Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” vs. 4
Romans 6:1b-5
During the Jesus Revolution of the 1960’s, thousands of searchers responded to the proclamation of God’s unconditional love by being immersed in the waters of the nearest stream, lake, or sea. For many it was a life-changing experience and signaled a clear break from the pleasure-seeking drug culture that had become so pervasive. It’s this sort of thing that Paul was thinking of as he wrote to the Romans about the importance and significance of baptism. Those whose baptism occurred in the early weeks of their life can have a tough time associating that watery sprinkling with a powerful life-changing event. Yet that is what it is! Baptism at any age, by any means, connects us with the resurrection of Christ. And we’re not talking here about the new life that awaits us beyond death, that mysterious reunion with the Church Triumphant. The newness of life that Paul wrote about is very much this-worldly. It’s the reversal of values and spiritual focus that comes as we are fully immersed in the Resurrected Jesus. It means breaking away from the patterns of our culture, with its emphasis on material gain and pleasure, and moving into a Spirit-led, joy-filled journey with Jesus for all the days of our lives.
Thought for the Day: What does “newness of life” mean for me?
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