ak,eth 
not 
Gil 
that 
M 
Mth, 
cannot 
be 
my 
disc1ple."-Luke 
14 
:33. 
Denying 
one's 
self 
is 
eelf-denial. 
In 
conllidering 
what 
is 
of 
the 
flesh 
and 
of 
the 
devil, 
but 
that 
the 
spirit 
of 
meek­ 
is 
meant 
by 
the 
phrase, 
"denying 
one's 
self," 
we, 
must 
dis- 
ness, 
gentleness, 
patience, 
brotherly 
kindness, 
love, 
.is 
the 
tinguish 
as 
to 
what 
self 
is 
and 
what 
are 
the 
BeH·rights. 
Upon 
spirit, 
mind 
or 
disposition 
of 
Christ, 
and 
is 
in 
accord 
with 
mature 
reflection 
we 
perceive 
tha.t 
our 
personality, 
our 
ego, 
God. 
He 
also 
learns 
that 
since 
he 
has 
,been 
,begotten 
of 
the 
is 
represented 
by 
our 
will. 
Evidently, 
then, 
our 
Lord 
nqulres 
holy 
Spirit 
of 
God, 
his 
human 
will 
must 
be 
kept 
dead, 
tha.t 
that 
every 
one 
who 
becomes 
his 
disciple 
shall 
surrender 
hil 
his 
new 
will 
is 
to 
be 
God's 
will, 
and 
that 
it 
must 
not 
operate 
own 
will-"all 
that 
he 
hath"; 
for 
el~where 
the 
Master 
says: 
except 
in 
line 
with 
the 
divine 
arrangements. 
As 
the 
new 
"If 
a.ny 
man 
will 
come 
after 
me, 
let 
him 
deny 
himself, 
take 
creature 
develops, 
he 
gains 
more 
and 
more 
control 
over 
the 
up 
his 
cross 
and 
follow 
me," 
(Ma.tthew 
16:24) 
Whether 
mind, 
the 
body, 
the 
a.cts, 
the 
thoughts. 
It 
is 
the 
new 
will 
our 
will 
be 
good 
or 
bad, 
strong' 
or 
weaJc, 
it 
must 
be 
given 
up 
which 
is 
thus 
gaining 
control 
of 
the 
human 
body-the 
will 
of 
when 
we 
consecrate 
ourselves 
to 
do 
the 
will 
of 
God; 
and, 
when 
the 
new 
creature. 
This 
divine 
new 
will 
is 
entirely 
upon 
once 
we 
have 
surrendered 
our 
own 
will 
to 
do 
the 
divine 
will, 
God's 
side, 
and 
hopes 
to 
receive 
80me 
day 
the 
things 
promised 
it 
follows 
that 
henceforth 
we 
are 
to 
do 
God's 
will 
to 
the 
best 
in 
the 
Word 
of 
God 
to 
the 
overcomers 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age. 
of 
our 
ability 
in 
every 
matter. 
When 
we 
characterize 
this 
new 
will 
as 
being 
divine, 
we 
do 
After 
our 
consecration 
to 
do 
the 
will 
of 
God, 
and 
the 
sub- 
not 
mean 
to 
imply 
that 
there 
is 
no 
individual1ty 
about 
the 
sequent 
a.cceptance 
on 
the 
part 
of 
our 
hea.venly 
Father 
through 
new 
creature, 
however; 
for 
our 
Lord 
Jesus 
still 
maintains 
his 
Jesus 
Christ 
our 
Lord, 
we 
were 
,begotten 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
as 
individuality, 
and 
it 
is 
written 
that 
the 
church, 
the 
new 
sons 
of 
God, 
new 
creatures 
in 
Clll:ist. 
This 
transaction 
meant 
creation, 
shall 
be 
like 
him.-I 
John 
3: 
1, 
2; 
2 
Peter 
1:4; 
that 
we 
gave 
up 
self-will 
and 
accepted 
God's 
will 
instead 
of 
Philippians 
2 
:8-11. 
