RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY, 16TH JANUARY.

THEME: NEWNESS OF LIFE IN CHRIST.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).

Our theme scripture is quite outstanding. It begins by letting us know that we’ve been baptized into “Jesus Christ,” and not just “Christ.” The latter means being put in the body of Christ, but the former makes it so strong so that you can better understand when the Bible says, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). It doesn’t get any better than that.

You were baptized into Jesus Christ, meaning that you’re lost in Him, immersed in Him. You’ve become inseparably one with Him that you can’t be distinguished from Him: “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Now, the second part that’s even more thrilling is the fact that we weren’t just baptised unto Him in His death, but were also raised up together with Him to a newness of life. The Bible says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The Apostle Paul talks about the death of Christ, but there was also the resurrection, which is the victory and the glory.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ made Christianity possible. Christianity didn’t begin with His death, for His death didn’t give us life; however, His resurrection ushered us into a newness of life. His death paid for our sins, but didn’t give us a new life. That’s why salvation isn’t the result of the confession or affirmation of His death, but of His resurrection: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

There’s a newness of life in Christ; there’s a new consciousness, with the understanding that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, you also should walk in newness of life. That means, reckon yourself to have come out of spiritual death. You have a new life now; the old nature is dead; your past doesn’t exist; you’re a new creation in Christ Jesus; a superior creation! Hallelujah!

PRAYER
I know who I am; I’m not of this world. I’m a new creation; I’ve come out of death, and I’m perfected in Christ Jesus. Christ is alive in me—spirit, soul, and body—in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:1-2 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

John 11:24-26 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 12:1-21, Genesis 38-39
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 9:32-43, Job 3-4