New Life

Living a New Life of Freedom (Romans 6:3-8) A new life NOW We can live a new life NOW, not just in the future or after our physical death and resurrection. (Rom. 6:4, 8:11) Our new life is demonstrated by our baptism Greek – baptizw, to dip; plunge; or immerse, to totally overwhelm. This word was used to describe cloth that was being immersed in dye to change its color, or a ship sinking. Baptism symbolizes a cleansing and regeneration (Titus 3:5, Acts 22:16) In baptism, we experience a death of our “old self” and a resurrection unto a new life, freed from sin (Rom. 6:4-7, Col. 2:11-12, 3:5, 10, 1 Cor. 15:29, 2 Cor. 5:17, 7:1, Gal. 5:1, 13, 24, 6:15, 1 John 3:14, 1 Pe. 2:24) Such a “death” and “rebirth” is necessary to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3) The other Old Testament type which pointed to the truth of baptism is seen in the salvation of God’s chosen people through the Red Sea. Paul writes concerning that truth in I Corinthians 10:1,2. There we read: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Now, how must we understand that? Well, remember that Egypt was a type of the bondage of sin and fellowship with the world. Remember as well that Moses was a type of Christ, one who stood as an Old Testament picture of the Mediator Who was yet to come. The passage through the Red Sea, therefore, was a type of the true deliverance of the Church from the bondage of sin and death, through Christ as the Mediator of Covenant. By that baptism, as it were, God set His people apart and delivered them from the damnation of Pharaoh and all his hosts. And so He sets us apart and saves us through the cleansing blood of Christ. Jesus commanded His Disciples to baptize (Matt. 28:18-19, Mark 10:38-39) This command is repeated by Paul (Acts 2:38) God rewards every single act of obedience. Jesus himself felt it was necessary that He be baptized (Matt. 3: 13-15) Getting baptized constitutes a pledge by us of a “good conscience” towards God (1 Pe. 3:21) Baptism is a public declaration, the person getting baptized has accepted Jesus Christ death at Calvary as payment for their sins, and asked Him to come into their heart and be their Lord and Savior. It is an outward sign of an inward spiritual change that has taken place in their life. We must make a public confession of our faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Tim 1:8) Our former master, sin, constantly seeks to reclaim us

Though we are dead to sin, sin is not dead to us. Sin is alive. Sin will continue to try to control us. We can stand fast against sin with the aid of God’s Holy Spirit The baptism of the Holy Spirit does the work in our inner being and water symbolizes or pictures what is done (Matt. 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 1:35, 3:16, John 1:33, 14:26, Eph 3:16) He is energizing and creating in us the power and desire to accomplish His will. (Phil. 2:13,14) God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13) Give your body parts to Christ in prayer to be used as instruments of righteousness (Eyes, Mouth, Ears, Hands, Stomach, Sexual Organs, Feet, etc.) (Rom. 6:11-14)