Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

I. But can this death with Christ become reality to us in one moment?

We can decide to appropriate His death as ours in a moment of time, but afterwards God must deal with our old-life point by point as it is revealed, and we surrender it to Him for destruction.

II. Can the “self” rise again?

1. After we have taken our position as crucified with Christ, there will arise fresh revelations of our sinful nature to be dealt with, and the Spirit will reveal depths we have no conception of, if we cry, “Lord, spare not!”

2. The Devil can imitate “self” to shake us off our standing.

3. If we expect it to, it will also happen!

III. What are we to do when this happens?

1. Stand upon the Word of the living God and say: “It is written: I have been crucified with Christ.” His death is my death.

2. Hand over your “self” to the Holy Spirit for Him to deal with, and refuse to have anything to do with it.

3. Believe that Jesus will deliver you now in the face of all appearances to the contrary, and walk under the shelter of the blood sprinkling, from all the attacks of the enemy.

IV. Does fellowship with the death of Christ mean no “feeling”?

The Lord never promised to turn us into stones. In union with Christ, in His death, we are delivered from selfishness, from self-sensitiveness, but not from being unsensitive for others. There will be tears for others, but none for self. However much we suffer, we do not resent it and retort as we used to, but we do feel and kiss the Hand that smites us, even though it is keenly felt.

V. If we have “died,” how can we still be tempted?

If Christ “suffered being tempted” and “was tempted in all points like as we are,” it is evident we shall not cease to be tempted. (Heb. 2:18 and 4:25). Let us remember Galatians 2:20: “I” am crucified; Christ lives in “me,” the selfish “I”—that is nailed to His cross, and Christ lives in me—and He meets temptations and afflictions in me.

VI. What about “dying daily” in the context of the passage where this phrase occurs in 1 Corinthians 15:31?

When Paul uses this expression, it is relating to all the tribulations and hazards he was exposed to continually (see verse 30). This is something quite different to being crucified with Christ and having died with Christ (Rom. 6 and Gal. 3:3), which is the finished work. In 2 Corinthians 4:10, we read “always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus,” and this describes the crucified life that follows our apprehension of our death with Christ.

VII. If I fall into sin after taking up my position as crucified with Christ, what then?

This is the most critical point of all. Above all things we must be honest with God, and call sin, sin, and never fear that the real freedom we have experienced in Christ has in some way been rescinded. Remember 1 John 1:9, confess your sin, and re-take your position as “crucified with Christ,” and surrender yourself to the Lord, so that He who dwells in you shall keep you. Never attempt to reconcile apparent contradictions. God will teach us and lead us forward.

VIII. What does this have to do with growth?

Our self-life must be displaced so that the Christ-life may have room to grow. The carnal life can never “grow in grace.”