• 
our 
own 
on 
all 
subjoots. 
This 
matter 
of 
giving 
up 
one's 
The 
holy 
Spirit 
is 
the 
same 
disposition 
or 
mind, 
whether 
own 
will 
in 
order 
to 
do 
the 
will 
of 
anothllr 
is 
a 
most 
radical 
the 
Father 
or 
the 
Son 
or 
the 
church 
possesses 
it. 
"'''hen 
at 
proposition. 
Indeed, 
the 
yielding 
up 
of 
the 
will 
to 
anyone 
the 
moment 
of 
spirit-begetting 
we 
received 
the 
impartation 
except 
the 
heavenly 
Father 
is 
the 
most 
da.ngerous 
thing 
we 
of 
this 
holy 
Spirit, 
we 
began 
to 
take 
on 
the 
divine 
spirit, 
or 
can 
do. 
Very 
grave 
mistakes 
have 
been 
made 
in 
this 
way. 
disposition. 
In 
other 
words, 
we 
have 
been 
making 
the 
di­ 
In 
various 
cults, 
in 
denominational 
bodiell 
a.nd 
in 
:political 
vine 
mind 
.ours. 
As 
the 
Apostle 
Paul 
intimates, 
we 
are 
being 
circles 
the 
surrender 
of 
the 
individual 
will, 
the 
fallure 
to 
tra.nsformed, 
formed 
over, 
by 
the 
renewing 
of 
our 
minds, 
in 
maintain 
a 
personal 
responsibility, 
has 
resulted 
in 
many 
order 
that 
we 
may 
prove 
more 
and 
more 
the 
good, 
the 
a.c- 
serious 
mistakes 
and 
in 
much 
evil 
practise. 
ceptable, 
the 
perfect 
will 
of 
God. 
(Romans 
12: 
I, 
2) 
As 
TUB 
START 
01' 
THE 
OW 
OKJL\'rIOJr 
gra.dually 
our 
minds 
expand 
to 
grasp 
that 
will, 
we 
are 
en- 
In 
the 
case 
of 
those 
who 
have 
surrendered 
their 
will 
to 
abled 
~ore 
and 
more 
to 
a,pprecia~e. 
the 
l~nRths 
and 
breadths 
God 
the 
matter 
ie 
altogether 
differeBt, 
hOW4lver. 
God 
has 
and 
heights 
"an~ 
d.epths 
of 
the 
di.VlI!e 
mmd; 
an1, 
we 
say 
to 
given 
our 
Lord 
Jesus 
Christ 
to 
be 
the 
Head 
over 
the 
church 
01!rse!ves: 
ThI.8 
IS 
wh~t 
I 
am 
aImIng 
to 
~e~h. 
. 
Thus 
ou.r 
which 
is 
his 
body, 
and 
of 
whieh 
the 
CODI!8C1'a.ted, 
spirit-be· 
Will 
IS 
ende!"vormg 
continually 
to 
do 
the 
diVine 
wlll, 
the 
.dl­ 
gotten 
C'hildren 
of 
God 
are 
the 
members 
in 
particular. 
No 
'Pine 
P~; 
for. 
we 
have 
taken 
over 
~ 
ou:selves 
the 
mind 
one 
could 
properly 
be 
a 
member 
of 
the 
body 
of 
Christ 
if 
he 
of 
ChTlst, 
who 
dehghted 
to 
do 
the 
Father 
swill. 
retained 
his 
own 
individual 
human 
will. 
This 
fact 
is 
weil 
DBSIU 
TO 
DO 
mGHT 
NOT 
SUFFIOIENT 
illuatra.ted 
in 
the 
human 
,body, 
every 
member 
of 
which 
is 
"If 
any 
man 
will 
come 
after 
me, 
let 
him 
deny 
himself 
fully 
under 
the 
control 
of 
the 
head, 
unless 
the 
body 
is 
serious- 
and 
take 
up 
his 
cross," 
setting 
aside 
his 
own 
will, 
disl'osing 
ly 
diseased. 
