The act of self-denial or the “putting to death” of sinful instincts in order to have freedom from sin and to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. The NT stresses that this act of humiliation comes about through the grace of God. It is the result of, not the condition for, conversion.
Examples of mortification through humility
2 Samuel 10:1–5 See also Matthew 27:3–5
Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”
Examples of mortification through self-denial
Leviticus 16:29–31 See also Exodus 19:15; Leviticus 23:27–32; Numbers 29:7
This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work — whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you — because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, that you may humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute.
Mortification as the basis for discipleship
Self-denial is essential
Mark 8:34–35 parallels Matthew 16:24–25, Luke 9:23–24 See also 1 John 3:16
Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
The necessity of putting to death sinful human nature and the world's values
Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5 See also Matthew 5:29–30; Galatians 5:24, Galatians 6:14; 1 Peter 2:11
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Dying to self is a means of knowing freedom from sin
Romans 6:6–7 See also Ephesians 4:22–23
We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
The importance of sharing in the death of Christ
Galatians 2:20 See also Romans 6:3, Romans 7:4; 2 Corinthians 4:11–12; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 2:20; 2 Timothy 2:11
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The example of Paul
1 Corinthians 9:27 See also 2 Corinthians 11:23–33; Galatians 6:17
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Mortification is not the same as self-infliction
Colossians 2:23 See also Philippians 3:2–3; Colossians 2:20–22; 1 Timothy 4:1–5
Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.