What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Read Colossians 3:5–6 (see also Romans 6:1–7). How do we experience what it means to be dead to self and worldliness and to live for what is “above” (Col 3:1)?"
Answer
To die to self means to completely give up one's own ego, pride, and worldly desires in order to make room for Christ's work in the heart. This process requires a daily decision to lay aside sinful passions such as anger, greed, and selfishness and instead take on the character of Jesus. By directing our affection toward the heavenly, we experience a new birth, through which Christ dwells in us as a living principle and empowers us toward holiness.
The Necessity of Dying to Self
»You must experience a death of self and live for God. “If you have been raised with Christ, then seek what is above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.” The self must not be questioned. Pride, self‑love, selfishness, stinginess, greed, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, and evil assumptions must all be overcome and forever sacrificed. When Christ appears, it will not be to correct these evils and then grant a moral suitability for His coming. This preparation must be made entirely before His coming.«
The Daily Dying in Life’s Actions
»Paul could say, “I die daily.” It is the daily dying of self in the small deeds of life that makes us overcome. We should forget self in the desire to do good to others. Many have a distinct lack of love for others. Instead of faithfully fulfilling their duty, they rather seek their own pleasure.«
Putting Off the Old Man and Putting On the New
»Therefore kill your members that are on earth; fornication, impurity, excessive passion, evil desire and greed, which are idolatry: Because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience... But now you also lay all these aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, disgraceful words from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man, who is renewed to the knowledge after the image of Him who created him.«
Christ as the Living Principle Within
»My brothers, let us set all this aside. We have no right to keep our spirit fixed on ourselves, our preferences and our whims... May the Lord help us to die to self and be reborn, so that Christ may live in us as a living, active principle, a power that will keep us holy.«
The Crucifixion of Self as the Way to Life
»So that we can work as Christ worked, the self must be crucified. It is a painful death; but it is life, life for the soul. “For thus says the High and Exalted One, who dwells eternally, whose name is holy: I dwell in the heights and in the sanctuary and among those who are broken and humbled in spirit, that I may refresh the spirit of the humbled and the heart of the broken.”«
Choice Between Self‑Reliance and the Divine Example
»Give up your self‑reliance and self‑sufficiency, brothers, and follow the meek example. Keep Jesus constantly before you, that He is your example and you must walk in His footsteps. Look to Jesus, the initiator and finisher of our faith, who endured the cross for the joy that lay before Him and despised shame.«
- Dying to self Adventists
- Colossians 3 interpretation Ellen White
- Sanctification and character formation
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