T'he 
hands, 
the 
feet. 
etc., 
have 
no 
volition 
of 
their 
of 
it 
forever. 
If 
at 
any 
future 
time 
a 
will 
which 
is 
contrary 
own, 
but 
respond 
to 
the 
will 
of 
the 
brain. 
And 
I!Q 
it 
is 
with 
to 
God's 
will 
should 
develop, 
then 
the 
whole 
transaction 
would 
the 
members 
of 
the 
body 
of 
CJuoist; 
they 
are 
subject· 
to 
the 
be 
at 
an 
end; 
for 
the 
covenant 
o£ 
sacrifice 
into 
which 
we 
will 
of 
the 
Head, 
our 
Lord 
Jesus. 
entered 
at 
consecration 
involves 
the 
death 
of 
the 
old 
mind 
At 
first 
the 
new 
cres.ture 
seems 
to 
have 
been 
nothing 
but 
and 
the 
old 
will. 
The 
new 
creature 
must 
never 
permit 
the 
a 
will. 
Originllilly 
as 
a 
hUIIJan 
being 
he 
,had 
a 
body, 
a 
mind, 
will 
of 
the 
flesh 
to 
come 
into 
control 
again. 
So 
it 
is 
the 
new 
and 
a 
will 
which 
represented 
his 
personality, 
his 
ego, 
his 
will 
that 
is 
working 
001, 
the 
victory 
for 
the 
new 
creature; 
being. 
But 
while 
he 
was 
still 
a 
natural 
man 
a 
proposition 
and 
every 
'victory 
won 
over 
the 
flesh 
leads 
to 
the 
consuDlU14­ 
came 
to 
him: 
If 
he 
would 
heartily 
comply 
with 
certain 
tion, 
tJhe 
death 
of 
the 
human 
nature. 
terms 
and 
conditions, 
God 
would 
give 
him 
a 
change 
of 
nature 
In 
Philippians 
2: 
12 
the 
Apostle 
Paul 
exhorts 
the 
new 
from 
huma.n 
to 
epirit. 
This 
cha.nge 
evidently 
would 
mean 
a 
creature 
in 
Christ 
to 
work 
out 
his 
own 
salvation 
with 
fear 
new 
body, 
a. 
new 
mind 
and 
8. 
new 
will, 
in 
order 
that 
the 
new 
and 
tremhling. 
How 
neceesary 
it 
is 
for 
us 
to 
battle 
against 
creature 
could 
adapt 
himself 
to 
his 
new 
environment. 
But 
tIle 
adverse 
conditions 
of 
the 
human 
body, 
as 
well 
as 
against 
in 
the 
divine 
arrangement 
for 
the 
Gospel 
age 
those 
who 
ac- 
those 
of 
the 
world 
and 
of 
the 
devil! 
God 
has 
started 
his 
cepted 
this 
proposition 
received 
neither 
a 
new 
body 
nor 
a 
nllw 
spirit-begotten 
children 
in 
this 
narrow 
way 
of 
giving 
up 
their 
mind 
first, 
but 
a 
new 
will, 
with 
the 
promise 
that 
the 
other 
own 
will 
and 
taking 
the 
divine 
will 
instead, 
of 
determining 
two 
requirements 
would 
,be 
given 
in 
the 
resurrection, 
as 
a 
re- 
to 
live 
in 
harmony 
with 
God's 
will. 
We 
are 
to 
do 
his 
will 
sult 
of 
cheerful 
compliance 
with 
all 
the 
terms 
of 
the 
covenant 
even 
to 
the 
extent 
of 
sacrificing 
the" 
human 
body. 
