Why I Don’t Subscribe to “Dying to Self”
The old man is gone, the flesh is denied as source, your personhood has dignity, and your regenerated spirit is new in Christ.
Written By Believing Thomas
I’ve never been comfortable with the phrase “dying to self.” It is common in Christian circles, but when you look closely at Scripture, it does not match what God has already done for us in Jesus. The Bible gives a far richer and more liberating picture. We do not keep dying to self. We acknowledge that the old man has already been crucified, we deny the self-life as our source, we affirm God-given personhood, and we “put on” the new self in Christ.
This may sound like splitting hairs, but it is the difference between striving in self-effort and resting in the finished work of Christ.
A quick guide to what “self” means
Old self, old man: who we were in Adam. That identity was crucified with Christ. It is a settled fact, not a to-do list (Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17). gracenotebook.com
Flesh, self-life: the ongoing principle of independence that still seeks expression. It is “in” us but not the real us in Christ. We deny it and walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 24; Romans 8:12–13; Luke 9:23). gracenotebook.com
Personhood: your God-created dignity as an image-bearer. We do not reject personhood; we thank God for His design and redemption (Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 139:13–16; 1 Peter 1:18–19). gracenotebook.com
New self: your regenerated spirit united with Christ, created after God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 6:17). gracenotebook.com
Definitions summarized from John Woodward, “Sorting Your Self Out,” Grace Notebook. gracenotebook.com
1) What Scripture actually says about the old man
The Bible never says “die to self.” It says our old man was crucified with Christ.
“Our old man was crucified with Him,” Romans 6:6.
“I have been crucified with Christ,” Galatians 2:20.
“You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God,” Colossians 3:3.
These are accomplished facts. The old man refers to who we were in Adam. That identity has been crucified once for all at the cross. We are now new creations in Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5:17. So Paul tells us to reckon this truth: “Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus,” Romans 6:11.
2) What Scripture says about the flesh, the self-life
Galatians 5:24 states, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” This announces a decisive break in loyalty. Practically, we still face sinful impulses, so we walk by the Spirit and we put to death the deeds of the body (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:12–13). Denying “self” in Luke 9:23 means refusing independence from God and consenting to Christ’s life within us. gracenotebook.com
3) What about personhood?
Your personhood is not erased. You are an image-bearer with dignity by creation and worth by redemption (Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 139:13–16; 1 Peter 1:18–19). In Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells you, and your mind, will, emotions, and body are presented to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 12:1–2; Romans 6:13). Self-rejection is not sanctification.
4) The new self in Christ
At conversion, you “put on the new self” that has been created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). You are united with Christ at the core of your being (1 Corinthians 6:17). This is why Paul can say, “By the grace of God I am what I am,” 1 Corinthians 15:10. The self is not destroyed; it is renewed and indwelt.
5) “Deny himself” and “take up his cross daily”
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). In practice, this is not erasing personality. It is a daily no to the flesh as functional source and a daily yes to the Holy Spirit’s lead. Dr. John Woodward reminds us of Oswald Chamber’s imagery, which has us picture this as having a “white funeral” for the old identity and living out our union with Christ. gracenotebook.com
A simple chart
What really happens in the abiding life
The abiding life is not trying to kill ourselves spiritually. It is yielding. We deny the old, independent self-life because, in Jesus, it has already been judged at the cross. In that denial, we discover our truest selves, alive with His life. So I do not subscribe to “dying to self.” I affirm that the old man was crucified once for all, the flesh’s rule is renounced, personhood has God-given dignity, and the call is to reckon, yield, and walk by the Spirit. For a fuller treatment of these categories, see John Woodward’s “Sorting Your Self Out.” gracenotebook.com
Real-life analogy
Think of a computer that had its old operating system wiped and replaced with something new. The old system is gone. It cannot be reinstalled. That is like the old man, crucified, never to return.
But the computer still gets pop-up notifications that try to distract you, urging you to run old programs that no longer belong. That is the flesh. Those programs do not have authority anymore, but they still make noise. When I trust the Spirit of Jesus within me, I do not fight the old programs. I reckon them gone and keep running from the new system that is already in place.
So today, when temptations or old patterns tug at me, I can quietly rest and say, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me in this moment.” The Spirit keeps me in step with Jesus, not through striving, but through abiding.
Prayer of confidence
Lord, I thank You that my old man was crucified with You, once for all. I rejoice that I am a new creation in You. I thank You that the flesh’s claim has been broken and that, by Your Spirit, I put to death the deeds of the body. I receive my personhood as Your workmanship and present myself to You. Today I yield to Your indwelling life, confident that You will express Yourself through me.
Citation: Definitions adapted from John Woodward, “Sorting Your Self Out,” Grace Notebook, as noted throughout this article..