Raised to Walk in Newness of Life

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Raised to Walk in Newness of Life

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: Romans 6:3-4


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Today is a day where many pause to remember the resurrection of Jesus.  As we have noted on many occasions, this holiday had its origins much later than the completion of the New Testament.  It is a day created by men to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, and while we do not observe this as a Biblical holiday, we DO commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  Last year, we addressed this holiday in greater detail, but today I want to address how the resurrection of Jesus is related to our salvation.

  1. Jesus was raised from the dead
    1. This is the foundation of the faith of a Christian. This is what set sets believers in Jesus apart from all other world views.  In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul made the case for the resurrection of Jesus by noting some of the appearances Jesus made after He arose (15:1-8), as well as how it is tied to our salvation.
    2. Recorded in all 4 gospels (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21) – Jesus was raised on the first day of the week, as each gospel emphasizes. This is one reason WHY we assemble on Sundays.
    3. It was the foundation of preaching in the book of Acts and referenced in most of the NT letters.
    4. While we do not observe Easter as a religious holiday (what we are doing today is no different than any other Sunday.), we do remember His death, burial and resurrection – each week in the Lord’s Supper we are proclaiming His death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), in obeying the gospel – the act of baptism proclaims His resurrection, in our worship – in songs, prayers and studies we frequently study what God’s word has to say about this.
    5. In the process of Jesus dying, being buried and resurrected we have the opportunity to be saved. Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood; Acts 4:12 – no other name given among men by which we may be saved; 1 Timothy 1:15 – Christ came to save sinners;
    6. There also passages that relate our salvation to the resurrection of Jesus –
      1. 1 Corinthians 15:17 – And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
      2. Romans 1:3-4 – concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
      3. Romans 4:24-25, speaking of the faith of Abraham and how God reckoned it to Him for righteousness: It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
    7. AS noted previously, if there is no resurrection, the plan of salvation is incomplete.
  2. Baptism and our resurrection – Romans 6:3-4
    1. This leads to the question: How is one saved? The gospel is clear that the plan of salvation includes belief (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10); repentance (Acts 2:38, 17:30); confessing Jesus as the Son of God and Lord (1 Timothy 6:12-13, Romans 10:9-10) AND being baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of our sins – Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Galatians 3:26-28, etc.
    2. Let us focus on baptism as it relates to our salvation AND the resurrection of Jesus.
      1. Romans 6:3-4 – in the act of baptism we parallel the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
      2. Consider the obvious order – Christ died, was buried and arose (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
      3. Our text notes that we die to sin (we put to death the old man of sin – Romans 6:6), we are buried in the waters of baptism, and “raised to walk in newness of life.”
      4. What about the blood of Jesus? It is His blood that saves us.  Ephesians 1:7 we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  1 Peter 1:18-19, we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus.  Matthew 26:28 Jesus noted His blood would be poured out for the remission of our sins. It is in the waters of baptism that we come in contact with His blood.  Revelation 1:5 – He washed us from our sins in His own blood (NKJV – Other translations say, released or freed).  Acts 2:38 parallels the phrase of Jesus in Matthew 26:28 – His blood was shed for the remission of our sins.
      5. In baptism you are added to the body of Christ – Galatians 3:26-28, 1 Corinthains 12:13, Rom. 6:3-4.
      6. He is the one who made us new again – 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15 –. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. John 3:3-5 – born again.
  3. What does it mean to be raised to walk in newness of life?
    1. We are getting a second chance.
      1. How many of us would like a “do over” in some area of our lives, or maybe our lives in general?
      2. In the act of baptism, our sins are washed away by His blood. This is our second chance.  The “slate is wiped clean.”
      3. Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. – It is what God promised if Israel would just repent.
      4. Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaking of the new covenant Christ established. It would be a covenant of mercy, “and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”  Cf. Hebrews 8:12, 10:17.
    2. We must put to death the old man of sin –
      1. In order to become something new, you have to get rid of what is old and damaged. While not a perfect illustration, think of refurbishing or restoring something, such as a car.  The FIRST step is to get rid of what is broken or damaged.  I have watched videos of someone repairing an old and damaged toy or appliance.  The first step is always to take it apart.  Defective parts are replaced.  Those that can be repaired are.  The goal, when it is put back together, is to make it as good as if it were new.
      2. Ephesians 4:20-22 – you put off your former conduct, Colossians 3:3-9 – in Christ you have died, therefore you put to death sinful conduct.
      3. This is a decision you have to make! Salvation is available to everyone (1 Timothy 2:4), but it will ONLY be grated to the one who is willing to surrender his/her life to Jesus.
  4. We are a new creation.
    1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Old things have passed away, all things have become new. Galatians 6:15 – For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
    2. Colossians 3:10-11 – we put on the new man
    3. Ephesians 4:22-24 – be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
  5. What is new when we obey the gospel?
    1. We have a new identity – 1 John 3:1 – when we obey the gospel we become part of God’s family. We are His children.  In the same way that when one marries, the wife takes on a new name, so when we become joined to Christ we now wear His name.  That is what the name Christian is about.  cf. Acts 11:26. Isaiah 62:2, looking toward the new kingdom in Christ, we read, The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.
    2. We follow a new and living way – John 14:6 – Jesus is that way. Hebrews 10:20 – Jesus had gone to heaven where He is now reigning. He has consecrated a new and living way for us. We have new direction in our lives – to submit to His will.  Matthew 28:19-20 – we must observe all things commanded.
    3. We have a new focus – As we mature in our faith, we realize our purpose in life is to bring glory to Him (1 Peter 4:11). Colossians 3:1-2 calls for us to set our minds on things above.  In Philippians 3:12-14 – Paul declared that he was pressing toward the goal for the prize (of heaven).
    4. We have new thoughts – As Christians our goal is to think differently. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – we seek to bring every thought into obedience.  1 Corinthians 2:16 finds Paul declaring, “But we have the mind of Christ.”  The more we learn about what Jesus taught and how He lived, the more focused on Him we will become.
    5. We have a new hope – 1 Peter 1:3-4 – Peter speaks of how He has begotten us to a living hope, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. The reason we surrender to Him is because our goal is to go to heaven when this life is over. It is that hope that provokes us to change.  We anticipate new heavens and a new earth – 2 Peter 3:13.
  6. Walk worthy of that newness
    1. But the process does not end with being raised to walk in newness of life. We actually need to be walking in that newness. Ephesians 4:1 – calls for us to walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called. Colossians 1:10 – walk worthy of the Lord.
    2. This means that in the decisions we make, we now represent Him. We do not want to bring dishonor to His name. Matthew 5:16 – we let our lights shine to bring glory to Him.
  7. Do NOT return to your former state
    1. Our final point is to understand we must remain faithful. There are many who set out to serve Him only to return to their former lives after a while.
    2. Matthew 13:20-22 where Jesus describes the stony and thorny soils. Both start out good, but they become corrupted and unproductive.
    3. 2 Peter 2:20-22 is a strong description of the one who begins his walk with the Lord and then returns to the world. He is worse than when he started.
    4. Revelation 14:13 notes that it is the one who “dies in the Lord” that will be blessed and rest from their labors. A description of our eternal reward in heaven.

The resurrection of Jesus has great implications. It is the foundation of our faith and our hope.  But it also reminds us of who we were and who we are.  When Jesus was resurrected, He continues to live forevermore in heaven.  When we came up out of that watery grave, we too were changed forever more.  Are you living as that new creation, or are have you raised that old man that you buried? If so, you can repent and return to Him.  He will renew you.  If you have needs, how can we help?  Think about it!

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