May 10, 2020 · Romans 6:4

Resurrection Rebirth

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

“It's a turning our back on the way that God would have us live. And it's everywhere, my friends, and it's destroying us. And yet we hear Paul tell us this is buried. It's buried. Wow. Think about that. All of that is placed into the water of baptism. It's buried. This is no longer the reality we're living in. Yes, it's here, but it doesn't have the last word. Life rules now, not death. Death will not have victory. Death has already been defeated. It's buried. I've died to death. I've died to anxiety. I've died to pain. I've died to sin. This is the reality of my life as a Christian. It's not the controlling narrative for me anymore. Jesus has defeated death, and it gives me hope. Notice what it says here: "in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead — to — the glory of the Father." This is the resurrection — light — that we've been speaking of for the past few weeks. That this is the ground of all our hope. This is the ground of the power in which I can live my life in light of the light, rather than darkness. I can live my life as new life instead of old death. I can live my life in righteousness and power and goodness, instead of sin and brokenness and hurt and pain. I can live a new life because Jesus raised from the grave. It's the thing that allows Christians to be different than anything else you're hearing out there.”