Daily devotion – baptism and the new life
This Sunday afternoon we witnessed a wonderful picture of the work of Christ on the lives of sinners through the sacrament of water baptism. We are well aware that one must be born again before being baptised and that baptism is a follow on from salvation, a public display of what has occurred in our hearts.
As each individual came out of the ocean, the waters of baptism, after having been lowered back into and under the water, their exit from the water was a picture of them now walking in the newness of the Lord. But what does that actually mean? Paul explains it beautifully in Romans chapter 6….
Walking in Newness of Life
Romans 6:1-9
1. The Question of Grace and Sin
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
The Apostle Paul confronts a dangerous misunderstanding: Shall we sin more because grace is abundant? The clear answer is no! God’s grace is not a license to sin; rather, it is the power to overcome sin. As believers, we are called to live a new life, one that reflects our transformation in Christ.
2. Baptized into His Death
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”
Baptism symbolizes our death to sin and identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Christ rose to new life, so we, too, are called to “walk in newness of life” (v. 4). Our old ways—our sinful nature—have been buried, and we are now new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Illustration:
During Operation Desert Storm, soldiers who gave their lives to Christ asked to be baptized. An army chaplain used a coffin filled with water as a symbol of baptism—vividly portraying the burial of their old selves and the resurrection into new life with Jesus.
3. United with Christ
“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
This verse is a powerful promise: Just as Jesus overcame death and rose again, so we, too, have victory over sin. His resurrection power gives us the strength to live a life pleasing to God, free from the control of sin.
4. The Old Nature Crucified
“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
The “old man”—our sinful nature—was crucified with Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin; we are free! The power of the Holy Spirit now resides in us to help us live victoriously.
5. Alive in Christ
“For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”
When Jesus died on the cross, He paid sin’s debt once and for all. Death has no dominion over Him, and through Him, it has no hold on us either. We are no longer obligated to sin. Instead, we live in Him, alive and free!
Reflection Question:
What does it mean for you to “walk in newness of life” this week? Consider areas where God is calling you to live in His resurrection power, leaving behind your old ways.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins and raising me to new life with You. Help me to live in freedom and obedience, walking in the power of Your resurrection. Amen.