I believe it is important to consider the entirety of the Bible and how its teachings align with the current manifestation of God's will. It is notable that Christ never defended himself, even going so far as to reprimand Peter for his violent act and subsequently healing the injured individual. It seems that there may be a misunderstanding between self-denial and self-destruction. As humans, we are created in the image of God, which means we possess both a physical and spiritual nature that is inherently good. The corruption we experience is a result of the deterioration of our body and spirit. Self-denial, in this context, means recognizing that in our corrupted state, devoid of spiritual goodness, there is nothing inherently good within us. Instead, we embrace Christ, who transforms us spiritually and morally, taking our sins and giving us the gift of repentance. The principle at hand is this: we acknowledge our sins and promptly confess them. Christ has already dealt with sin through his sacrifice on the cross, allowing us to live with a deeper understanding of our worth in Him. We live as both kings and priests, capable of mourning over our sins while simultaneously embracing our inherent value. Because we are made in God's image, we are designed to bring Him pleasure. It is not our desire to be destroyed, but rather to partake in the pleasure that comes from being created by Him. Therefore, everything that God has created holds great value. By defending ourselves and our loved ones, we demonstrate our appreciation for God's creation of us. Our inherent evil lies solely in the corruption of our originally good nature.