Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
It doesn't say "should" in the original greek. This is REALLY important! If Paul wrote that we should walk in newness of life, then its something we need to work at. You really should walk in newness of life, you really ought to, so you must try harder! Word for word, it actually says:
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also walk in newness of life.
Did Christ work himself up from the dead? No! He was dead! The Father did ALL the raising. In THE SAME WAY we DO walk in newness of life. The God Life is ours unconditionally. Its there like a blank cheque signed by the Queen in our back pocket. We can try to go out and get a job to earn a bit of independent new life, but we're unemployable sinners with a really bad criminal record. Believe the promise. Cash the cheque. Every effort that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14.23).
The word against all sinners, addicts and moral failures is "you should do". The promise for all who believe is "He has done, so you are able".
Every promise and every miracle is always to change our thinking about God. They demonstrate that He is good, He is faithful, He is trustworthy. All my sins come from a failure to believe God. Repentance is not about changing my habits, its about changing my thinking metanoeĊ literally means to change ones mind. Holiness is about faith, not works. Works are the fruit not the foundation.
The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate promise, the most outstanding miracle. It promises my holiness.
