Self-Renunciation By John Angell James (1785—1859)
May 26th, 2008 at 10:15 pm (Preaching)
The following are excerpts from a sermon by John Angell James whom I have been blessed by through various sermons. It is quite a different sermon than you might commonly hear today as it exalts Christs and renounces self. The entire sermon is worthy of a read and is attached for your edification.
The apostle Paul teaches this important duty, by the following awakening and impressive appeal: “Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
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“You are not your own, for you were bought at a price!” How is it possible you should be your own—if you have been bought? In what sense a Christian is not his own, is explained to you by another portion of Scripture—”None of us lives to himself,” Rom. 14:7. Do enter very seriously, and solemnly, and deeply, into these two impressive passages—
“You are not your own.”
“None of us lives to himself.”
It is for you to recollect that the renunciation of SELF, as well as of SIN, was one of the solemn transactions of that scene, and that time, when you bowed by faith at the foot of the cross, received mercy through Jesus Christ, and yielded yourselves to God. You then abjured—not only self-righteousness, but self-seeking, self pleasing, self-living. Self, as a supreme object, was in every view of it renounced. Self, until then, had been your loftiest aim; self-love your highest affection; but then you transferred your aim and your affection to another object. The Christian has no right to ask what he will do with himself; or to what he will give himself; or how he will employ himself. He is no longer at liberty to inquire how he shall spend his energies, his time, his properly, his labor, and his influence; for he is not his own, he is bought with a price.
He is not to live for fame—and please himself with the applause of his fellow creatures. Nor is he to live for riches—and please himself with increasing wealth. Nor is he to live for health—and please himself with the glowing energies of a sound body. Nor is he to live for taste—and please himself with the pursuit of literature, science, or the arts. Nor is he to live for social enjoyment—and please himself with an agreeable circle of friends. Nor is he to live for ease—and please himself with unmolested quiet. In short, he is not to consider himself as his own master to please himself supremely in any way, nor his own property to employ himself on his own account, and for his own benefit. He is not to imagine that personal gratification is to be his end and aim, for the accomplishment of which he may lay down his own schemes, select his own course, and pursue his own methods, as if he had an independent and sovereign right over himself.
Self is “the old man” to be crucified with Christ; the body of sin to be destroyed; the corrupt nature to be put away; the law in our members to be resisted; the lusts of the mind to be subdued. Self is the enemy of God to be fought against; the rival interest with Christ in our soul to be put down; the means by which the devil would hold us in alienation from holiness to be opposed. SELF is the most subtle, the most stubborn, the most tenacious foe with which grace has to contend, in the soul of the believer. It lives, and works, and fights, when many other corruptions are mortified. Self is the last stronghold, the very citadel of Satan in the heart, which is reduced to the obedience of faith.
Why do believers murmur at the painful dispensations of Providence, and find submission so hard an achievement? Because self is disturbed in its enjoyment! Why are they so easily offended, and experience such difficulty in showing forgiveness? Because self-esteem has been wounded! Why are they covetous? Because self is gratified by its increasing stores.
What is vanity—but the indulgence of self-love? What is ambition—but the exultation of self? What is pride—but the worship of self? Why are they so reluctant to give their time and labor for the good of others, and the glory of God? Because they want it for ease, and the enjoyment of self! Why are they peevish, quarrelsome, and discontented with the little annoyances of life, which are everywhere and continually occurring? Because they want to settle down in unmolested ease, and undisturbed quiet, to enjoy themselves!
But is this right? Is not this living as if we were our own? Is not this living for ourselves? Is not this forgetting that we are purchased property, belonging to another? My dear friends, do consider this subject. Weigh well the import of the condition of Christian discipleship, as laid down by our Lord: “If any man will come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF.” Self-denial, not self-pleasing, is your business; and the evidence of our being disciples is in exact proportion to our disposition thus to take up our cross. If we are coveting ease, quiet, soft indulgence, luxurious gratification; and are dissatisfied, and discontented, and contentious, and peevish, because we cannot please ourselves, nor get others to please us, as the supreme end of life, how can we dream that we are the disciples of Him, of whom it is declared, “he pleased not himself;” especially since it is said, “Let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus?”
For whom then are we to live, and whom are we to please, if not ourselves? Who is to come in the place of self? GOD! And for this obvious reason. We are God’s! God’s servants! God’s property!
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Now, my dear friends, you are to glorify God. All your purposes, aims, objects, plans, wishes, and prayers, must be gathered up in that one petition, “Father, glorify your name.” But does it occur to you, what a prayer that is, as presented not only by you, but in reference to you! He must have great grace, who, with a clear understanding of its meaning, can present it in sincerity. Are you then willing that God should glorify himself in you, and by you? If so, you must impose no conditions; dictate no terms; lay down no plans; make no exceptions—but leave all this to him. Such a prayer means, “Lord, how you will, what you will, when you will—only let me glorify you!” You must be prepared to do it, either by sickness, or health—by success, or failure in business—by settling down in ease and quiet by your fire-side, or striking your tent, and becoming a wanderer to the ends of the earth—by the world’s smile, or its frown—by the soft and silent flow of your history, or by the roaring torrent and dashing cataract—by the society, or bereavement of your friends—by a long life, or an early death.
Are you prepared for this? Will you, now that you understand it, present the prayer, “Father! glorify your name?” Can you, will you, do you put yourself in God’s hand, saying, “O God, I am not my own! I am yours! Serve yourself in me, and by me. Provided you grant me grace to bear as well as do your will, I am content to do it in any situation, and any circumstances.”
This is obviously your duty—for you are not your own, but God’s. Think, I entreat you, of the sacred and tender obligation which comes upon you by the manner of your redemption, thus to live. How many claims are comprised in that one, “You are bought with a price!” Justice demands it of you, for he has purchased you, and at how immense a price! To take what belongs to man, is robbery; but to take what belongs to God, is sacrilege. Gratitude demands it of you. What blessedness has God conferred upon you by redeeming you! From what degradation, misery, and eternal woe, he has saved you! And to what honor, happiness, and eternal glory, he has advanced you!
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What a robbery of God, what a felony upon heaven, is it to attempt, or even to wish to live for ourselves! Which of us can make the daring attempt, or cherish the unjust, ungrateful wish? And yet how prone are we to this! How much of this wicked sacrilege is going on! How many professors, in opposition to claims so sacred, so tender, and so strong—are living for their own ease, enjoyment, and aggrandizement! How few do we see who seem to be sensible of the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ! How few, who enter as they should do into that admonition, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do—do all to the glory of God!” How few, who connect the glory of God with the whole course of their conduct, as the end of every action, the ultimate object of all they do! How few, to whom it is matter of plan, forethought, purpose, and calculation—to lay out themselves to be holy, useful, and successful in leading others to think upon God, and inquire after him!
Self-Renunciation: Downloads 130
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Mom said,
July 16, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Tony, I believe God has given you the gift of exhortation and teaching. Praise His Holy Name!!!