New Life! That's what it's all about. Not the "hokey-pokey," not "being happy," and not "keeping up with the Jones." Your new life is about counting yourself dead to sin...but living to God!

Resurrected To New Life Is Real

Verse 11 of Romans chapter six is the first imperative - the first command - that Paul gives in this letter. However, it is different from other commands we see in the New Testament. Most of the others deal with behavioral commands and how to conduct yourself. This one is a belief command. It is an exhortation to believe and accept that what Paul is telling you is the truth. It's a fact and a reality, not an abstract thought or pretend fiction.

What is Paul commanding us to believe? That you should count yourself dead to sin! That you are in fact, alive to God! From verse 2 through verse 11, Paul has repeated this reality as fact several times. Now it is time for you to accept it - and live in it - as your new reality.

This is not pretend. It is not wishful thinking. You're not being asked to believe something for which there is no evidence. This is not blind faith. This is your new spiritual - and human - reality. Believe it!

Resurrection Is For New Life

The purpose of the resurrection of Christ was to affirm and confirm His penalty payment for the sins of the world as acceptable to God. Christ's resurrection also served as proof that He was God in the flesh (Immanuel). Resurrecting Jesus further made Him the "firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:13-20) who now has a glorified body. (see Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 1:8).

Your resurrection - accomplished in/during water immersion through the power and working of God (cf. Colossians 2:9-14) - serves the same purpose. You were raised to live a new life. Your new life is simply a life of following God. Living according to His word (i.e. His law).

Just as Christ was put to death and resurrected, we have experienced the same thing. When did we experience this? In our water baptism. Out death and burial to sin and resurrection to new life draw their meaning and power from Christ's.

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