THE NEWNESS OF LIFE WE ALWAYS NEED

 Posted at Reformation Scotland:

Our culture chases novelty—the next unusual thing. Novelty can quickly disappear as we become familiar with those things. Newness however is the principle that makes things new. Rather than pursuing the novel, Scripture offers us a continual renewing. We are to put off the old and put on the new and so be constantly renewed. Our thoughts can turn naturally to new things at the beginning of another year. Yet this is a daily and constant renewal that should never grow old, and we ought never to grow tired of. We need constant renewing because there is a principle of remaining corruption within.

The apostle Paul speaks of newness of life as an ongoing principle in those who have experienced the new birth (Romans 6:4). John Brown of Wamphray explains more of what it means to walk in newness of life in the following updated extract.

1. NEW LIFE MEANS ONGOING NEWNESS OF LIFE

Justification by faith in Christ Jesus through the imputed righteousness of Christ, is so far from being an enemy to holiness and sanctification, that it is always accompanied by them. Justification and sanctification go hand in hand. Such are said to be so dead to sin they cannot live unto it and are also said to walk in newness of life.

Continue here.