WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE: Devotion for Monday March 28, 2016

WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE: Devotion for Monday March 28, 2016

Text: Romans 6:1 – 11      Memory verse: v 4

Yesterday was Easter, the resurrection of Jesus from death which gave us hope for eternal life. This is the reason Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17).” That new creation is the life that he talks about here in our bible reading for today. The newness of life starts at repentance. It is expected that believers must die to sin, and live to God (6:1, 2). Dying to sin is likened to death of Christ and living to God is likened to the resurrection of Christ. Our baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being as it were buried with all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to walk with God in newness of life. Those who believe in Christ are baptized into Him and baptized into His death; in other words, they are baptized to become one with Christ Jesus. As he died, we die to our old, sinful lifestyle, and a new life begins.

If we believe that our old, sinful lives are dead and buried, we have a powerful motive to resist sin. We can consciously choose to treat the desires and temptations of the old nature as if they were dead. Then we can continue to enjoy our wonderful new life with Jesus (Gal. 3:27; Col. 3:1-4). Are you still under the influence of old life? Is sin still having upper hand in your life? Then you are not walking in newness of life and resurrection power hasn’t affected you.

Food for Thought: Our death with Christ to sin implies our resurrection with Christ to God, which is to us a new life of holiness. Is that true about you?

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk in newness of life as one who has resurrected with Christ through my baptism.