Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
What's going on in this verse? It talks about new life, which makes me think about springtime. I think about flowers blooming. I think about the little buds on trees. Whenever springtime comes along, the new life is a signal of what was dormant in the winter and is now coming back to fruition. We get to see what was hidden, but now is flourishing. It's blossoming. This new life idea is exciting when you really think about it, because what this verse is telling us is our humanity has limitations.
Our Humanity and God's Promise
At the beginning when it talks about Adam and how we die, Adam started this whole humanity thing and the boundaries set on humanity were very firm. What we now receive in Christ is an opportunity for new life. I know that for some of us, the idea of springtime or new life might feel far off or distant. We might actually feel like we're in a winter season right now. This idea of us experiencing the buds of new life can feel so far away that we feel like everything is withered and shriveled in our own story.
The Reality of Being a New Creation
The thing that we have to remind ourselves of over and over again is what we see, not just here in 1 Corinthians, but what we see in 2 Corinthians chapter 5. It says:
"If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come."
Why that idea is so important is, as followers of Jesus, sometimes it feels like the idea of new life, blossoms, springtime, and flourishing doesn't feel like our reality. But in Christ we are new creations. It's not based on a feeling, it's based on reality.
Baptism: A Picture of New Life
The reason this is true is that we, who are in our humanity limited by death and sin and brokenness, when we find Jesus as Redeemer and Healer and Restorer in our lives, the reality of our future is symbolized by baptism. You guys know what happens when you're baptized, right? You go down into the water and you come out of the water refreshed, renewed, washed. Some pastors will even say during a baptism service that it's down in death, raised in new life in Christ.
This verse tells us everyone dies because we all are coming from this line of Adam. We are humans. We are fallible, we are limited. But Christ has defeated sin and death, so in Christ we have new life.
Moving Forward in New Life
Today, as you go into your journey that God has set before you, I want you to remember, even if it feels like it's a winter season, even if it feels like things are dormant, if you are in Christ, you are made alive in Him.