In Newness Of Life

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4

What characterizes the life of the person whom the Holy Spirit has baptized into Christ?  The Apostle Paul uses this comparison, ‘just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.’  What does that mean?  What characterizes the person we are by nature?  Paul describes it in Titus when he says, ‘For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.’  By contrast, the ‘newness of life’ is the kind of life which Paul summarizes in Galatians when he says, ‘as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.’ This is that life which first looks to Christ, concentrates upon Him, and imitates Him in very practical ways.  Christ sought out the marginalized.  He went to the poor, the weak, the helpless, and the outcast.  He lifted up the fallen and supported the weak.  His congregation was the common people who heard Him gladly.  Where He encountered weakness He gave strength.  Where He encountered selfishness, He demonstrated selflessness.  The newness of life of which Paul speaks is the life that imitates Christ in such clear and unmistakable ways as to be utterly unlike the old selfish, self-seeking life of our days out of Christ.  Our newness of life is a walk with Christ, after Christ and like Christ.

Our Wise and Wonderful God,
we rejoice that You have set Christ before us.
We praise You that as we look unto Him,
we learn to imitate Him,
to the good of those whom we encounter.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning