Dying Daily and Reckoning Ourselves Dead

T. A. Hegre has some very helpful words on the difference between "dying daily" and "reckoning ourselves dead" in his book The Cross and Sanctification::

"To the soul who really hungers and thirsts for righteousness and is seeking a way out from his conflict in soul, God reveals that Jesus died as his representative: 'One died for all, therefore all died' (2 Cor. 5:14); 'ye died' (Col. 3:3). This is God's truth for every single person, just as Christ's substitutionary death is for every person. Positionally, all are dead. Jesus Christ crucified is the ground of deliverance, the very same as He is the ground for salvation, so that all salvation and all deliverance is dependent upon what Jesus already accomplished on the Cross two thousand years ago. Yet just as only those who definitely accept Him as Saviour are saved, so only those who reckon Christ's death as their death actually experience the crucifixion of the old man. Romans 6:10 says, 'The death that he died, he died unto sin once . . . Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin.'

"Some think that reckoning oneself to be dead to sin is a daily dying unto sin, but the context shows that it is not so. Reckoning self dead to sin is a definite crisis experience. The Word says that Christ 'died unto sin once.' Even so, we are to reckon ourselves to be dead to sin (Rom. 6:10, 11). Having died with Christ is a fact whether it has yet become true in one's experience or not. If our daily experience requires a new decision every day, it is because we have not settled the issue, utterly denied self, and renounced all that we have. In spite of the Word's telling us to 'make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof' (Rom. 13:14), we are still making provision for the flesh somewhere.

". . . Until the issue is settled and there is a definite break with bondage to the flesh, this experience of inner conflict is a wretched state, for in this condition the Bible says, 'ye may not do the things that ye would' (Gal. 5:17). A person who is born again may not altogether go into sin, for the Spirit is there; but on the other hand, unless the flesh has been deposed, the Holy Spirit can not have His way completely, for the flesh insists on ruling. Because one in this state cannot be altogether bad or altogether good, the condition often ends in confusion, frustration, and sometimes even insanity.

"Paul gives us an awful warning that to continue in this state of duality is not only truly wretched and wicked, but dangerous. He says, 'Of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God' (Gal. 5:21). This is God's Word.

"'But I am saved!' you say. 'I know I am a Christian.'

"That makes no difference. The Bible says very plainly that if these things continue in your life, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

"'But wasn't I truly saved?'

"Yes, you may have been, but this is a dangerous state you are in now, and you must settle this matter of whether you are going to walk after the flesh or after the Spirit.

"You reply, 'Oh, it can't mean that.'

"All right. Try to get peace of heart by changing the Word of God. You will never get it that way. The only way you will get real peace of heart is to agree with the Word of God and appropriate the blessings and benefits of Calvary. The reason God tells us plainly that these awful things are the result of the flesh-controlled life is to bring us to admit our sin, confess it, and receive the deliverance He offers us. May the Holy Spirit of God so convict us that we will be willing to accept the truth. Real repentance is simply being honest before God, opening up our hearts and calling the things we find there by their right names. We must turn from sin and be willing to hate what He hates and love what He loves. God hates the works of the flesh; God hates sin. And we, too, must be willing to hate the works of the flesh (self-life) and to hate sin so that we will be ready to meet the conditions for the wonderful deliverance that He has provided through Christ's so great salvation."