Walk In Newness of Life

Romans 6:1-4

INTRO: Good morning church! I once knew a person who attended assembly regularly. They were curious about the Christian faith, but they had not yet committed their life to Christ. When asked why they hesitated, they said, “I’m not ready to give up my life.” This person understood something some Christians do not – giving your life to Christ is life-changing and impacts every aspect of who you were and are becoming.

Turn with me to Romans 6:1-4, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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.”[NKJV]

Paul’s purpose in this paragraph was to stress that Christians who were dead to sin should not continue to live wickedly; but the manner of their being dead to sin must have brought the ordinance of baptism into his thoughts. Consequently many of the most positive teachings concerning baptism were included in this letter. In this verse, Paul explained HOW it is true that Christians are dead to sin, and WHEN they became so.

Baptism is the ordinance that brings people "into Christ," as stated here and in Galatians 3:26-27, and through this unity with Christ, the Christian enters the spiritual body of Christ, thus making it true that "in Christ" they are dead to sin since Christ died. That is the thought expressed here as "baptized into his death," meaning into the status of being dead to sin in Christ.

In these verses, the Bible explains how we experience a likeness of the Lord’s resurrection, are saved from our sins, are baptized into His death, and are raised with Him. It is at that point that we are able to walk in newness of life.

That reference to death, burial, and resurrection with Christ in Romans 6 points to almost every dimension of the Christian life. It points to the gospel and our faith because it indicates our identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Then you have a hint of our future hope. “As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the Father, so are we too…” (Romans 6:4). The implication is we too are raised with Him. And because we will be raised with Him (and this is the point that Paul emphasizes), we too might walk in newness of life. What do those words mean?
Walk - The word “walk” is a reference to the Christian life here and now, and it suggests this life now is the beginning. It’s a kind of anticipation, a foreshadowing, and an initiation into the life of Heaven. We are walking in newness of life, a new life.

Newness - For Paul, the word “newness” is a word that implies resurrection. The new creation is out of the book of Isaiah 65:17-25 – and you find it in the gospels as well. This word “newness” is used to refer to the new age, the Kingdom of God that comes with the person of Jesus. So we are walking in newness.

Life - Then for Paul the word “life” is a word that invariably refers to everlasting life. As the Gospel of John says, it’s the life that comes from the living water, which is Christ, and the Bread that comes down out of Heaven. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). It’s the life of the glorious age to come. When Paul refers to “newness of life,” at first blush he is speaking of the new life of the Kingdom of God, as the everlasting life, the resurrection life that we now have because we are participants in the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is marked out by our baptism.

The Christian Life - But when Paul uses the phrase, “walk in newness of life,” it is a reference to the Christian life. The Jews have a category of literature that they call Halakah. It’s the “walking literature.” It’s a way of looking at the scriptures that emphasizes walking, behavior, the way you live, ethics, and practice.

Paul refers to our walk, as he says in Colossians 2:6, “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” and in Galatians 5:25, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” In both texts, the word “walk” refers to the living out of the Christian life.

As we begin our lesson refer to Romans 6:3-4 again. This is from the letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the congregation in the city of Rome. In these verses the Bible explains how we experience a likeness of the Lord’s resurrection. When we are saved from our sins, we are baptized into His death, and we are raised with Him. It is at that point that we are able to walk in newness of life.
The newness of life mentioned here seems to justify the opinions of those who hold this to be the first resurrection, a view certainly permissible in the light of Jesus’ teaching in John 5:25.

The newness of life is made possible by the reception of the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13), imparted after the believer’s repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38f). Does this newness of life mean that the person cannot sin? No. Our old self is dethroned through conversion to Christ, and the rightful sovereign of the soul, who is Christ, is enthroned instead. Yet the will of man, still free, can reverse the decision. As Wuest explained; “When the believer sins, the dethroned king, the evil nature, mounts the throne, with the consequent dethronement of the Lord Jesus.” The Christian remains a free moral agent capable of choosing between obeying the divine nature or the evil nature. To be alive spiritually in Christ Jesus is to "walk in newness of life"; and what a difference there is. Before their salvation, people are without hope or promise, alienated from God, children of wrath, walking in darkness, hateful, and hating one another; but in Christ, one is part of an utterly new creation. They are truly born again. Old things have passed away, and the future is bright!

