A very misunderstood verse, that is only truly understood by first having a correct understanding of the bible truth regarding the nature of man. Do I Die to Sin Daily?
When told of having victory over sin, and walking in newness of life. Some will quickly hobble over to 1 Corinthians 15:31 which reads:
1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Many associate this with sin, mainly because the bible talks about how we are to be “dead to sin”.
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
However, when Paul was talking about dying to sin, he didn’t say he had to die every day. He said:
Romans 6:10-11 For in that he(Christ) died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul said we are to reckon ourself dead unto sin “ONCE”, not twice, not three times, not tomorrow, not the day after, not every day(daily), but once. It is often said that we will fall into sin again tomorrow. This verse in 1 Corinthians 15 is used to deny the truth that we can live a sin conscious free life. But yet Paul in Romans 6 says he is “free from sin” four times. (Romans 6:7, 18, 20, 22) Paul is pretty confident in his testimony. Is this the testimony of Christianity today? Is this our testimony? Have we died unto sin once? Or do we sin daily? Are we “more than conquerors”? (Rom 8:37) or do we still have the testimony that we are conquered by sin every day?
If we don’t start looking at these verses more carefully, our faith is not going to be very strong, and it is highly likely that instead of having confidence in God and His deliverance, we will be having confidence in our flesh and how it continues to fall.
What is 1 Corinthians 15 Really Talking About?
This verse can be very easy to sort out with a small amount of study. Paul is talking about our bodies. He is saying that your body is dying daily. In another version we read:
“Every day do I die, by the glorying of you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord:” (1 Corinthians 15:31 Young’s Literal Translation)
This verse is talking about the body that is dying. Notice what Paul continues with:
1 Corinthians 15:38-44 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
So we have two types of bodies. The natural body, which is the body we have today. This body is “corruptible”, “weak”, “dishonourable”. It is also called “sinful flesh”. Jesus himself came “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” (Rom 8:3) Jesus body was dying daily. (1 Cor 15:31) However, this body is not to be confused with the mind. Nor is it to have power over the mind. This body is“corruptible” we are told. And it is to remain “corruptible” until Jesus comes.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
When does this happen? When Jesus comes at the second coming. The resurrection.
Take note, this body is dying, it is mortal. And it is corruptible. But what about my mind or spirit.
Being Immortal and Incorruptible NOW!!!! The Incorruptible Immortal Spirit.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
This verse says that when we are born again, we have something that is immortal (liveth and abideth for ever) and incorruptible. Our Spirit. This is supposed to happen when we are “born again”according to Peter. Our birth, the beginning of our walk with Christ. It doesn’t seem like Peter is waiting until the second coming or resurrection for this experience.
So does our spirit “die daily”? Or does it “liveth and abideth forever”? Is it “mortal” or “immortal”? It is immortal and incorruptible. Or is it still corruptible and dying daily?
When we are “born again” we are born of that “incorruptible seed”. That “seed” is Jesus Christ. We receive in us that living “seed”. The term seed refers to “offspring” or “children”. Jesus Christ is “the seed of God” or the child of God. The Bible says he is “the only begotten Son of God”. That “seed” must live in you.
John 3:5-7 KJV Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
True Faith – Born of God
A very misunderstood concept. There is a belief that this is merely a confession of words to be “born again”. But the Bible says it is by faith that a man is born of God. Faith is a living experience of having the word or “seed of God” which is Christ Jesus living inside of you.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
That faith is not just a profession of believing that Jesus Christ was a man and walked the earth. The devils believe that. But faith is to believe and accept that God’s word will do in you just what that word did in Jesus Christ. That is the “faith of Jesus Christ” (Rev 14:12) and that is the “testimony of Jesus Christ”. (Rev 12:17)
Having the incorruptible Seed – Does Not “Commit Sin” at Birth
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Notice in that verse….”born”, “birth”, you are not even a baby until this happens. This spirit that you have does not “die daily”, and is not “corruptible” but rather is “incorruptible” and “liveth and abideth ever”. It is important to understand the difference between the body we have and the mind or spirit we have.
