“Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 NKJV
One thing the Gospel teaches us is that, in order to have a bona fide resurrection, there must, of necessity, be a bona fide death! The evidence is overwhelming that Jesus died on the Cross and was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father! There is also a grave outside of Jerusalem which has been empty for 2,000 years! There are only four reasonable explanations of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! 1) If the Sanhedrin had the body, they would have gladly displayed it to silence the multitudes who believed Jesus was Messiah! 2) If the Romans had His body, they would have gladly displayed it to solve a huge political and potentially riotous situation. 3) If His disciples stole the body, why would each one of them be so willing to die for a contrived lie? 4) Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus clearly died. Rome declared Him dead. The Sanhedrin accepted their pronouncement! He was dead! BUT – three days later He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father!
But what are the implications here? What does it mean to you and me?
The above verse tells us much more than we can understand at first glance. The implications of this verse are staggering because they are not just mere words. These words connect us with a truth that is strangely absent from much of Christianity – that JUST AS Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, EVEN SO we should walk in newness of life!
The Resurrection gives us New Life! Not just a second chance, or a new lease on life! He gives us God’s own Life substance, which He called eternal life. His Life inside us is what equips us to walk in the Godkind of Life! Paul called it becoming a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), where the old us died, and the resurrection power of God re-created our spirit, thereby re-forming us with the capacity to be indwelt by God, Himself! Jesus referred to the new creation as becoming like a new wine bottle that could retain new wine without bursting!
“Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we should walk in newness of life.” Jesus in us is the Hope of Glory! (Col. 1:27) We have been brought into new life by the glory of God JUST AS Jesus was! I told you the implications of these truths were staggering! Why shouldn’t they be. Jesus didn’t come into the world to leave it like He found it! He came to bring new life! He came to bring the glory of God into the hearts of mankind. No one else could have done that! Settle it – You’re a New Creation, your future is wide open! The past is gone and the old you has died! You’ve been made alive in Christ! Your eternity has been inalterably changed by the glory of God! Settle it! Every day is a new day and you’re equipped to walk in newness of life!
With Love,
Pastor Tom