Walking in Newness of Life Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Walking in Newness of Life “the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” In verse 12 the apostle writes, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”

Walking in Newness of Life How do we do this? When we are baptized into Christ we must take on the mindset of God. Rom. 12:1-2 – not conformed to the world but transformed by the word of God

Walking in Newness of Life How can we accomplish this transformation? Resolutions – How often do resolutions work? – Matt. 6:27 Dealing with one sin at a time – Which sin will you start with? How long will you spend on that sin? Will you continue to sin in other ways while you work on that one? – Luke 18:22

Walking in Newness of Life Focus on the negative does not leave room for the positive. – Matt. 23:23 Copying one characteristic at a time – this leads to lopsided and irregular growth. While we may concentrate our efforts in particular areas we should realize that other characteristics are growing too. – 2 Peter 1:5-8

Walking in Newness of Life How do we walk in newness of life? It is similar to Newton’s First Law of Motion: An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Walking in Newness of Life We do not change ourselves but God’s word changes us. Acts 9:1-22 – we see the effect of God’s word on the life of Saul has he changed direction Acts 17:32-34 – some of the Athenians changed the direction of their worship Rom. 6:17-18 – obedience to God’s word comes from the heart and we become slaves of righteousness no longer slaves of sin However you want to look at it whether at rest on in motion, God’s word acts upon us and changes the state of our lives.

Walking in Newness of Life The idea of assimilation The term "assimilation" describes a change in individual or group identity that results from continuous social interaction between members of two groups such that members of one group (often a minority culture group) enter into and become a part of a second group (often a majority culture group). In this process of assimilation, the minority group or culture may disappear by losing its members to the larger and more dominant cultural group.

Walking in Newness of Life The majority group here is the represented by the word of God and the minority is mankind. As we read and study God’s word it cause us to change to its majority.

Walking in Newness of Life John 3:5 – we must be born again 1 Peter 1:22-23 – we are born again by obedience from a pure heart Eph. 4:13 – to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

Walking in Newness of Life The assimilation points toward the likeness of Christ 2 Cor. 3:18 – we are transformed into the image of the Lord Rom. 8:29-30 – we are conformed to His image

Walking in Newness of Life The process reaches completion as we abide in Christ. John 15:4-5; 7-8 – as we abide in Christ we bear fruit according to His kind 1 John 2:5-6 – we walk as we ought to walk, as He walked Gal. 4:19 – Christ must be formed in us

Walking in Newness of Life To walk in newness of life means we must be affected and influenced by the word of God to be moved to obedience. Then, we are assimilated in Christ, again by His word, and conformed in this assimilation to Christ and His image. Does this describe your walk with Christ?