“..just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Rom 6:4
The newness of life mentioned here is at first glance under-rated. It sounds like the freshness of spring. Nice, clean, good - and it is. However, placed into perspective, it is so much more. The “newness” spoken of here is mind-blowing and beyond anything that Hollywood could ever conceive of. Consider this for a moment: The death of Jesus removes our past, present and future sin – one time for all time. The death of Jesus breaks the chains of slavery off of all who believe. The death of the perfect lamb of God opens up the heavens for us to enjoy the Father intimately, and purchases for us healing and eternal life. BUT, the Resurrection of Jesus does something even beyond the magnificent cleansing, healing and living forever that was given for us did at the cross. The infusing power that raised the brutalized and lifeless body of Jesus up from the cold stone into the death-free zone of supernatural living is exactly the “newness of life” spoken of in this passage. In other words, the quality and kind of living that Jesus demonstrated after His resurrection, is the kind of quality of life and power that Jesus purchased for you and I to enjoy today.
Oswald Chambers said “The resurrection of Jesus has given Him authority to impart the life of God to me..” Jesus has earned the authority to impart to you and I, the resurrected lifestyle of Himself. Coming out of the tomb with a never before witnessed supernatural body, was not just to fulfill prophecy, it was also to demonstrate to you and I the type of supernatural living that we have access to today. There is a newness beyond anything we have ever experienced waiting for us to walk in, to try out, to take a step forward into. This kind of supernatural freedom, enjoyment, love, power, and a sound mind is available for anyone who not only wants forgiveness from past sins, and eternal life later, but desires to live abundantly in-between past sin and future heaven. The 40 days of life that Jesus lived in-between the tomb and the ascension is a peek into the lifestyle that the Holy Spirit desires to have in and through us.
-Matt Peterson