God 
is 
entered 
into 
with 
God 
at 
the 
time 
of 
consecration. 
looking 
on 
to 
see 
whether 
or 
not 
we 
are 
overcoming 
self 
in 
Thus 
the 
first 
step 
on 
thc 
'part 
of 
those 
who 
accepted 
the 
this 
respect; 
for 
only 
the 
more 
than 
overcomers 
shall 
re­ 
divine 
proposition 
to 
become 
members 
of 
the 
new 
creation 
ceive 
the 
,promised 
glory, 
honor 
and 
immortality-the 
divine 
was 
that 
of 
giving 
up 
the 
human 
will. 
Whoever 
took 
this 
nature. 
step 
contracted 
to 
become 
dead 
as 
a 
human 
being-;-not 
that 
It 
is 
God 
who 
is 
working 
in 
U8 
the 
Apostle 
declares 
as 
his 
human 
body 
or 
his 
human 
brain 
died, 
not 
that 
he 
lost 
new 
creatures. 
He 
began 
that 
w;rk 
when 
he 
drew 
u~ 
to 
the 
power 
to 
think, 
but 
that 
he 
promised 
to 
forgo 
his 
human 
himself 
through 
the 
knowledge 
of 
his 
provision 
through 
Christ 
personality 
and 
experience 
in 
order 
to 
he 
ruled 
thereafter 
Jesus 
for 
our 
salvation. 
and 
when 
he 
accepted 
us 
in 
the 
BC'­ 
by 
a 
new 
will. 
the 
w~ll 
of 
God. 
Those 
who 
have 
taken 
this 
loved 
and 
begat 
us 
of 
his 
holy 
Spirit. 
Continually 
he 
I!ives 
step 
of 
full 
consecratlOn 
are 
accepted 
of 
the 
Father 
through 
us 
fresh 
beauties 
in 
his 
Word. 
But 
while 
God 
is 
working 
our 
Lord 
Je~us 
Christ, 
!lnd 
have 
hecn 
begotten 
of 
the 
holy 
upon 
our 
wills, 
we 
must 
Bee 
to 
it 
that 
we 
go 
further 
th1tn 
Spirit 
as 
new 
creatures 
in 
Christ. 
merely 
having 
the 
desire 
to 
do 
right. 
We 
must 
make 
strcnu- 
NEW 
WILL 
THE 
NEW 
CBEAT11RE 
ous 
efforts 
to 
put 
our 
desire 
into 
operation. 
At 
the 
present 
time 
this 
new 
will 
is 
all 
that 
there 
is 
of 
on 
WILLS 
NOT 
Otm. 
THOUGHTS 
the 
new 
creature. 
At 
the 
time 
of 
his 
spirit-begetting 
this 
We 
must 
make 
sure 
that 
we 
do 
not 
mistake 
our 
thoughts 
new 
will 
had 
not 
yet 
attained 
control 
of 
the 
mind 
or 
of 
the 
for 
our 
will. 
The 
will 
is 
the 
decision. 
the 
determination 
of 
body; 
but 
it 
is 
expected 
to 
conquer 
them, 
to 
bring 
them 
into 
the 
majority 
of 
those 
facultie5 
of 
the 
brain 
whieh 
constitute 
obedience 
to 
the 
new 
standard 
of 
living. 
The 
new 
will 
should 
the 
mentality. 
The 
will 
of 
thc 
flesh 
actually 
dies 
at 
the 
mo­ 
eontrol 
the 
brain 
as 
to 
what 
things 
may 
be 
proper 
subjects 
ment 
of 
consecration; 
and 
we 
receive 
the 
will 
of 
God 
instead, 
of 
thought 
and 
what 
things 
may 
not 
be 
so 
considered. 
This 
thenceforth 
to 
be 
our 
will. 
But 
we 
retain 
our 
human 
bodies, 
new 
creatnrr. 
i~ 
exhorted 
to 
put 
away 
from 
,his 
mind 
all 
selfish 
with 
the 
old 
brain, 
which 
has 
the 
same 
tendencies 
after 
con­ 
lines 
of 
thought, 
and 
to 
put 
far 
away 
from 
him 
all 
anger, 
secration 
as 
before. 
