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How to Deny Yourself

egyboyegyboy
edited December 1969 in Faith Issues
Hello everyone,

I am hoping someone can direct me to something that can help answer the question which is:

How can one deny him/herself within the Coptic Orthodox Church? as Jesus said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

please pray for me and my weakness

Comments

  • Pharaoh714Pharaoh714
    Denying yourself is giving up worldly things, even things that are seen as normal in society.

    Example:

    Sex before marriage
    drugs
    Love of Money
    imputrity
    etc.

    There are even people who  struggle with the sin of Homosexuality for example and live a celibate life despite their urges to sin.. that is considered  carrying their Cross and fallowing Him.  Because you give up these Sins (even though everyone does them) for Christ. And that Shows God how much you really love Him.


  • ZoxsasiZoxsasi
    [quote author=Marenhos Epchois link=topic=9907.msg121320#msg121320 date=1288060326]
    Hello everyone,

    I am hoping someone can direct me to something that can help answer the question which is:

    How can one deny him/herself within the Coptic Orthodox Church? as Jesus said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

    please pray for me and my weakness


    Hi

    At the moment I am busy trying to make sure I can pay the mortgage this week, and I guess others are too. You know that people DO answer questions here!

    Why not do some research on our behalf and find out what the Fathers say on this passage and post the info here, then others would know what our Church teaches. There are lots of places online to find the teachings of the Fathers on various passages.

    There is no need to look at Protestant sites, just the commentaries of the Fathers.

    http://www.archive.org

    http://www.earlychristianwritings.com

    http://www.tertullian.org/fathers

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbs=bks:1&tbo=1&q=ancient+christian+commentary+on+scripture&oq=ancient+christian

    Start with these and see what you can find.

    Good luck and thanks for using tasbeha.org
  • yagd
    Denying yourself does not just mean to give up worldly pleasures. That is something we don't even do ourselves, as it is something we need the Holy Spirit to give us, as the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart and mind that is not of the world but rather of God if we allow him to.

    Denying yourself is maining understanding your worthlessness as a sinner and a human. We can never be remotely close to what the Lord desires of us, and we shall always fall to sin and worldly pleasures no matter how much we try ourselves (this is why you must let the spirit do the work by giving it the room the work). Once you realize that you do not qualify for heaven, and it is completely by Grace that we are saved, you are denying yourself.

    This concept interlines with not judging others aswell, for if you deny yourself, you realize that your works do not save you, so no matter what you think of others actions, it doesn't make them any better or worse than you, as we are all saved in the same manner, grace and grace alone.
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