In the lesson today I want to concentrate on the matter that is revealed in the latter part of verse four. When we are raised from baptism, we are to walk in newness of life. That’s a very important responsibility. Let’s look at a few points about this.

I. General Guidelines - From Romans 6 let's now turn to Titus 2. Here we are given some guidelines that will help us to walk in newness of life. Toward the end of the chapter, there are some general guidelines and we will consider them first. Then at the beginning of the chapter, there are some specific guidelines revealed. If we follow these instructions… and with the Lord's help, I’m convinced we will be walking in newness of life as the Lord desires.

A. I like the expression in 2^nd Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” It shows that when we get into Christ, when we're baptized into him, (that's the way that we get into Him), all the past is gone, we don't have to carry it anymore, and we're given a clean slate. That is, all things become new! What a blessing that is. However, I’m also convinced that with a clean slate, we also have new responsibilities. As new creatures in God's sight, we are to walk in newness of life.
B. To accomplish that we need to understand exactly what it involves. Although many passages deal with that particular matter, I want to concentrate now on some very helpful information given to us in Titus 2:11-14. In these verses are the general guidelines I spoke of. “11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

1. To know how to walk in newness of life as the Lord desires, we have to go to the right source. Verse 11 tells us that “the grace of God… has appeared to all men”. This is a reference to the incarnation, the arrival of the Son of God, whose visitation upon our planet came directly and solely from the grace of God. With His birth at Bethlehem, it was appropriate to say that salvation had indeed been brought to all men. According to verse 12, it is the grace of God (Jesus in His word) which instructs us regarding the conditions which must be fulfilled for us to partake of that grace; and rejection of these instructions is equivalent to the rejection of God’s grace. Both positively and negatively the conditions are laid out.
2. Some people have the mistaken idea that God's grace will allow them to live as they please. Nothing could be further from the truth. We'll come right back to Titus 2 in a few minutes, but now let's look at a few verses in Romans 6.

a. It seems even in the first century, when the apostles were alive; some were saying that God's grace would permit us to live as we please. That was dealt with in the book of Romans. Look at Romans 6:1-2 again, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
b. Paul’s answer here was because of allegations based upon a perverted understanding of justification by faith.
c. Some of Paul’s hearers and readers had concluded that as long as Christians have faith, it makes no difference at all what kind of life they live. Such a position arising from a misunderstanding of justification by faith. This is understood to be "faith only," just as some still misunderstand it. Look also at Romans 6:14-15. “ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” So a misunderstanding of God's grace is cleared up in those verses.

3. Back to the point we want to establish from Titus 2, that God's grace teaches us how to live. We're talking about walking in newness of life. We need to understand what that involves, and we have to go to the right source for information. The Bible shows us that God's grace teaches us both how we are not to live, and how we are to live.

a. We learn from verses 11 and 12 that God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Now, does that sound like we can live as we please? No, of course not. We've already cleared that up in Romans 6. God's grace teaches us to deny certain things. If we participate in ungodliness and worldly lust, that's not walking in newness of life. God's grace teaches us that.
b. But then on the positive side, God's grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly. Someone teaching from these verses made a point about what that means.

To live soberly means to live right with self.
To live righteously means to live right with others.
To live godly has to do with being right with God.

c. Well, that covers everyone, doesn't it? In this present world at this time, this world that we're living in right now, we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly, while denying ungodliness and worldly lust. That's a very important part of walking in our new life. There are certain types of behavior we need to understand that are just wrong, and we're to abstain from those things. Of course, some people don't like to hear that, but the Bible is very clear, and we want to follow God's word. The Bible also shows us how the Lord wants us to live; it covers both sides of the issue and points out things that we're to avoid, as well as things that the Lord wants us to do.

