Baptism unto Newness of Life

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4)

Baptism is not just a public declaration but one of great spiritual significance to the redeemed. If we are to truly understand its significance we will understand that we are brought into a reality of newness of life that denies sin its power and brings us into a deep relationship with the One who save us. With which through Christ we know the ‘power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death’ that we ‘might attain unto the resurrection of the dead'. (Phil 3:10, 11). Hence the Apostle reminds us that the knowledge of our Lord is not just His saving power which guarantees us a place in heaven. Accepting and believing on the finish work of Christ on the cross spells death to the ‘I’ (Gal 2:20) that the even the current life spent on earth is given to Another and living for His pleasure.

That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: ….. (Josh 3:16)

The ‘crossing’ of the Jordan was necessary as did the crossing of the Red Sea with regard to our salvation. The stopping of the overflowing river (Josh 3:15) of the River (Jor) of Judgment (Dan) was important and it tells us that only God can save us. The Ark that went ahead is liken unto the Lamb of God slain from (before) the foundation of world, it was an act of God that went beyond the boundaries of time showing us the power of redemption even up to Adam (Josh 3:16). Hence we cannot say that the redemptive power of God does not avail for our past, it has it's forgiving power no matter how vile our actions were.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt 16:24)

The blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us from all our sins (Rev 1:5), but the body of sin still thrives. The blood of Jesus deals with our sins and the cross which Jesus deals with the self, the body of sin. Newness of life in Christ is not about the betterment of our current life, but ‘all things are become new’ (2 Cor 5:17). Note that it concerns all things, not some things. The cross is the ‘according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself’ (Phil 3:21). Where the first Adam failed to subdue all things in accordance to God’s commandment (Gen 1:28), the last Adam was able to perform to the uttermost. The newness of life Paul lives is that everything in the world that he lived in is pale in comparison (Gal 6:14) with the glorious hope of eternity in Christ. Hence the abundant life (John 10:10) is one that the subduing power of Christ powerfully manifested in me such that I live in such a freedom and ‘I will not be brought under the power of any’ (1 Cor 6:12) because of the supreme ruling authority of God over our lives. He reigns over me now and I am looking forward to reigning WITH Him (Rev 20:6)