1 Corinthians 15:31 (KJV)
“I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
Introduction
When the Apostle Paul declared, “I die daily,” he was not speaking of physical death but of a spiritual posture—an intentional, continual surrender of self. His words reveal the pattern of authentic Christian discipleship: the daily crucifixion of the old nature, the daily yielding of the will to Christ, and the daily readiness to suffer for the gospel. To understand Paul’s meaning is to rediscover the essence of New Testament Christianity—a life that embraces the cross not once, but every single day.
Paul’s Context: Death Was Not Figurative Only
Before exploring the spiritual meaning, we must recognize that Paul lived under the constant threat of physical death for the sake of the gospel.
Consider his testimony:
- “In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.” (2 Corinthians 11:23)
- “We are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8:36)
When Paul said he “died daily,” part of this reflected his reality: every day he faced the possibility that his mission for Christ would cost him his life. Yet this continual exposure to danger became a portrait of the deeper spiritual truth he lived—death to self.
Dying Daily Means Dying to the Flesh
At the heart of Paul’s declaration lies the call to crucify the old nature.
Crucifixion of Self-Will
Paul wrote:
- “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24)
This crucifixion is not a one-time event but a daily discipline. The flesh—our fallen desires—does not surrender willingly. It must be put to death every day. To “die daily” is to refuse the rule of the old man and submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Crucifixion of Sin
Paul also said:
- “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)
To “reckon” ourselves dead to sin means we continually choose righteousness, resisting the impulses that once controlled us. Daily death means daily obedience.
Dying Daily Means Dying to the World
The world system—rooted in pride, lust, and rebellion—pulls the believer toward compromise. Paul declared:
- “The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)
To die daily is to be unmoved by the world’s appeal, unmoved by its rewards, and unmoved by its threats. It is to walk as a pilgrim whose citizenship is in heaven, not earth (Philippians 3:20).
Dying Daily Means Embracing the Cross of Discipleship
Jesus Himself commanded:
- “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
The Lord made it clear—cross-bearing is not occasional but daily. The cross is the symbol of death, surrender, and obedience. To “die daily” is simply the lived expression of Jesus’ command.
Dying Daily Means Living in the Power of the Resurrection
Paradoxically, death is the pathway to life.
Paul wrote:
- “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
(2 Corinthians 4:10)
Only when the old nature dies does the resurrection life of Christ shine through us. Daily death produces daily resurrection power. Paul understood this divine paradox:
- “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Dying Daily Means Perseverance Through Suffering
Paul willingly suffered for Christ because he had already died to himself. A dead man does not fear persecution, rejection, loss, or hardship. Paul endured:
- Beatings
- Imprisonment
- Shipwreck
- Betrayal
- Exhaustion
- Constant peril
Why? Because he had died daily, and a crucified man cannot be intimidated.
Dying Daily Means Surrendering Your Identity to Christ
Paul declared:
- “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
This is the deepest layer of Paul’s meaning: your life no longer belongs to you. Your words, your thoughts, your ambitions, your desires, your future—they are surrendered to Christ. To die daily is to live as one purchased by blood, owned by Christ, and ruled by His Spirit.
Conclusion
When Paul said “I die daily,” he revealed the rhythm of true discipleship: a continual crucifixion of the flesh, a daily renunciation of the world, a constant readiness to suffer for Christ, and a continual surrender of the will to God. This daily death is not a burden but a liberation, for it is through dying that the believer truly lives.
The cross is not a single moment; it is a daily posture. And only those who die daily can walk daily in the life, power, and victory of the risen Christ.