C. Now back to Titus 2:13-14 that we read a few moments ago. Here we are told to be looking for the Lord's return. That's one reason why it's so important for us to walk in newness of life because by doing so, we will be looking forward to that great day when Jesus will come back.

1. In the first part of verse 14, we're reminded of the Lord's suffering. This verse tells us that Jesus gave Himself for us. He made a great sacrifice on our behalf. Consequently, He made it possible for us to enjoy some very special blessings—to be "His own special people, zealous for good works". In other words, by His sacrifice, the Lord has made it possible for us to be able to walk in newness of life.
2. We looked at some general guidelines revealed at the end of Titus 2, that relate to walking in newness of life. God's grace teaches us that there are certain things to be avoided, and there are certain things that we are to do, with the Lord's help. By following those guidelines, we're able to look forward to that great day when Jesus will return.

II. Specific Guidelines - Let's turn our attention now to some specific guidelines that are given to us in Titus 2:1-6. “1. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2. that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3. the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things 4. that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5. to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,”

A. Keep in mind that this letter was written by the apostle Paul to Titus, who was an evangelist serving on the island of Crete. The gospel had been taken to Crete, and there were people there who had become Christians. Titus was working with them, and he was given the responsibility of teaching sound doctrine. When we study chapter one, we see that the Cretans did not have a very good reputation. “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.'' This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,” (Titus 1:13-14). So the Cretans did not have a good reputation, but those who became Christians were responsible for walking in newness of life. Titus had the responsibility of teaching these things and he had his work cut out for him. I think this shows the power of the gospel. Even people like the Cretans could become Christians. However becoming Christians, they were responsible for walking in a new life.
B. Whenever we cover these first few verses in Titus 2 we find that there is something revealed for the benefit of everyone. Regardless of whether we're men or women, young or old, there's something for each of us.

1. Let's begin with the aged men in verse 2. These are not the elders in an official sense, but simply the older men. “… the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;”

a. The aged men are to be sober. That means being free from excess in anything.
b. The aged men are to be reverent. That means honorable, worthy of respect, and dignified.
c. The aged men are to be temperate. Meaning curbing one’s impulses and demonstrating self-control.
d. The aged men are to be sound. That word sound means incorrupt and the aged men are to be sound or incorrupt in three areas, faith, love, and patience. "Faith here is objective," meaning that older men should cling to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
e. In these three, faith, love, and patience lay the sum of Christian perfection. A commentator wrote; It is with "faith" that we worship God; no prayer, no work of piety can be severed from faith. "Love" spreads its wings over all our duties to our neighbor; and "patience" must ever go hand in hand with "faith" and "love."

2. Let me digress for a moment. Many of us are older and we have found age brings about significant changes. A preacher wrote that an older man brought him a heavy question, “Why does the Lord allow us to get old and reach the point where we can't do things that we used to be able to do?” The preacher gave the following reply; he said, “I'm looking for the answer to that myself, because I'm getting older and find that I can't do everything I used to be able to do either. Those of us who are younger need to have a proper example set before us.” He continued; “When I see someone lacking in the physical vitality they had at one time, struggling to do things that please the Lord it is a tremendous source of encouragement.” He said, “Don't ever underestimate your power of influence. I know you can't do things that you used to be able to do, but when I see you continuing to do the Lord's will, that shows me that there's something to your faith.”

The preacher recalled a time when a man who was having some severe breathing problems talked to him and expressed the concern that his breathing was bothering others in worship services. The man said, “I think I'm going to stop attending worship service.” The preacher said, “Let me give you something else to think about. When I'm up front and I see you walk in the door, I know that you have put forth tremendous effort to be here. That gives me and others a lot of encouragement. If you stayed at home, you're missing out on that opportunity to influence someone.”

When we are experiencing our limitations, it is easy to lose sight of the influence that we have on others. I believe one reason why it's so important for older people to conduct themselves as is taught in these verses, is because others need to have the right influence set before them. All of us need to fulfill our responsibilities.