Let me repeat:
We have an incorruptible and immortal spirit by which we are born again. (1 Pet 1:23)
We have corruptible and mortal flesh that is dying daily. (1 Cor 15:31, 38-44, 51-53)
Same with Jesus:
Jesus had an incorruptible and immortal spirit by which he are born again from birth. (Matt 1:18, 20)
Jesus had corruptible and mortal flesh that is dying daily. (Rom 8:2, 3, 2 Cor 5:21, Joh 1:14, Phi 2:7, 8, Heb 2:9, Gal 4:4, 3:13)
Jesus Christ was born of that Holy Spirit before he learned to walk or talk. He was in sinful flesh the bible says, yet never “commited sin”. (Rom 8:3)
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
The word “commit” means to make a “commitment”. It refers to “willful” or “known” sin. This might not be the modern interpretation of “commit” but this is what the Bible teaches. To make a commitment you must know it is wrong.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Many will ignorantly sin after birth. But they won’t willfully commit to sin after being born again. Unless like Esau they give up their birthright. There are certain things that some might know to be sin, such as certain health principles, or maybe the Sabbath. To some it is not sin, and they may not be “committing sin” because it is not understood yet. The Spirit will guide them into all truth. (John 16:13) and we should be careful to allow the Spirit to do this and not judge them as guilty because they don’t know what we know.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Some might be thinking “I’ve been born again and commited willful sin, am I lost forever?” They believe this verse means that you can never repent if you’ve commited willful sin after knowledge of the truth. That’s not what Hebrews 10:26 is saying. It is saying that those who have committed willful sin have forsaken their covering. Jesus Christ their sacrifice is no longer their sacrifice unless they will repent. Then, if they repent they are under the blood of the true sacrifice, and the message to them is “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11)
Many throughout history have lost their salvation. King David at one time turned his back on God and went against the word of God doing what he knew not to do. But God restored unto him the joy of his salvation. God created in him a clean heart by David’s faith and belief in the power of the word.
Psalms 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
David put his confidence in God to do as the word said. David didn’t say “I will do better God”. David failed and recognized that he needed God to “uphold” him, this was not of David himself that he might boast in his works. He needed to have his salvation restored. Salvation was lost for David and he was a lost man, and he needed to find the joy of it again. He had “no more sacrifice for sins” until he repented from his “willful sin” and accepted the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
At “birth” the baby Christian does not make “commitment to” or “does not commit sin”. If this is not what your pastor is teaching, it’s time to find a new church, he is teaching people to build towers of their own. He is trying to tell you to climb it to get to heaven when it is impossible. But the truth is:
1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
If a pastor or a teacher is saying “Amen” when talking about victory over sin and is hopeful that someday he may stop committing willful, known or presumptuous sin. We can know that he has yet to accept the plainest and most important gospel truth in scripture.
This is not to say that we should condemn our brother or sister to hell for their misunderstanding of the gospel. It is taught in most churches already, and highly likely that if you should accept this truth, you might be the one whom they try to condemn. But rather share with them our testimony of the love and the power of the word and how it really does work inside of us. We can testify that when Jesus said “Go and sin no more” he didn’t go back with the apostles and have a laugh while we try our hardest. When he tells us to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” (Phi 2:14) He isn’t up in heaven with His Father laughing as we all continue to try saying “I can’t believe they’re actually trying”. He didn’t tell us to “put away… anger” (Eph 4:31) knowing that we would can’t. If that is the way we see God, then it is no wonder that we fail. He said:
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Why do we do this?
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
So that people might come to glorify your Father in heaven. What a blessing. It is not “I died unto sin once yesterday, but since some guy cut me off in my car today I need to die to sin again today.” Its not because “My parents won’t listen to me” I have a right to be angry and die to sin again. Or “My wife or husband is getting on my nerves” or “My kids are pushing my buttons”. It is not “Once in a while my flesh takes over and crawls out of the grave”. We died to that.
The testimony should be that those “buttons” are gone, I have new nerves, and the flesh is dead.
Galatians 5:24-25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
Though walking in the flesh, the flesh does not govern our body, unless we have a carnal mind. If that is the case, then we must repent and believe the gospel. The bible tells us:
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
You cannot be double minded. Carnal minded is death. The Spiritual mind is life and peace and liveth and abideth ever. You must be spiritual minded. If our flesh is still coming up now and then, or daily, perhaps it is because of misunderstanding the gospel and the power of the word. Many preachers are telling us that we must work at it, that it takes time, that we keep trying until we get it right.
The truth is, there is something deeper. We need a change of mind. And we need to stop allowing the flesh to govern.
If I am the Temple of God, and God is on the throne in this temple. Then He is the one governing. Therefore this Temple will walk in the Spirit. However, if I were to kick God off the throne, take over and do my own will contrary to the will of God. Then I cannot have victory and reckon myself dead unto sin once. The old man is dead. Put on the new man Jesus Christ and go and die no more. Or “live and abide ever” (1 Peter 1:23)
