"Buried with him in baptism raised to walk in newness of life!"
This Sunday we have another Baptism Sunday at Freedom Biker Church in Clayton.
And as each soul is baptized, we will hear that statement over and over, "Buried with him in baptism raised to walk in newness of life!" It's a reference to Romans 6:4.
How do we walk in that newness of life? Do we have a part to play in that?
Reading Galatians today:
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
He is doing the work in us, the Lord is causing the changes. But we do have our part to play in that. It is very much like a dance where the Lord chooses the music and the steps, then he leads us. But we must dance according to that beat, follow those steps, and let him lead.
Otherwise we will look like Dudley in the movie"Wild Hogs", the music will move us, but it will move us in an ugly way because we will not be dancing to the rhythm of God.
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
and also
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)
Keeping in step with the Spirit of God, is living a life in agreement with his Word. That is the way our lives will begin to show the amazing fruit of his Spirit.
And that is how we will walk in a newness of life the world could never give us.
