I’ve recently been reading a book titled, “The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee. This book was given to me by a good friend that is currently enroute to Bolivia to serve in an orphanage for six months.

I have been intrigued by this book because the picture it paints of the “Normal Christian Life” is actually quite abnormal. If I were to take a poll of the average Christian in church today I believe I would find out that there is a constant struggle for power in their life. God vs. Sin. I think I would also find that there is a constant battle to die to sin. There is one problem to this idea. According to Romans 6:6-11, if we have trusted our life to Christ then we have already died to sin. It is done. We don’t keep dying. Once you’re dead you’re dead. Period. We don’t crawl out of the box and try it again. Watchman Nee says that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross covers our sins and the cross of Jesus gives us victory over sin. Too many of us are trying to die to ourselves.

Listen to this, “Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin…So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”–Romans 6:6 & 11.

Did you catch it? The past tense. “were crucified.” The solution, I am learning, is to stop trying to die and just accept the fact that you are a dead man. Once you settle that issue then you will be able to start living in the power of Christ. Next time you find yourself tempted just remind yourself that you are a dead man.

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