A New Life

INTRODUCTION

" SLIDE #1

" There are so many new things we can enjoy when we are baptized into Christ.

" In Christ we are a new creation, with a new destiny, given the opportunity to have a new heart, which leads to where we will land today, as we talk about the joy of a new life!

" Have you ever given much thought to the concept of what a new life in Christ really means?

" What were the implications for my life when I submitted to be baptized into Christ?

" Is my new life simply about the new destination, heaven, or does my new life include the journey to the destination?

" In other words, should my baptism into Christ have implications on the way I live my life now?

" Should those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior live life in a different way?

" Is it really even possible to live in a way that is different that the world around us?

" In the sixth chapter of the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul begins the chapter with an interesting thought.

" This thought is the driving force and gives context to the message for today.

" At the end of chapter 5, Paul talks about the fact that where sin abounded, God grace increases.

" In layman's terms, God's grace is always bigger than the sin that entangles us.

" So, at the beginning of chapter 6 Paul asks the following rhetorical question.

" SLIDE #2

" Romans 6:1-3 (CSB) - 1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

" The question Paul is answering is that since God's grace is bigger than sin, can we sin more to receive more of God's grace.

" Now today we probably do not ask that question; however, if we are not careful, we will live life in that manner.

" When we pay no heed to what God asks of us, when we treat sin so flippantly, we may be too shy to ask the question, but we are not too ashamed to live it.

" The sad part of this scenario, is when we fail to pursue the new life we can have in Christ, we really cheat ourselves out of some wonderful blessings in life.

" Today in Romans 6:4, we will see three consequences of being baptized into Christ. The first two consequences will open the door to the wonderful third consequence!

" The good news is that in Christ, you can have a new life in Christ, one that will rid you of the anxieties of this life, one that can keep you from ruining your life with a plethora of poor choices and decisions.

" Let's look at Romans 6:4 together

" SLIDE #3

" Romans 6:4 (CSB) Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

" SLIDE #4

SERMON

I. We die in Christ.

" This is the first consequence of being baptized into Christ, we die in Christ!

" Verse 4 begins with…

" Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death

" Paul explains that when we are baptized into Christ, that through that baptism, we are baptized into the death of Jesus as well as our own death to self.

" The phrase WE HAVE BEEN BURIED is a reference to the momentary burial beneath the waters of baptism as one is baptized into Christ.

" Death and burial happen occur through baptism, not before it, not after it.

" We are not a new creation until the death and burial takes place through baptism.

" This also shows why the MODE of baptism (immerse versus pour or sprinkle) is important.

" Immersion is the only mode or form that connects the realities of death, burial and resurrection!

" Verse three tells us that when we are baptized into Jesus that we are baptized into His death.

" A lot of folks today want to say that baptism is not necessary for salvation, or that salvation occurs before that point.

" Dr. Jack Cottrell in his Romans Commentary states the following concerning this subject:

" Paul's language is clear. He says we were baptized into Christ's death, and that we were buried with him into death through baptism.

" The words "through baptism" belie all notions of post-reality symbolism. They connect our baptism and our death to sin together as cause and effect.