Romans 6:3-4 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?… I. THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD WAS ATTENDED WITH GLORY. It was glorious — 1. In itself the most marvellous occurrence in history. 2. In contrast with Christ's humiliation. 3. In its effects. He was raised — (1) "For our justification." (2) To secure our own resurrection. (3) That through His life of intercession He might save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him. 4. As to its cause, for it was a display of the glory or power of the Father. But it was more than a miracle of power, for all the attributes of God united their glory in it, love, wisdom, justice, and mercy. The veil which concealed the sacred presence was rent from top to bottom; and the glory of the Lord was seen in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. 5. Because of its sequel in reference to our Lord. Once hath He suffered, but it is once for all. His victory is final. And now, therefore, to the child of God death furnishes a couch of rest, and is no longer a dark and noisome prison cell. The body is sown in corruption, but it is raised in incorruption and immortality. II. THE PARALLEL IN OUR EXPERIENCE IS ALSO FULL OF GLORY. Partakers of His death, we are also partakers of His resurrection. This body of ours will have its share in it in due time. The spirit has its resurrection even now; but we are "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." 1. It is a blessed thing that we should be made alive in Christ. 2. This quickening is a needful part of sanctification. Sanctification, in its operation upon our character, consists of three things. First, Jesus strikes at the heart of evil. His death makes us die to sin. After this we are buried with Christ, and of this burial baptism is the type and token. To complete our actual sanctification we receive heavenly quickening, "for he that believeth in Him hath everlasting life." 3. Being thus quickened you are partakers of a new life. You are not like Lazarus, who had the same life restored to him. True, you have that same life about you. But your true life has come to you by your being born again from above. In this there is a striking display of the glory of God. It is one of the highest displays of Divine power. 4. Thus we have a preeminent security for future perfection. If He raised us up when we were dead in sin, will He not keep us alive now that we live unto Him? This life springeth up unto eternal life. You shall surely behold His face whose life is already within your breast. III. THE LIFE IS EMPHATICALLY NEW. I expect to read, "even so we also should be raised by the glory of the Father"; but it is not so. It is in Paul's mind that we are raised together with Christ; but his thought has gone further, even to the activity which comes of life; and we read, "that we also should walk in newness of life." As much as to say, "I need not tell you that you have been quickened as Christ was; but since you have been made alive, you must show it by your walk and conduct." But he reminds us that this life has much newness about it. This new life is — 1. A life which we never before possessed — an exotic, a plant of another clime. It is not written, "You hath He fostered, who had the germs of dormant life"; but, "You hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." You had no life, you had nothing out of which life could come. Eternal life is the gift of God. 2. New in its principles. The old life at its very best only said, "I must do right that I may win a reward." Now you are moved by gratitude, now you serve not as a servant, but as a child. It is your joy to obey out of love, and not from slavish fear. 3. Swayed by new motives. You live now to please God; aforetime you lived to please yourself, or to please your neighbours. 4. One which has new objects. You aim higher; yea, at the highest of all; for you live for God's glory. 5. One of new emotions. Your fears, hopes, sorrows, and your joys are new. 6. One of new hopes; we have a hope of immortality; a hope so glorious, that it causes us to purify ourselves in preparation for its realisation. 7. One of new possessions. God has made us "rich in faith." Instead of groaning that life is not worth having, we bless God for our being, because of our well-being in Christ. We have peace like a river, and a secret joy which no man taketh from us. We drink of a well which none can dry up; we have bread to eat that the world knows not of. 8. One by which we are brought into a new world. I often compare myself to a chick, which aforetime was imprisoned in the shell. In that condition I neither knew myself, nor aught that was about me, but was in a chaos, as one unborn. When the shell was broken, like a young bird I was weak and full of wonderment at the life into which I had come. That young life felt its wings and tried them a little. It moved with trembling footsteps, essaying a new walk. It saw things it never dreamed of. IV. THE WALK WHICH COMES OUT OF THIS LIFE IS NEW. 1. The new life that God gives us is exceedingly active. I have never read that we are to lie down and sleep in the newness of life. I greatly question whether you have new life if you do not walk. 2. This activity of life induces progress. If we are really quickened we shall march on, going from strength to strength. 3. This walk is to be in newness of life. I see a Christian man coming back from a place of question amusement. Did he go there in newness of life? The old man used to go in that direction. When a man has made a bargain which will not bear the light; is that done in newness of life? When an employer grinds down the workman; is that done in newness of life? Put off the old man. If Christ has quickened you, walk in newness of life. 4. This life should be one of joyful vivacity. A healthy Christian is one of the liveliest creatures on earth. Newness of life means a soul aglow with love to God, and therefore earnest, zealous, happy. Come, my soul, if Christ has raised thee from the dead, do not live after the fashion of the dark grave which thou hast quitted. Live a God-like life; let the divine in thee sit on the throne, and tread the animal beneath its feet. "It is easier said than done," cries one. That depends upon the life within. Life is full of power. I have seen an iron bar bent by the growth of a tree. Have you never heard of great paving stones being lifted by fungi, which had pushed up beneath them? If you choose to contract your souls by a sort of spiritual tight lacing, or if you choose to bend yourselves down in a sorrow which never looks up, you may hinder your life and its walk; but give your life full scope, and what a walk you may have! Conclusion: I have seen boys bathing in a river in the morning. One of them has just dipped his toes in the water, and he cries out, as he shivers, "Oh, it's so cold!" Another has gone in up to his ankles, and he also declares that it is fearfully chilly. But see! another runs to the bank and takes a header. He rises all in a glow. You Christian people are paddling about in the shallows of religion, and just dipping your toes into it. Oh, that you would plunge into the river of life! How it would brace you! What tone it would give you! In for it. Be a Christian, out and out. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?WEB: Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? |
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