\Vhen 
we 
accepted 
the 
wiJl 
of 
God 
instead 
wrath, 
ma!ire, 
hatred, 
strife, 
works 
of 
the 
flesh, 
and 
to 
put 
of 
our 
own 
will 
we 
did 
not 
fully 
understand 
that 
new 
will; 
on 
meeknl'ss, 
g'l'ntlenc5s, 
patience, 
brotherly 
kindness 
and 
love. 
but 
as 
time 
went 
on, 
the 
divine 
will 
became 
more 
and 
more 
From 
the 
Word 
of 
God 
the 
new 
creature 
learns 
that 
the 
apparent 
to 
us. 
former 
spirit, 
mind 
or 
disposition 
of 
anger, 
malice, 
hatred. 
This 
determination 
to 
accept 
the 
will 
of 
God 
as 
onr 
will 
(339-340) 
{6362] 
Vou. XXX1IX PITTSBURGH, PA., NOVEMBER 15, 1918 SELF-DENIAL—ITS PURPOSE AND ITS IMPORTANCE No. 22 “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.’—Luke 14:33. Denying one’s self is self-denial. In considering what is meant by the phrase, “denying one’s self,” we, must distinguish as to what self is and what are the self-rights. Upon mature reflection we perceive that our personality, our ego, is represented by our will. Evidently, then, our Lord requires that every one who becomes his disciple shall surrender his own will-—“all that he hath’; for elsewhere the Master says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Whether our will be good or bad, strong: or weak, it must be given up when we consecrate ourselves to do the will of God; and when once we have surrendered our own will to do the divine will, it follows that henceforth we are to do God’s will to the best of our ability in every matter. After our consecration to do the will of God, and the subsequent acceptance on the part of our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, we were begotten of the holy Spirit as sons of God, new creatures in Christ. This transaction meant that we gave up self-will and accepted God’s will instead of our own on all subjects. This matter of giving up one’s own will in order to do the will of another is a most radical proposition. Indeed, the yielding up of the will to any one except the heavenly Father is the most dangerous thing we ean do. Very grave mistakes have been made in thig way. In various cults, in denominational bodieg and in political circles the surrender of the individual will, the failure to maintain a personal responsibility, has resulted in many serious mistakes and in much evil] practise. THE START OF THE NEW CREATION In the case of those who have surrendered their will to God the matter is altogether different, however. God has given our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Head over the chureh which is his body, and of which the consecrated, spirit-begotten children of God are the members in particular. No one could properly be a member of the body of Christ if he retained his own individual human will. This fact is well illustrated in the human body, every member of which is fully under the control of the head, unless the body is seriously diseased. The hands, the feet, etc., have no volition of their own, but respond to the will of the brain. And so it is with the members of the body of Christ; they are subject to the will of the Head, our Lord Jesus. At first the new creature seema to have been nothing but a will. Originally as a human being he had a body, a mind, and a will which represented his personality, his ego, his being. But while he was still a natura? man a proposition came to him: If be would heartily comply with certain terms and conditions, God would give him a change of nature from human to spirit. This change evidently would mean a new body, a new mind and a new will, in order that the new creature could adapt himself to his new environment. But in the divine arrangement for the Gospel age those who accepted this proposition received neither a new body nor a new mind first, but a new will, with the promise that the other two requirements would be given in the resurrection, as a result of cheerful compliance with all the terms of the covenant entered into with God at the time of consecration. Thus the first step on the part of those who accepted the divine proposition to become merabers of the new creation was that of giving up the human will. Whoever took this step contracted to become dead as a human being—not that his human body or his human brain died, not that he lost the power to think, but that he promised to forgo his human personality and experience in order to be ruled thereafter by a new will, the will of God. Those who have taken this step of full consecration are accepted of the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, and have been begotten of the holy Spirit as new creatures in Christ. NEW WILL THE NEW CREATURE At the present time this new will is all! that there is of the new creature. At the time of his spirit-begetting this new will had not yet attained control of the mind or of the body; but it is expected to conquer them, to bring them into obedience to the new standard of living. The new will should control the brain as to what things may be proper subjects of thought and what things may not be