"A NEW CREATURE"

Good Evening to All!

(4) We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order 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. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

(5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (7) For He who has died has been freed from sin.

(8) Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (9) knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. (10) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives , He lives to God.

(11) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have been reading the "reference section to this passage and it gives a very detailed explanation as to what EACH verse means. The thing is, I have posted and posted about the importance of baptism, of water and of Spirit, so you know what the Word says about it as well as my feelings about it. IT IS A MUST.

I would like to focus on some particular parts of this passage if I may. It states that we are to walk in "newness of life" and that our "old man" was crucified with Him.

Baptism of water is a symbol to us and to God that we want to be like Christ. We
want to be "buried" with Him and resurrected. Hence the immersion. When it says that our old man is crucified, does that mean that we are completely changed and not have to work at not sinning? Absolutely not. We will still have temptations, just as Christ was tempted in the desert. It's just that once we have repented, been baptized into the kingdom of God and even more been baptized with the Holy Spirit, He will guide us and teach us. He will give us that "nudge" about what to do and what not to do. Of course, we should study His Word as well, because He talks to us through His Word.

The point I am trying to make is so many people get discouraged because for some reason they get the idea when they read about being a new creature, that something miraculous happens and they will automatically lead a sinless life, and life will be a bed of roses. The thing to remember is that roses have thorns.

Even baptism will not shelter us from the temptations of Satan or life. Look at Job. He was as faithful as could be to God and you see what Satan did to Him.

We must make a conscious effort to strive for Christ-likeness and if we fall and mess up by sinning, get back up, dust off, GO TO GOD AND REPENT, and learn from our mistakes. don't dwell on it, but don't do it again. Turn away from sin.

In case you are wondering about the references to the butterfly, it is the Christian symbol for "change", which is what must happen to be saved and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Good Night to All and May God Bless,