Refusal to Die to Self and Commandment Violation
The refusal to die to self is closely tied to the concept of commandment violation in biblical and theological traditions. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, self-will and stubbornness are forbidden and often proceed from unbelief, pride, and an evil heart [3]. This refusal to submit to God's will is seen as a fundamental aspect of sin.
In the biblical account, disobedience to God's commandments is a recurring theme. The Psalmist warns that violating God's statutes and failing to keep His commandments will result in severe consequences [2]. Similarly, in Joshua, those who rebel against God's order and refuse to obey His words are to be put to death [6]. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments, with Sirach stating that corruption and death hang over those who fail to follow them [1].
The concept of dying to self is closely related to the idea of self-denial, which is seen as a necessary aspect of following Christ. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that Christ set an example of self-denial, and that believers are called to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, mortify sinful lusts, and no longer live to the lusts of men [5]. This self-denial is not limited to personal desires but also involves submission to God's sovereignty and purposes [4].
Theological traditions have interpreted the refusal to die to self and commandment violation in various ways. According to Charles Hodge, the failure to recognize God's authority and submit to His will is a fundamental aspect of sin, and is condemned in the biblical narrative [10]. In the Reformed tradition, the refusal to submit to God's will is seen as a manifestation of the sinful nature, which must be mortified through the process of sanctification [9].
In contrast, the Catholic tradition, as represented by Aquinas, views the refusal to submit to God's will as a sin against justice, and argues that those who are condemned to death justly should not resist their sentence [7]. The Patristic tradition, as represented by Augustine, also emphasizes the importance of submitting to God's will, and argues that suicide is never justified, even in the face of persecution [11].
The Jewish tradition, as represented by the Babylonian Talmud, views the refusal to heed God's words as a serious offense, punishable by death at the hand of Heaven [8]. This emphasis on obedience to God's commandments is a common thread throughout the various theological traditions represented in the sources.
Sources
- Sirach “Sirach 28:7 (DRC) — For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.”
- Psalms “Psalms 89:31 (BSB) — if they violate My statutes and fail to keep My commandments,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Joshua “Joshua 1:18 (BSB) — Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!””
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Sins Committed Against Justice on the Part of the Defendant, Art. 4: Article: Whether a man who is condemned to death may lawfully defend himself if he can? I answer that, A man may be condemned to death in two ways. First justly, and then it is not lawful for the condemned to defend himself, because it is lawful for the judge to combat his resistance by force, so that on his part the fight is unjust, and consequently without any doubt he sins. Secondly a man is condemned unjustly: and such a sentence is like the ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 89a.8: But with regard to one who suppresses his prophecy because he does not want to share it with the public, and one who contemptuously forgoes the statement of a prophet and refuses to heed it, and a prophet who violated his own statement and failed to perform that which he was commanded to do, his death is at the hand of Heaven, as it is stated: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not hearken unto My words that he shall speak in My name, I will exact it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:19).”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 31: the soul into conformity to the image of Christ. Paul details his own Experience in Romans vii. 7-25. The classical passages of the New Testament on the nature of this work are the following, — Romans vii. 7-25 . This is not the place to enter upon the discussion whether the Apostle in this passage is detailing his own experience or not. This is the interpretation given to it by Augustinians in all ages. It is enough to say here that the “ onus probandi ” rests on those who take the opposite view of the passage. It must require very stron”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 42: a constant reference to his will in the conduct of our inward and outward life; recognizing continually his hand in everything that befalls us, submitting to all his chastisements and grateful for all his mercies. The second or negative aspect of the command is the condemnation of the failure to recognize Jehovah as the true God; failing to believe in his existence and attributes, in his government and authority; failing to confess him before men; and failing to render him the inward reverence and the outward homage which are his due, tha”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 20.--THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE NO AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTING SUICIDE IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHATEVER. (part 1): It is not without significance, that in no passage of the holy canonical books there can be found either divine precept or permission to take away our own life, whether for the sake of entering on the enjoyment of immortality, or of shunning, or ridding ourselves of anything whatever. Nay, the law, rightly interpreted, even prohibits suicide, where it says, "Thou shalt not kill." This is proved especially by the omission of the ”