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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Death and Resurrection, continued
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)
"We also should walk in newness of life."
The gospel preached today is not the Gospel of the Scriptures. It is not the new covenant. The true new covenant is the Gospel of "newness of life." The gospel of today is that of forgiveness with a view of going to Heaven to dwell forever in a land of joy and peace.
Contrast "newness of life" and "going to Heaven to dwell forever in a land of joy and peace."
But, one may object, these really are the same thing. They are not at all the same thing! The first is a change in what we are. The second is a change in where we are.
The tradition of today is that God takes us as we are, forgives us, and when we die (or in a rapture) takes us to a place where there is no pain, trouble, or dread.
The true Gospel of the Lord Jesus assigns us to the cross and our new born-again nature to the right hand of the Father. Then it sets about to change us totally, conforming us to the moral—and finally bodily—image of the Lord Jesus. It also brings us into total union with God through the Lord Jesus.
Notice the contrast between the two viewpoints:
Forgives us and takes us to a place where there is no pain, trouble, or dread.
Conforms us to the image of the Lord Jesus and brings us into total union with God through the Lord Jesus so that we are walking in "newness of life."
The two operations are not the same.
The first is of great benefit to us. The second is of great benefit to God. Why is our change into the image of the Lord Jesus of great benefit to God? Because God's purposes can be accomplished in and through us only when we have been changed into the image of the Lord and brought into total, restful union with God through Christ; only when we are living in newness of life in Christ.
Some of God's purposes are as follows. Please keep in mind that none of these purposes is possible to a forgiven adamic personality. Each is possible only to the individual who has entered the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, who as a result has been changed into the image of the Lord Jesus and brought into perfect union with Him and who therefore is walking in newness of life:
The creation of a bride for the Lamb, a helper suitable for Him (Revelation 21:9).
The creation of a living temple for God (Ephesians 2:22).
The creation of a body for Christ, the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 42:1; I Corinthians 12:12).
The creation of a vehicle for the end-time revival (Isaiah 60:1,2).
The creation of people who can restore Paradise on the earth (Romans 8:21).
The creation of a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9).
The creation of witnesses of God (Isaiah 43:10).
The creation of sons of God (Revelation 21:7).
The creation of brothers of Christ (Romans 8:29).
The creation of saints who gain victory over the accuser (Revelation 12:10,11).
The creation of governors for the nations of the saved (Revelation 2:26,27).
To be continued.