ROMANS 7:6

“But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

When I met my wife of over 40 years, we were friends and coworkers. She was one of my many friends and coworkers. That was a quantitative relationship. But when we got married our relationship changed from just friends to family. That was a qualitative change. She wasn’t just one of my friends anymore. We were husband and wife and in a totally different kind of relationship.

Why in the world am I talking about that? Because Paul uses a word in today’s verse that needs further explanation. When he writes “newness of the Spirit,” he uses the Greek word kainotés which is only used here and back in Romans 6:4 (newness of life). The Topical Lexicon says “kainotēs conveys the idea of qualitative ‘newness,’ a state or mode of existence that stands in sharp contrast to what has gone before. It is never a mere novelty: in Scripture it points to the decisive, divinely wrought transition from the old age under sin to the new age inaugurated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” We have a totally changed relationship to God because of Jesus.

APPLICATION

Not to overuse a source, but I want to also give you another quote from the Topical Lexicon. It’s a pretty powerful statement about the use of kainotēs in the two verses we are looking at. “Romans 6:4 and Romans 7:6 serve as theological pillars, illustrating both the accomplished reality and ongoing outworking of that divine newness in personal sanctification, corporate worship, and eschatological hope.” (Topical Lexicon) If you aren’t shouting, you should be. It’s accomplished and ongoing! Glory to God.

Newness of life and newness in the Spirit. What else could you want. At salvation we are given that newness in life. The old self dies and the new self is resurrected to walk with Him through each day of your life. That walk is possible because we also have the newness of the Spirit. Jesus told us He would give us a Comforter, and He did. He lives in and through us and helps us take each step.

Now listen close. Lean in here. Walk in that qualitative newness. It’s not like anything you had before Jesus. Any religious high you may have experienced won’t measure up. Any vow or promise you made to God won’t hold up to it. We have the freedom in Christ to now walk in newness of life and in the Spirit. Think about that. No more trudging along just trying to make it. We can literally and spiritually hop, skip and jump through life because of this newness. Start walking that way.

O Lord, I am so thankful for the newness You have given me in Jesus.

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