There are, in fact, two quite distinct ways in which the New
Testament speaks of crucifixion in relation to holiness. The
first is our death to sin through identification with Christ;
the second is our death to self through imitation of Christ. On
the one hand, we have been crucified with Christ. But on the
other we have crucified (decisively repudiated) our sinful
nature with all its desires, so that every day we renew this
attitude by taking up our cross and following Christ to
crucifixion (Lk. 9:23). The first is a legal death, a death to
the penalty of sin; the second is a moral death, a death to the
power of sin. The first belongs to the past, and is unique and
unrepeatable; the second belongs to the present, and is
repeatable, even continuous. I died to sin (in Christ) once; I
die to self (like Christ) daily.

–John Stott

 

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Rob Pendley