Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:3-4 English Standard Version

 

It can be easy to live a comfortable life as a Christian and not have to worry too much about too many things other than taking care of our personal needs and wants. As a result, many of us remain comfortable being churchgoers instead of being followers of Christ. We become resistant to change and we don’t welcome those in our midst who disrupt our so-called “normal” Christian life.

Instead of living a comfortable life, we are to pursue a life conforming more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. To do so is something not beyond our reach—for we are now new creations in Christ and Jesus has given us the power and authority to live our new life of faith and freedom. The paradox is the joy of a life becoming like Christ is that the burden of life becomes easier to bear and even light. This is because when we let go into God’s hands of what we fear to lose—God has the power to restore everything we entrust to Him (cf. Matthew 6:19-21).

Nothing undermines the gospel more than the idea that Christ died for us so that we can merely receive the benefits of His finished work. While it is true that Christ carried away our sins and made us right with God, it is not true that we are just passive beneficiaries. We must not forget—that when Christ died, we died in Him and when Christ was raised, we were raised with Him. This means we no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died and was raised for our sake.

Having received a foretaste of heaven through the new life Jesus has come to give us, we become who Christ is calling us to be. We are called by Him to be change agents in our city on a daily basis. We can do that in the midst of our work or through specific acts of kindness so that the presence and power of Christ’s kingdom and reign is felt.