Jesus Christ teaches the importance of self-denial as a fundamental aspect of following Him, declaring that anyone who desires to come after Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. This call to deny oneself involves rejecting the natural human inclination toward self, submitting and surrendering to God our will, affections, bodies, and lives. Our own pleasures and happiness must no longer be primary goals; instead, we must be willing to renounce all and lay down our lives if required. We are admonished to no longer live in the flesh for the lusts of men, meaning we should forsake wrong desires and fulfill our Christian duty to deny the lust of the flesh. Christ further calls us to take up our cross and follow His example, which is not merely a call to martyrdom but a command to deny self or crucify the flesh, even to the point of death. We must be prepared to die if that is where events lead, though often it is about having an attitude of self-denial willing to give up all. His disciples live to serve God, not self, and we are urged to put off former conduct and put to death sinful actions. Self-denial is also crucial when facing temptation, as we must deny ourselves the wrong desire as soon as temptation arises. Jesus calls us to practice self-denial in our actions even before we commit them. Temptations vary according to individual weaknesses, and what may be easy for one to deny might be difficult for another. Common areas where self-denial proves challenging include appetite, material goods, worldly ambitions, personal prestige, and sexual desires. Jesus Himself exemplifies self-denial, teaching it not only through His words but also by His actions. His call to self-denial follows predictions of His own sacrificial death, making Him the supreme model of the self-denial to which He calls others. He denies Himself any urge to avenge Himself or threaten His persecutors, showing that by committing ourselves to God who judges rightly, we deny the temptation of worldly lusts. True self-denial cannot occur without submission to God, as we have died with Christ and must sacrifice our lives for Him. The grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, denying what the self desires. Self-denial requires genuine humility in submission, lest it become merely a counterfeit. Finally, while God cannot deny His character or promises, being faithful and perfect in goodness, we are called to deny ourselves but never to deny Jesus or the Father. If we deny ourselves, and even our family if necessary for the sake of the Kingdom of God, we will be rewarded many times over.

In the midst of a world that seems out of control, with events and lifestyles designed by satan to be fast-paced and filled with distractions, the importance of self-control emerges as a vital aspect of Christian living. God does not require us to control what is beyond us, but He calls us to master our own desires and impulses. Self-control, as the last of the fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23, is essential to a Christian life, exemplified by Jesus Christ and the apostles who lived controlled lives under God's guidance without relinquishing their free moral agency. Self-control, translated from the Greek word enkrateia, means possessing power and having mastery over one's passions and desires. It is comprehensive in its application to life, implied in many biblical exhortations to obedience and sinless living. It includes having good sense, sober wisdom, and moderation, contrasting with the insanity of worldly ways. As Proverbs 25:28 illustrates, whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Paul uses the example of runners in the Grecian games to demonstrate the need for rigid self-control in all areas of life. A victorious runner follows a rigorous program, abstaining from many legitimate things that do not fit into his schedule to succeed against competitors. Similarly, Christians must avoid self-indulgence and maintain focus on seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:33. This single-mindedness requires controlling distractions and subordinating the drive to satisfy insatiable appetites that can lead to sin. The act of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, as Paul urges, involves self-surrender and self-control, inseparably linked to Christian belief and practical living. This sacrifice, akin to the Old Covenant offerings, sets our lives apart for God's use, requiring a renewed mind to live according to His will rather than conforming to the world. Such service, performed as priests in complete self-surrender, demands control over the impressions we allow, the indulgences we grant, and the activities we engage in, all consciously devoted to God. Powerful pulls like the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, noted by John in I John 2:16, must be controlled to avoid conformity to the world. If not mastered, these can trap us in sin almost without thinking. Paul emphasizes disciplining the body and bringing it into subjection, teaching that the body is a good servant but a bad master. For our own good and God's glory, we must be its master. God's grace, as stated in II Timothy 1:6-7, is given for us to express self-control, a quality hard to imagine absent in a Christian preparing for the Kingdom of God. Allowing passions unbridled freedom is characteristic of the world, not of those guided by the Spirit. The conflict between flesh and Spirit, as Paul describes in Galatians 5:17, requires us to set a will above appetites, using the courage, power, and love of God's Spirit to govern ourselves and avoid falling to pieces. Yielding to God in this matter glorifies Him through our moderation in all things and rigid resistance to sin.

The concept of self-denial emerges as a critical element in overcoming the inherent flaws of human nature and achieving spiritual goals. Like the Israelites, whose stubbornness and faithlessness revealed the corruption of their hearts, we too struggle with a carnal nature that skews our lives toward sin. This nature, described as deceitful and desperately wicked, remains a persistent challenge even after baptism, as new sins replace the old, and progress often feels stagnant. The struggle to live godly lives requires a deliberate rejection of this law of sin within us, allowing God's Spirit to dominate and redirect our course against the carnal flow. The apostle Paul exemplifies this battle and its solution through self-discipline and self-restraint. He speaks of using his freedom in Christ not for personal gain, but to become a servant to all, dedicating himself wholly to the gospel's work. By exercising self-control, he avoids selfish pursuits and focuses on bringing others toward the Kingdom of God alongside himself. Paul illustrates this with the metaphor of athletes in the Isthmian Games, who must undergo strict training and forsake harmful habits to win an imperishable crown. Similarly, we must pursue eternal life with single-minded dedication, giving maximum effort and avoiding distractions or aimless striving. Paul emphasizes the need to strike a blow to our own body, making it a slave to our spiritual purpose. This self-mastery over carnal desires ensures that we are not disqualified from God's Kingdom by ungodliness. Without such discipline, our efforts remain unproductive, as we allow human nature to rule rather than ruling over it. The call is clear: we must rededicate ourselves to running the race with total commitment, striving straight for the goal of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.