There are, in fact, two quite distinct ways in which the New
\nTestament speaks of crucifixion in relation to holiness. The
\nfirst is our death to sin through identification with Christ;
\nthe second is our death to self through imitation of Christ. On
\nthe one hand, we have been crucified with Christ. But on the
\nother we have crucified (decisively repudiated) our sinful
\nnature with all its desires, so that every day we renew this
\nattitude by taking up our cross and following Christ to
\ncrucifixion (Lk. 9:23). The first is a legal death, a death to
\nthe penalty of sin; the second is a moral death, a death to the
\npower of sin. The first belongs to the past, and is unique and
\nunrepeatable; the second belongs to the present, and is
\nrepeatable, even continuous. I died to sin (in Christ) once; I
\ndie to self (like Christ) daily.<\/p>\n
–John Stott<\/p>\n