We must die to ourselves to have True Life

The Enemy can reach us because of our sins, because of our disobedience, because of our flesh and its desires, because of our love for the world or our worries about the things of the world, because of our carnal feelings... but if we die to all this then who will be able to do anything against us? Can we still kill a dead man? Or will a dead man be sensitive to pain? to temptation? or to anything?

If, therefore, we walk towards death (crucifixion) carrying our cross, the Enemy will be able to reach us less and less and finally he will not be able to reach us at all because we will be dead, crucified with Christ, and then we will be able to rise with Christ (be born again).

If a grain of wheat falls to the ground and does not die, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit (John 12: 24); and if anyone does not want to renounce himself and therefore wants to keep his life for himself, he will lose it; but if anyone loses his life because he gives it up to God out of love for God and for his neighbour, he will save it; for he fulfils the Law, that is, charity (true love), for charity is the fulfilment of the Law of Christ (Romans 13: 10) and there is no greater charity than to lay down one's life for those one loves (John 15:13).

Mark 8:34 Then he called the troops and his disciples together and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's, that one will save it.

Matthew 22:37Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second, like this one, is: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

No one can claim to love truly without renouncing himself.