so considered. This new creature is exhorted to put away from his mind all selfish fines of thought, and to put far away from him all anger, wrath, malice, hatred, strife, works of the flesh, and to put on meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness and love. From the Word of God the new creature learns that the former spirit, mind or disposition of anger, malice, hatred, (339-340) is of the flesh and of the devil, but that the spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness, love, is the spirit, mind or disposition of Christ, and is in accord with God. He alse learns that since he has been begotten of the holy Spirit of God, his human will must be kept dead, that his new will is to be God’s will, and that it must not operate except in line with the divine arrangements. As the new creature develops, he gains mora and more control over the mind, the body, the acts, the thoughts. It is the new will which is thus gaining control of the human body—the will of the new creature. This divine new will is entirely upon God’s side, and hopes to receive some day the things promised in the Word of to the overcomers of the Gospel age. When we characterize this new will as being divine, we do not mean to imply that there is no individuality about the new creature, however; for our Lord Jesus still maintains his individuality, and it is written that the church, the new creation, shall be like him—1 John 3:1, 2; 2 Peter 1:4; Philippians 2:8-11. The holy Spirit is the same disposition or mind, whether the Father or the Son or the church possesses it. When at the moment of spirit-begetting we received the impartation of this holy Spirit, we began to take on the divine spirit, or disposition. In other words, we have been making the divine mind ours. As the Apostle Paul intimates, we are being transformed, formed over, by the renewing of our minds, in order that we may prove more and more the good, the acceptable, the perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1, 2) As gradually our minds expand to grasp that will, we are enabled more and more to appreciate the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the divine mind; and we say to ourselves: “This is what I am aiming to reach.” Thus our will is endeavoring continually to do the divine will, the divine purposs; for we have taken over to ourselves the mind of Christ, who delighted to do the Father’s will. DESIRE TO DO RIGHT NOT SUFFICIENT “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross,” setting aside his own will, disposing of it forever. If at any future time a will which is contrary to God’s will should develop, then the whole transaction would be at an end; for the covenant of sacrifice into which we entered at consecration involves the death of the old mind and the old will, The new creature must never permit the will of the flesh to come into control again. So it is the new will that is working out the victory for the new creature; and every vietory won over the flesh leads to the consummation, the death of the human nature. In Philippians 2:12 the Apostle Paul exhorts the new creature in Christ to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. How necessary it ia for us to battle against the adverse conditions of the human body, as well as against those of the world and of the devil! God has started his spirit-begotten children in this narrow way of giving up their own will and taking the divine will instead, of determining to live in harmony with God’s will. .We are to do hia will even to the extent of sacrificing the human body. God is looking on to see whether or not we are overcoming self in this respect; for only the more than overcomers shall receive the promised glory, honor and immortality—the divine nature. It is God who is working in ua, the Apostle declares, a3 new creatures. He began that work when he drew us to himself through the knowledge of his provision through Christ Jesus for our salvation, and when he accepted us in the Beloved and begat us of his holy Spirit. Continually he gives us fresh beauties in his Word. But while God is working upon our wills, we must see to it that we go further than merely having the desire to do right. We must make strenuous efforte to put our desire into operation, OUR WILLS NOT OUR THOUGHTS We must make sure that we do not mistake our thoughts for our will. The will is the decision, the determination of the majority of those faculties of the brain which constitute the mentality. The will of the flesh actually dies at the moment of consecration; and we receive the will of God instead, thenceforth to be our will. But we retain our human bodies, with the old brain, which has the same tendencies after consecration as before. When we accepted the will of God instead of our own will we did not fully understand that new will; but as time went on, the divine will became more and more apparent to us. This determination to accept the will of God as our will [6352]

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