Romans 6:3-4 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?… 1. The chapter connects the historical resurrection of Christ with the spiritual resurrection of the heart by the golden link of "baptism." 2. We have to consider what is the "newness of life" in which we are to "walk," or "walk about," the metaphor referring to our ordinary "walk" in the beaten track of everyday life; for this is "the newness of life" which God loves — not the striking out of some novel path, but the old path trodden every day with "new" affections and "new" attainments. And may we not all say that there has been now quite enough of old, dull, religious duties, enough of worldly-mindedness, enough of things which have done nothing else but disappoint us, enough of things that die? And could there be a better season than this Easter for starting afresh upon the journey of life? Look at this life as "new" — I. IN THE METHOD OF ITS FORMATION. 1. There is a natural life which we all obtain from our father and mother. It carries an entail from Adam — a stream of corruption and a carnal-mindedness. But Jesus took manhood, and did His mediatorial work, that He might become, like another Adam, the root of another pedigree. Our entrance into the lineage takes place by an act of spiritual union to Christ. 2. Now see the processes of that "life." When Christ died on the Cross our nature died in Him. And now Christ, being the Head, rising, draws up the body. First, in this present life, our souls begin to be drawn up to ascending desires, to nearer communion, to loftier enjoyments, to a more heavenly-mindedness. Afterwards, at the resurrection, by the same process, our bodies will be raised up. II. IN ITS OWN CONSTITUTION. God's way of making a "new" thing is not man's way. God uses up the "old" materials; but, by His using and moulding them, makes them "new." Thus, "the new heavens and the new earth" will only make another heaven and earth formed out of the old materials. Or, take that expression, "a new heart." God does not annihilate a man's original temperament — remove his old habits, and tempers, and feelings, and make another man with him; but He restrains, sanctifies, and elevates the man's primary character. The characteristic of his unconverted state is the characteristic of his converted condition; but "new" feelings have given "new" directions to old things; and "new" principles have given another development; and "new" grace has given "new" power: and so, though he is the "new man," he is "the old man" still! III. THE "NEW" ELEMENT THROWN IN TO MAKE A "NEW MAN." Love. Of this command we read that it is "old" and "new." St. John in a breath calls it both. "Old," in the letter; "new," in the spirit. "Old," as an universal obligation; "new," in the standard. "Old," in the fact; "new," in the motive. "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (J. Vaughan, M. A.) 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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