Archived Notes
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Newness of Life
©Chad Sychtysz
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Paul proclaimed a gospel of “newness of life.” The centerpiece
of this gospel is the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18,22-23). This resurrection—and
the gospel that it supports—is just as real and powerful today as when Paul preached
it. It is also just as misunderstood, disbelieved, and ridiculed by some today as
then. Regardless of what others do, we have a moral obligation to preach the resurrection
of Jesus Christ as the foundation of God’s fellowship with men. The same power Jesus
used to raise Himself from the dead also imparts “newness of life” to all who believe
in Him.
This “newness of life” begins the moment we are made Christians. Just as Jesus was
raised from the dead, so we emerge from the watery grave of baptism (Rom 6:3-4);
if Jesus had not been raised, baptism would have no meaning whatsoever (1 Cor 15:17).
Water cannot cleanse the human soul of sin; only the power of God can accomplish
this through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God. Because His resurrection
is real, so Christ’s salvation is real. We are “born again” because Jesus lives again;
we have a living hope because we entrust our souls to a Living Savior (1 Pet 1:3).
As a direct result of Christ’s resurrection, “baptism now saves you”—not because
of water, but because of our demonstration of faith in the One who commands us to
be baptized (Mt 28:19, 1 Pet 3:21). Given this clear and straightforward information,
it is perplexing to see so many people seeking salvation apart from baptism (“Just
ask Jesus into your heart…”). They call themselves “born again Christians,” but they
have not been “born again”; they assume they have a “good conscience” with God, but
they have resisted the means by which one’s conscience is cleared. If we take baptism
out of the picture, then Christ’s resurrection—as powerful as it is!—cannot help
us. One cannot claim to believe in the power of His resurrection while refusing to
obey the commands of the resurrection gospel. No one will enjoy “newness of life”
that refuses to come to the Giver of life—on His terms, through His way, per His
instructions (John 14:6).
Those who have been baptized may think that “newness of life” is limited to one’s
conversion, nothing more. We are conditioned to this kind of thinking because everything
that is “new” in our physical lives—a new car, new house, new job, or even a new
relationship—soon becomes faded, old, and overly-familiar. “Newness” seems to be
a brief, temporary state of being; it is not meant to be a permanent one. But none
of this is what Paul talked about in Rom 6:3-4. If we think of Jesus’ literal resurrection
from the dead, we gain a better understanding of Paul’s words. Jesus did not raise
Himself from the dead in order to resume His old life or old (earthly) ways of doing
things; these things had “passed away” for Him (cf. 2 Cor 5:17). He was no longer
the Son of Mary; He was no longer the earthly friends of Mary Magdelene (John 20:17)
or Lazarus; things had forever changed. He ascended to a newness of life that would
never grow dim, faded, tired, or old. Christians need to think of their spiritual
lives in this same light. “Newness” does not mean “latest” or “most recent,” but
different in form, kind, or quality. “In Christ,” we enjoy a fuller, richer, more
meaningful life than do those outside Christ. This is not a temporary state of being,
but a permanent one. This “newness” is brought to mind each time we renew our covenant
with God (through the Lord’s Supper), pray, receive forgiveness, engage in study,
fellowship with other believers, and meditate upon the promises of God. We cannot
stop the earthly deterioration of our bodies and the world around us, but we can
and must be “renewed day by day” (2 Cor 4:16) because we serve a Living Savior.
Our baptism stands between two literal resurrections: Christ’s and our own. If we
are not baptized in obedience to Christ, we have no future with Him. If we have been
baptized, yet fail to live accordingly, we forfeit the promises Christ has made to
us. We cannot claim, “I believe in the resurrection!” while choosing to live in the
“oldness” of a life of our own making. Paul proclaimed the resurrection of Christ
as the focal point of His gospel—and for good reason. As Christ was raised from the
dead, so we too can anticipate being raised from the dead; “and thus we shall always
be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:17).
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