3. Continuing now in verse 3, are some instructions given to the aged women.

a. The aged women are to be reverent in behavior. As before this means befitting actions, honorable, worthy of respect, and dignified.
b. The aged women are not to be slanderers, given to slander. That means not false accusers.
c. The aged women are not given to much wine. That just simply means being free from addiction.
d. The aged women are to be teachers of good things. They're teachers of what is right.

4. In verses 4 and 5, the aged women are responsible for teaching certain things to the young women. Though I suspect the primary reference of this was to mothers teaching their daughters in the home, there are situations where other young women need to be taught these things.

a. Significantly, the older men were not entrusted with the training of young married women; this is a function that pertained to the godly older women in the congregation. There are seven qualities to be instilled in the younger women; two are mentioned in verse 4 which the older women are responsible for communicating to younger women.
b. Older women are to teach the young women to love their husbands. That is, to be suitable companions and helpers.

I’ll digress here again for a moment. In Genesis 2:18 God made this statement concerning creation about the one thing that wasn't good. God said, “It is not good that man should be alone;” There was no companion for Adam. God continued, “I will make him a helper comparable to him”. Recall at the end of the days of creation, the statement was made, “And God saw that it was good” Then at the end of the creation, “… God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” Genesis 1:31. What did that include? God made a suitable companion for Adam. Then everything was very good. There was only one thing that God made that wasn't good. It wasn't good for the man to be alone. But the Lord took care of that.

c. Returning to verse 4, the aged women are to teach the young women to love their children, that is, to care for their children. Love in the family requires thoughtfulness, and that takes effort. Paul recognized this, and the older could inspire the younger. Now verse 5.
d. The aged women are to teach the young women to be discreet. That is temperate, controlling the desires and the impulses.
e. The aged women are to teach the young women to be chaste. That's an old word that means to be pure and modest.
f. The aged women are to teach the young women to be homemakers, that is, able to take care of household affairs.
g. The aged women are to teach the young women to be good. The word good means upright and virtuous.
h. The aged women are to teach the young women to be obedient to their own husbands, this is fully in keeping with the New Testament teaching that the husband is the head of the family.
i. Finally the aged women are to teach the young women to follow these guidelines for a very special purpose, so that the word of God will not be blasphemed. If the older women were not successful in instilling these noble virtues in the younger women, Paul was sure that the word of God would "be blasphemed." So much depends on the women, in great part on the young women. Even today the world still judges Christianity by the character of the young women produced by the church.

CONCLUSION: First, instructions were given to the older men. Next instructions were given to the older women, who in turn, were responsible or are responsible for teaching certain things to the young women. Then starting at verse 6, “6. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7. in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8. sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” Paul instructs Titus to in like manner “exhort”, encourage, the young men to be “sober-minded”; meaning of sound mind… sensible, discreet, wise… having control over the sensual desires, self-controlled, moderate, chaste, sober.

This reiterates instructions already given to others above; but here is the additional thought that Titus is to exemplify in himself the conduct, demeanor, and virtues to which he encourages others. Paul is talking of Titus’ teaching, and his conduct as well. Titus is to be “a pattern of good works”. Whether we like it or not the world is watching and listening to us. We can be a godly influence if our walk in newness of life is parallel to our profession of faith. The bottom line is that young men have to decide whether or not they're going to be sober-minded. But Titus, as the preacher of the gospel, was responsible for encouraging them.

Walking in newness of life is a privilege and responsibility for those who have been baptized into the Lord's death and raised with him. Thankfully, we have these guidelines in Titus 2, as well as many others that are given to us in the Bible that show us how to walk in newness of life. I believe that a good request for us to make is found in the Book of Psalms. Let's turn to Psalm 143:8. It might be good for us to begin each day with this particular request. “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” That is a request made by someone serious about walking in newness of life. He realizes that he can't do it on his own, but with the Lord's help, he can, and he will. I notice he begins in the morning, that's the time to begin. The rest of the day will be headed in the right direction if we start right in the morning.

The lesson is yours. Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg