Walking in Newness of Life
Romans 6:4- 8
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
In order to fully understand the concept of new life, you must read from chapter 1 on through chapter 8 of Romans. Please remember the chapter breaks are not inspired keep going straight through. Read it in several translations.
Who does not want to have Kingdom life? It is a life in the Spirit where heaven literally touches earth.
So what’s wrong? Why aren’t most who claim to be believers experiencing this new life?
Let’s look at just one very basic reason. Old man living! Double mindedness! These two are one the one reason.
Many believe that water baptism is simply symbolic, or perhaps a quirky and strange initiation in to a new group called church membership. (Someone please show me this in the Holy Scripture.)
The Word literally calls water baptism a burial. (See above Romans 6:4)
So let me ask, what happened at your water baptism? Did you join a church? Did it occur when you were a baby? Do you have any recollection of it? Have you ever been water baptized?
According to Holy Scripture what is supposed to happen?
Your (old flesh man) the man who is a slave of sin, is supposed to be dead and water baptism is his burial. Then you are raised to walk in newness of life; Resurrection life, with power to overcome sin. Where does the power come from? (See page six).
Let’s look at a gruesome picture that helps to illustrate where many believers are trapped today and one reason they are not experiencing the new life available in Jesus Christ.
One of the most hideous of all tortures ever invented by man was the shackling of a dead body to a live criminal. The torturers would drape a dead body on the live person piggy back style, usually their arms their legs and in some cases their necks were tied together or shackled together with iron bracelets. The dead body of course would begin to decay; the flies and vultures would feed on this dead body and the live one as well and eventually the bacteria, fungus and other organisms would enter into the live body of the criminal to bring about a horrific death.
We all know the proper disposal of a dead body is burial. No one in any culture keeps a dead body around them for every day life. There is no opportunity for improvement! The body of death is useless and must be disposed or else it will infect life with death. The dead body must be put away properly in order for the living to go on living. The thought of a dead body being dragged around in our every day life should be groteskly disgusting to the sane mind.
The Apostle Paul was trying to convey this picture to us in Romans 6.
Romans Chapter 6 is trying to make plain to us that we have to reckon the old man dead.
Reckon
1. To count; to number; that is, to tell the particulars.
2. To esteem; to account; to repute. Rom 8.
3. To repute; to set in the number or rank of.
4. To assign in an account. rom. 4.
5. to compute; to calculate.
RECK'ON, v.i.
1. To reason with one's self and conclude from arguments.
At least one of the ways we reckon the old man dead is water baptism. We engage in a literal death (by abandonment of the old man), burial (by water baptism) and resurrection (newness of life) just as our Lord did.
In order to sin, the believer must return to the grave dig up the body of death and shackle him to the body of life.
May I point out to the person that chooses this that he has turned back like a dog to his vomit Proverbs 26:11 or perhaps even worse he is a grave robber? Did the Apostle Paul not just get through telling us that he that is dead is freed from sin? Can’t we see that Resurrection life is free and totally set apart from sin. That is why we are Holy as He is Holy. It is not because the old man cannot sin. It is because we have been given the gift of His righteousness in the new man in exchange for the old dead man of corruption.
James says in 1:14 we are drawn away and enticed by our own lusts, but these lusts cannot rule over us (Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.)
unless we return or look back to the grave dig up the old dead man and shackle his rotting carcass, (thoughts and actions) to ourselves.
Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Most would consider carrying around a dead person piggy back a burden; How about you?
So, is there an answer here? How do we go on? What does it take to live and walk in newness of life?
As with any death, the living must go on in life, in this case Resurrection life.
Sin may no longer hold us because we have been set free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2.
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The question now becomes where is your point of reference? Is your life (your thoughts, dreams, desires, the essence of your soul) based on the old dead flesh man, the grave, or the new life of Resurrection power in Christ?
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
This whole thought of the old man being dead and put away buried in baptism and a new life through Christ is set very clearly in one verse from Galatians.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Now let’s look at real newness of life power!
Real new life power comes with baptism. Holy Ghost baptism is essential for a Resurrection life of power in Christ. This is newness of life!
Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The words in red are spoken by the Christ, Jesus. The living, reigning, King who has the keys of hell and death has spoken. No need to argue!
Are you old or new, dead or alive, under law or grace, a son or a slave? Who does the Word say you are? Can you rule over your own soul? Abundant life is here, will you receive it?
1John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Alan Tessneer nsa@wtrt.net
