THURSDAY July 9, 2020

Walk 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

Paul explained the symbolism that identifies a Christian with Christ’s death and resurrection. Baptism does not save you. When a Christian is baptized it becomes a testimony to others. As they go under the water it represents dying with Christ––buried with Him in the grave. When a person comes up out of the water, they are identifying themselves with the power of His resurrection––the power to walk in newness of life. When a person is truly born again, the old man is dead, and they have a new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Believers in Christ must reckon the old man to be dead. The old man is the person you were before Christ––the carnal person––governed by the flesh. The Spirit of God now governs the life of a Christian. They are to be dead to sin:

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. … in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. …put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… (Colossians 3:5,7-10).

It is impossible for a true Christian to live in sin. Yes, we make mistakes daily––we do sin, but to willingly disobey God and live a life of sin without conviction, then I say to you, “You do not have the Holy Spirit.” Every true child of God has the Holy Spirit who warns a Christian when they are off target. There is conviction and conviction should lead a believer back to the Cross where they ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

We are new creatures in Christ Jesus; we have participated in the resurrection life of Christ, and the Law cannot demand penalties for our new life.
~C. H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!