November 19

Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. — 2 Cor 1:9 BSB

What is life, naturally speaking, and what is death? Isn't life defined by breath, energy, movement, and activity? And isn’t death the total end of all this vital energy and movement? To die is to lose life, and with it, all the activities that life brings. So when the Lord removes from our hearts and hands everything we once found life in—everything we lived for, moved in, and seemed to enjoy—and condemns it by his holy word, making our conscience echo his voice with a constant sentence of death, he delivers us over to death.

But notice, this happens only to the living family of God: “For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake,” and the reason for this mysterious process is to reveal the hidden life of Jesus within us. The Apostle adds, “so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal bodies.” Notice also how this death connects to the death of Christ: “Always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus.”

If we want to share in Jesus' glory, we must also share in his suffering; we must die with him to live with him. His death serves as both the example and the means for our own. Just as he carried the sentence of death upon himself on the cross, so we must be crucified with him, being conformed to his suffering and dying image. This means that there is not only a death to the law—killing our souls’ hope in anything created, our self-confidence, and self-righteousness—but also, through God's continual work in our hearts, especially through heavy afflictions, trials, and temptations, the Lord by his Spirit executes this sentence of death. This is for all those he calls to drink from Christ’s cup and to be baptized with his baptism.