What is the Newness of life all about?

The word “newness” is the quality of being new. “Newness of life” simply means a new life. In Christianity, it means the new life that Jesus Christ gives. 

There was a certain Samaritan woman who had serious relationship issues. The scripture didn’t tell us the exact problem, but we knew that she had had five husbands and was currently living with a man who wasn’t her husband (Jn. 4). No doubt, this was a point of embarrassment to her…especially as a woman living in that age. But after her encounter with Jesus, her life was transformed and she became an evangelist who won over many souls (vs. 41-42).
Zaccheus was a tax collector (Lk. 19:1-10). If you know about tax collectors of those days, you would know that he was not living the most beautiful life…he was very much hated by people around him. People tagged him a sinner (vs. 7). But then, a day came when he met with Jesus. From that singular encounter, Zaccheus received a new life and restituted all that he had cheated people of (vs. 8).

One key thing to note here is that the newness of life is accompanied by transformation. Many believers say they are walking in the newness of life, yet there is no change in their lifestyle. In fact, they may have even become worse than they used to be, because now they hide under “grace”. 

In the verses that precede verse 4 of Romans 6, we see that Apostle Paul speaks on grace and sin. He poses a deep question on whether it’s okay to continue in sin since grace is abounding. Then he responds by reminding us that we already died to sin so how could we possibly still live in it? (vs. 2)
The Newness of life speaks to our new nature in Christ; the type that’s dead…not in sin but to sin. By taking the step of salvation, we severed ourselves from everything called sin and chose to cling to the life Christ ordained for us. The Apostle likens the immersion process of water baptism to the death and resurrection of Jesus, saying we also died just as He did and were raised to a new life just as He was (vs. 4). The old, sinful, you is dead and gone; a new, righteous you is brought to life. 

The newness of life explained by scripture is a call to consecration. The old has passed away and a new creature is birthed (2 Cor. 5:17). Those old habits and the terrible lifestyle you lived before coming to Christ must all die away for the new life He gives to spring up. The only way to achieve this is by constant consecration and intentionality. You must be devoted and intentional about not returning to the old. You must be able to give up fishing and stick to preaching. (Jn. 21:1-17). You must be able to give up your old way of life for good and focus on the new life Jesus has called you to. You must be able to give up your own desires for the glorification of God. 

Newness of life is evident to all. It announces itself. When you are walking in the newness of life, you wouldn’t need to tell people, it will be glaring that something about you has changed. When Paul began to walk in the newness of life, the change was so drastic and glaring that people thought he was trying to catfish them. However, they eventually realized that this change was real. (Acts 9:18-30)

The Bible is full of many examples of people who experienced the newness of life and one thing consistent with all of them; they met with Jesus. Jesus is the giver of new life. Without taking the step to believe in Jesus, you cannot experience this newness of life. If you would like to take that step today, please say this prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank you for your sacrifice of love for me. I accept you today as my Lord and Savior and welcome you into my heart. From today, I walk in the newness of life only you can give. Amen.