Walk in Newness of Life

Creation: A Divine Cycle
The Birthing of a New Community

Christ Creates Holy Living

Romans 6:1-11 The Message

When Death Becomes Life

6 1-3 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!
3-5 That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.
6-11 Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.

For Reflection

Are you born again?  Have you died and left your old life behind? Have you sacrificed your concept of self and committed yourself to a God-centered life? Are you living in humble service to God? Have you chosen to follow the way of Christ?  What has your faith cost you? What are the fruits of your labors of love?

Pray

that you will follow the will of God as shown to us in the life of Christ. Pray that you will recognize your human condition, confess your shortcomings and repent. Pray that you will have the courage to trust God to encourage, protect and care for your needs.