Dying

(J. C. Philpot, "Daily Portions")

"As dying, and, behold, we live!"
    2 Corinthians 6:9

Though we die, and die daily, yet, behold,
we live. And in a sense, the more we die,
the more we live.

The more we die to self,
the more we die to sin.

The more we die to pride and self-righteousness,
the more we die to creature strength.

The more we die to sinful nature,
the more we live to grace.

This runs all the way through the
life and experience of a Christian.
Nature must die--that grace may live.

The weeds must be plucked up,
that the crop may grow.

The flesh be starved,
that the spirit may be fed.

The old man put off,
that the new man may be put on.

The deeds of the body be mortified,
that the soul may live unto God.

As then we die--we live.

The more we die to our own strength,
the more we live to Christ's strength.

The more we die to creature hope,
the more we live to a good hope through grace.

The more we die to our own righteousness,
the more we live to Christ's righteousness.

The more we die to the world,
the more we live to and for heaven.

This is the grand mystery, that the Christian
is always dying--yet always living. And the
more he dies--the more he lives.

The death of the flesh,
is the life of the spirit.

The death of sin,
is the life of righteousness.

The death of the creature,
is the very life of God in the soul.

"As dying, and, behold, we live."
    2 Corinthians 6:9