Newness
I was baptised on a beach in New Zealand.
Not the beach in the photo, but a little bit like this one.
I remember wading out into the water, sea swirling around me; cold, in the early summer.
I remember the moments before I went down into the water, speaking to God. I remember trying so hard to take in the full meaning of what I was doing.
That as I went down, I was going down to the grave. That I would be “buried with Him through baptism” and “that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father” Romans 6:4 that I would come up from the waters, from the grave, into new life.
A new life in Jesus.
Everything changed from that point. I could say it was the dividing line between what was before and what was after.
I just mentioned Romans 6:4 before. The last part of that verse says “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Walk in newness of life.
I feel like God is taking me back to basics lately. I need it. I need to return to the simplicity of the knowledge that “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God” Galatians 2:20.
Just to sit with this. To walk in the fullness of this decision. To walk in the fullness of Christ.
What does it mean to you to walk in newness of life? Have you fully said goodbye to your old life? What was your experience of baptism?
Photo by Birgit Whelan; Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Galatians 2:20 was the first scripture I ever memorized. Beautiful place to be baptized. I was baptized in the church “whirlpool” thingie. It was a wonderful experience, but I’m really looking forward to being baptized in the Jordan the November (I know I don’t need to be baptized twice, but hey why not). It seems that He is taking many of us back to basics these days.
Miss B, I remember my baptism too…it was on Father’s day..wonderful, new time in the Lord. We got to witness others this weekend as well, it was so amazing!!!!
Walking in the newness of life is daily to me. His mercies are new every morning, and so should ours be. part of what He did on that cross is so that we could have fresh new life daily, and fresh annointing from Him as well. This was such a blessing…what beutiful pictures. Regardless of my day, I can just come here and feel the calm..
I loved this post. This is something I want to understand better. I don’t think we walk in newness of life like we could, if we understood it better. To have new attitudes and habits and thought processes. I know how to act like the old man, I have to learn who the new man is. It is such a long process for me, I have to remember not to get discouraged and know Christ will finish what He started in me.
Wow, Hope, your baptism in the Jordan will be such an amazing experience! Just the knowledge that Jesus was baptised by John there, will make it so incredibly special. I can’t wait to hear about it! Bless you
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Hi Debs, love that you got baptised on Father’s Day, just thinking about God as our Father in heaven, that’s so great
I love what you said about having ‘fresh new life daily,’ it just reminds me of God’s abundance and the life and grace found in Him, thanks Debs 
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Hi Tawny, I love your comments, and I really relate to you here. I think this is where I am at, realising that I have so much to learn about truly walking in this newness of life. I’m reading and re-reading lots of passages from the Bible about it at the moment and really praying for deep revelation of this, and that I will really walk in this in a new way with God’s help. I really appreciate your insights, bless you
I was babptized at 17 (many years ago), I remember I was all alone that day. But as went around to the baptisary, a elderly woman grabbed my shoulders and told me that she was going to be my representative. WOW I haven’t remembered this story for a long time. Anywho, she said she was going to stand up for me and pray for me. She did up to her death. I will never forget Gerta. She was the first woman of God that I had ever met.
I think God takes us back to remember little things like this. Because they have HUGE impacts on our lives.
He also reminds us that we need to keep dying to our old self EVERY DAY.
Hi Heidi
I thought of God’s goodness when I read about your baptism. Just that He wanted you to feel support and love on at a time that was so significant. What an amazing thing that God provided Gerta as a friend who would go on to pray for you all of her life. What an amazing woman of God. Thanks for this, and bless you lots today 
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