Walking in the newness of life

Just meditating today on verse 4 where Paul says,

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. (Romans 6:4)

Prior to the cross, there was a certain heaviness that Jesus carried with him, the knowledge that a day of reckoning was coming. That he would be put on a cross, bearing our sin and shame.

And while he rejoiced in serving his Father, nevertheless, that heaviness remained reaching its peak at Gethsemane (Luke 12:50, John 12:27; Luke 22:42-44).

But when he rose from the dead, all that burden was lifted from him. Our sins that he came to die for were now paid for, and now he was free to live for the glory of his Father with complete joy.

It is the same with us.

Prior to becoming Christians, we carried the weight of our sin with all its shame and the certainty of judgment hanging over us.

But when we were baptized into Jesus, his death became ours. All our punishment was transferred to him. All our shame was transferred to him.

And as with Jesus, we have now been raised to new life. We no longer carry the burden of ours sins, the shame it brings, and the fear of judgment. Our sins have been completely paid for.

Now we are free to live for the glory of our Father with complete joy.

So let us live each day in that joy