Spring is the time of resurrection, of Easter, of new birth. Just as Jesus died and was buried and raised to new life on the third day, so I died to my sins, was buried in the waters of baptism and rose to live a new life in him.
As Paul puts it in his letter to the church in Rome: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:1-4).
That doesn’t mean I never do anything wrong. I constantly lose my temper, say hurtful things, fail to do what I should, then play fast and loose with the truth to avoid being found out.
But my new life didn’t just happen once, at that gospel meeting at the little church in Happy, Texas, when I was 13. It happens every day.
As John writes, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9).
What a wonderful feeling of life and joy! Jesus died, and I am washed clean in his blood. He was buried, and I am buried with him. He was raised, and I am raised to new life. Praise God for his wonderful love! May I ever love and praise him and love and do good for others, not to gain his forgiveness, but because I am new and fresh and clean each day--in him. |
