Raised to Walk In Newness of Life

Raised to Walk In Newness of Life                                   December 31, 2023

“Therefore we have been buried with Christ through baptism into death, in order 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)

“And in Christ you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  And when you were dead in your transgressions and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,” (Colossians 2:11-13)

Every January the 1st is the beginning of a new year.  Many people bring in the new year with all sorts of festive & celebratory activities.  Some are good and some bad.  Regardless of how the new year is welcomed there is this desire to improve one’s past and makes things better in that new year.  Such a desire has been called, “New Year’s Resolutions.” 

Whenever your favorite sports team fails to advance to the playoffs there is this somewhat comforting idea that there is always next year.  There’s this hope for a better tomorrow in which your hopes and dreams can be fulfilled.  Without such hope our future would be rather empty and meaningless.

I find it interesting that no matter how many times one fails to fulfill their new year’s resolutions they still make some each new year.  Perhaps it’s because others are making them and expect you to do the same or there’s something so desirable about newness, about a fresh start that makes people crave for it.  It could be that they’ve made some terrible mistakes that year and want a fresh start, a clean slate with no regrets in the New Year.  Whatever the reason, the world is saying that they desire new beginnings.

With that in mind there is nothing more new than the newness that Christ offers.  Paul states that this newness begins after one is baptized into Christ through baptism (Romans 6:4).  In faith in the working of God to forgive one’s sins they rise from the waters of baptism to walk in the newness of life for their former life has been forgiven and forgotten by God (Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 43:25-26; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 7:19; Colossians 2:11-13; Hebrews 8:12).  They are regarded now as a “new creation” (II Corinthians 5:17). 

What’s fascinating about this newness is how it occurs.  First of all, when one is resolved to live a new life that’s like Jesus then God is resolved to help make that happen when that individual is baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.  Then they rise to walk in newness of life; a new life with no sins of their past existing before God any more.  They are forgiven and forgotten.  There is no “newness” in life that is any greater than that.

If you are not a Christian please make your number resolution to become one.  If you are a Christian then please make your number resolution to become even more Christ-like. 

Happy New Year everyone & God’s blessings always!                            Brian Thompson