To LIVE DAILY or to DIE DAILY... which one is it?  

If you've been in the church any amount of time, there's a good chance you've heard the message of "dying daily."  It's a popular one in the pulpits and comes out of Paul's writings in 1 Cor. 15:30-32. The mainstream idea is that we frequently put to death that which has been, well, put to death... In my understanding, the context of this verse has been sabotaged - thus the application has been detrimental... Although I understand and appreciate preachers encouraging sinless lifestyles (as I do the same), the theology of "dying daily" is questionable. Let me explain... 

When Paul said "I die daily," he is stating that he faces death every day for the sake of sharing the gospel. Whenever he would step into a region to spread the good news, he would face wild "beasts" (evil men) who persecuted him (Acts 19:28-29). What Paul is not referring to is, climbing back on the cross for the acknowledgement of his sins. In fact, Paul refuted the idea of multiple deaths (Romans 6:10). We know that when Christ died, He took our sins and died the death, so that when we put our faith in the finished work, we were crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:3-7). At this point, we became living agents of the Kingdom - where we offer our lives to Him as alive (Romans 6:13). Christ lives to God and I am invited in to do the same. 

The "die daily" message has been trumpeted so strong for so long, that it has robbed the church from "living daily."  It has caused many to become so "sin-conscious," that we have forfeited the glories of putting on the new man (Ephesians 4:20-24). Therefore, many go day to day just trying to overcome that thing that has held them bound for so long. We have imagined that if we acknowledge our frailty, insert our own zeal to slay the old man, then we are fulfilling our duty as a follower of Christ. The attention that was intended to be given to our new life, has been aimed at the frailties of our old nature. Friends, this is not what He had in mind.  

Although I firmly believe in resisting sin and the lifestyle therein (James 4:7), I never want to think that is a form of dying. Remember, He died once and for all so we didn't have to. Death has no place in the Kingdom. Period! Therefore, when I resist sin, it is for the reason that new life can continue to blossom. (Instead, maybe we should say, "I resist daily.")

Therefore, I think we need to shed off the fear of death and awaken to resurrection power. I believe we must become more aware of the life that has been given to us by the Holy Spirit. I am not transformed by raising my awareness of sin, but by renewing my mind - changing the way I view the work of Jesus and my identity in Him. Remember, it is Christ in me... He is the hope of glory, not the hope of perpetual death (Colossians 1:27). He didn't come so I could die daily, but that I could live eternally (John 3:16). 

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  Romans‬ ‭6:8-11‬ ‭(NASB‬‬)

Friends, I want to encourage you, step into the LIFE given to you by Christ. When He said "It is finished," He meant it. It was heaven's divine exclamation point. He didn't give us a new covenant so we could sin and live lawless (Romans 6:1-2). Rather, He died so we could step into the glories of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!  That is the law of Kingdom (Romans 14:17). As we become more aware of the life dwelling in us by the Spirit, we will be transformed. At this point, death, sin, and all of its putrid tentacles will have no hold on us. 

"Sin is a dethroned monarch; so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings. So then, refuse to answer its call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding your body to him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! You live now for his pleasure, ready to be used for his noble purpose. Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has! You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God."  Romans 6:12-14 (TPT)

There is no need to die again, He already did.  Now awaken and LIVE IN JESUS NAME!  

-RA