NEWNESS OF LIFE
ROMANS 6:4-5
ROMANS 6:4-5 NKJ
4 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.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
OBSERVATION:
We are definitely dipping our toes into some deeper waters here. But Romans is a strong doctrinal book. Paul is teaching the believers in Rome more than he is dealing with church problems as he does in many of his other letters.
This chapter six is an important chapter. We must keep in mind when we read chapters like this that we are working with spiritual truths.
In these two verses, we see the truth of being baptized into Christ. Now please do not ask me to explain how God does this. This is above my pay grade.
But being baptized into Him means we were baptized into His death. When He died on the cross, we (mankind) died with Him.
And when He was raised from the dead, we (mankind) were raised with Him. Now we can walk, or live, in new spiritual life.
Spiritual truths such as this one have to be accepted at face value. We can't ask our feelings what they think of this. Feelings will not help us here. We can't ask our reasonings what they think. Our mind wants to figure everything out.
We can ask our heart. And in our spirit, we'll hear a resounding Yes! So, we believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths. We are buried with Him and raised with Him. We can walk in newness of life.
APPLICATION:
The greatest application of this truth is water baptism. Going under the water is a picture of being buried with Him in baptism.
Coming out of the water is a picture of being raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
Painting this picture in us is so important we are instructed to water baptize all those who believe. Water baptism was an important act of obedience in the early church, and it's still important today.
Water baptism does not save us. Water baptism is a picture on the outside of what has happened to us on the inside.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord. I am baptized into You. Your death and Your resurrection.