Walking in Newness of Life
Good Friday has come. Together we have walked the weary path to the Cross.
But darkness doesn’t reign – for on this Sunday, you’ll hear once again the famous words:
He Is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
What is the significance of this traditional Easter greeting? Why is this exchange of joy offered with so much enthusiasm across the globe and in the village of Kubamitwe every spring?
Some members of Community Bible Church of Kubamitwe have come to understand another reason why Christ’s resurrection is joyous as they’ve studied the book of Romans together over the past few months. There are many wonderful implications of the resurrection for believers, but Romans chapter 6 adds insight to another reason behind the hope of the Resurrection.
After clarifying the gospel and God’s grace, in chapter 6, Paul addresses some potential misunderstanding regarding the effects of grace. In his explanation of God’s abundant grace to us as believers, he describes a beautiful image of our union with Christ.
Paul emphatically proclaims:
“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” Romans 6:4
According to Paul, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. As a result, every believer has been raised with Christ and now has the ability to: “ walk in newness of life! ”
This means we are new creations and we can now live as the new creations we are! Since Christ was raised, and we were raised with Him, we can now live like Christ has called us to live! Hallelujah!
The resurrection spells VICTORY!
Note: it doesn’t spell PERFECTION. Of course we’ll still sin until the day our flesh is replaced with a glorified body.
But we're still victorious! Our sin isn’t due to lack of ability. It is a failure to walk in the ability we’ve been given. Christ’s resurrection power is what allows us to say no to any temptation.
So in light of Christ’s resurrection, let us not mull in despair, “Oh, what a sinner I am!” Let us rejoice in this most exciting Easter news –VICTORY! Oh, what power I have to walk in obedience to Christ!
Christ has risen, I rose with Christ, and Christ in me lives today!
I invite you to join the millions of believers across the world this Sunday – walking now in newness of life – in declaring with confidence,
“He is risen indeed!”
~ Dr. Shannon Hurley, President and Founder, SOS Ministries
