THE OLD MAN IS DEAD (And for the Record, I Don’t Like Him Either)

Jesus said we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Matthew 16:24). But what does that truly mean? Peter, in a moment of fear, denied the Lord, saying, “I do not know Him; I have nothing to do with that man” (Matthew 26:74). In a way, that is exactly the picture of what we are called to do with the old self—not deny Christ, but deny the old man, the person we were before Jesus came took over our life.

To deny self is to look at the life you lived before Christ was actually given control and say, “That man is dead. I do not know him. He has nothing to do with me. I will not discuss him. I will not revisit the past. That person was awful. I do not blame anyone for thinking what they think about him, but he is gone.” The old man has been crucified with Christ, and He has replaced him. Christ has stepped in to drive the life, to guide the decisions, and to set the course of every day. Give Christ the glory. Let Him shine in every corner that was once shadowed by sin or failure.

This change is not hidden. My life has a sharp contrast, visible to anyone willing to look. There is a difference between the man I was and the man Christ has made me. Some who have lived a good moral life may not show such a stark contrast, and that is understandable. But with me, it is obvious. You can see the difference when Bryan is driving and when Jesus is driving. The old self is dead. It is over. It cannot steer this life any longer.

This is what Paul meant when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The old self, with all its failures, fears, and folly, is gone. What remains is Christ living in me, guiding my steps, shaping my heart, and empowering my life. It is not about perfection; it is about transformation.

Denying self does not mean ignoring the past or pretending it never existed. It means recognizing that the past has no power over the new creation. It means refusing to revisit the failures, the shame, and the guilt of yesterday. It means stepping forward in the freedom Christ purchased on the cross, walking in the light of His grace, and allowing His Spirit to produce fruit in every part of life.

This is the beauty and the mystery of a life surrendered to Christ. When He drives, the decisions, the words, the actions, and even the thoughts reflect His kingdom. The old man has nothing to say; his voice is silenced. All that remains is Christ living fully, abundantly, and freely in the believer.

Let us then deny the old self with confidence. Let us refuse to revisit it. Let us allow Christ to take full control, knowing that every moment in His hands is covered with grace, provision, and direction. The contrast between what we were and what we are in Christ is proof of His transforming power. Give Him the glory. Let Him shine. The old man is dead. It is over. Christ lives, and in Him, all things are made new.

Bryan Dewayne Dunaway