It Starts Here!

Dying to Self

I remember when I first got saved—I jumped into church life with passion. But no one taught me one of the most important steps. It was the step I should have started with, been challenged by, and exhorted to live out every day.

What step was that? Dying to self.

Romans 1–11 lays out the foundation of the Gospel. Paul begins by showing that all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—are guilty of sin and under God’s judgment. He then presents God’s solution: we’re justified by faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. This salvation unites us with Christ, sets us free from sin, and empowers us to live by the Spirit. Finally, Paul reveals God's sovereign plan to show mercy to all, both Jew and Gentile, for His glory.

Then comes the call to respond—not casually, but fully.
Romans 12:1–2 says:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”

This isn’t a suggestion—it’s the starting point of Christian living. Paul is urging us to surrender completely. Every thought, desire, opinion, and ambition must be placed at God’s feet and exchanged for His will. It’s saying, “God, I’m all in.” Only from that place can real transformation begin.

In True Spirituality: Becoming a Romans 12 Christian, Pastor Chip Ingram likens this surrender to signing a blank check—entrusting everything to God without conditions.

Trying to follow Jesus in the flesh, hoping your sinful nature will eventually fade, is backwards. If that worked, God wouldn’t command us to die to the flesh daily. True change comes when we lay ourselves on the altar and make that daily decision to surrender.

It’s like trying to raise a child who refuses to grow up—he can’t understand, won’t listen, and constantly loses his way. The same is true spiritually. We can’t mature unless we’re willing to let go of our old selves. Spiritual growth requires death to the flesh.

Following Jesus in the flesh will only lead to confusion and burnout. You’ll lack clarity, strength, and direction. Growth becomes a struggle. The Christian walk turns into a frustrating cycle, bearing little fruit and leaving you spiritually drained.

You can study the Bible, attend every small group, and listen to sermon after sermon—but without full surrender, it’s like trying to fight a war from the comfort of your living room. What kind of soldier refuses to engage? He becomes a liability in battle—ineffective, endangered, and detached from the victory God offers.

When I became a Christian, I knew Scripture called me to die to myself. But I didn’t understand how much my faith would suffer without making that choice daily. I struggled to grow, struggled to let go, and struggled to follow Jesus into a broken world as His light.

What I’m saying is this: the flesh must die. If we refuse to crucify the flesh, our faith will remain shallow—weak, lifeless, and powerless. But when we surrender and put it to death, transformation begins. God is glorified, and our faith comes alive. If we’re going to run the race marked out for us, it has to begin with our death—death to self, so that Christ can live fully through us.