The cost that leads to life

Luke 9:23
“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Jesus will not lower the standards,
He never measured success by numbers, when
people wanted miracles with no commitment,
He spoke words that thinned the crowd but
purified the disciples.

“The warfare against self is the greatest
battle that was ever fought.”
SC 43

Lesson of the Young Ruler

He asked Christ “What shall I do to inherit
eternal life”

A moral, religious & sincere man but when
Christ touched to his idol, the Bible says
“He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions”

Mark 10:17–22

The issue was not wealth but self-rule

“Christ read the ruler’s heart. He saw that one
thing was lacking. The love of self was supreme.”
DA 520

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PAGE 2

Exodus 16 teaches on daily dependency

“God taught Israel that man must live in constant
dependence upon Him” PP 297

We are to die on self daily

Exaltation vs Denial of self

Cain offered his sacrifice to God his own way
but Abel did it God’s way

Cain & Abel

God had revealed the required sacrifice
Cain and Abel were familiar with the provision
made for the salvation of man PP 71

“He understood the system of offering God had ordained”

Genesis 4:3–5

“Cain chose to present his offering without repentance
without faith and without obedience” PP 72

“The difference between Cain and Abel was not in the gifts
but in the spirit” PP 73

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PAGE 3

Cain believed his effort was good enough
that God should accept worship on Cain’s terms

Though God knew all he still reasoned with him
Genesis 4:6–7

Which proves that Cain knew what was acceptable
and was presented with an opportunity to repent

The rejection was not final but conditional

“Cain had the same opportunity as Abel to learn
and accept the truth”

1 Samuel 15:22 “To obey is better than sacrifice”

The difference between Cain and Abel was not in gifts
but in the spirit PP 73

Cain did not lack knowledge
He lacked surrender

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PAGE 4 — The Rule of Self

Mind is naturally hostile to God
Centered on self preservation, justification
and gratification

Romans 8:7 “The carnal mind is enmity against God”

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things”

T 5 p. 397 “Self is ever ready to assert itself”

Self-ruling does not produce peace or obedience

When self is surrendered Christ enters and soul finds peace
T 7 p. 44
(Galatians 2:20)

The religion of the person is not how much we
have given to God but what we held back

Cain’s offering was not rejected because of reasoning
but worshiping while protecting the area of self

The question God asks in Gen 4:7 is not condemnation
but an appeal

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PAGE 5

“One cherished sin will neutralize the power of the gospel”
SC 34

“When self is surrendered, Christ enters
and the soul finds peace”
T 7 p. 44

Hebrews 3:15 “Today if you will hear
His voice, do not harden your hearts
as in the rebellion”

T 5 p. 120
“Every neglected warning and reproof,
every resisted conviction, is a seed sown
which yields its unfailing harvest”