Sam's Biblical Insight, Exploring the Word, Faith, Theology, Doctrine, and Christian Life in the Spirit

Text: Romans 6:4 (ESV)

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.

Paul’s discourse in Romans 6:1-11 centers on verse 4, where he speaks of our new life in Christ, just as He was raised from the dead. This raises an important theological question: Does Paul suggest that justification by faith alone is incomplete without an active pursuit of holiness? Or does ‘walking in newness of life’ naturally flow from justification as its inevitable result? Understanding this distinction is crucial to interpreting the relationship between faith, salvation, and the believer’s responsibility.

Syntactically and contextually, Paul is not addressing God’s unconditional election or predestination, nor is he presenting a dichotomy in which justification/salvation is solely God’s work while requiring human cooperation within a synergistic framework to complete salvation.

1. Theological and Linguistic Analysis of Romans 6:4

…so that we too might walk in newness of life

Paul describes the inchoative result of being buried with Christ and raised with Him—a new creation, born of the Spirit (John 3:6). Just as a newborn instinctively breathes, moves, and grows, so too does the believer, actively living out their new identity in Christ.

Therefore, to walk in newness of life is to live in pursuit of holiness, conforming to the image of Christ.

The phrase “might walk” (περιπατήσωμεν – peripatēsōmen) is in the Aorist Subjunctive Active, indicating an intended or expected result that requires active participation.

Thus, walking in newness of life is neither a condition to earn salvation (synergism) nor an automatic result requiring no response (fatalistic monergism). Rather, it is the natural and expected outworking of salvation, aligning with Paul’s use of the Aorist Subjunctive Active—which conveys both intention and responsible participation:

‘Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them…’ (Luke 6:46-49)

This active participation is further emphasized in Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians:

‘Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.’ (Philippians 2:12)

Paul does not suggest that salvation is earned but rather that it must be actively lived out through faithfulness, perseverance, and obedience. This aligns with the biblical paradigm that salvation is not merely a declared status but a transformative reality.

Jesus reinforces this principle through His teachings, particularly in the imagery of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-17). Just as a branch must remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, so must believers actively abide in Christ, demonstrating a faith that endures (Matthew 24:13).

The branch “not (ἐμοὶ) bearing fruit”—as implied in the context—failed to abide in Jesus and His words, demonstrating a deliberate, subjective action on the part of the branch. This reinforces Paul’s argument in Romans 6:4:

Walking in newness of life is not merely theoretical but requires ongoing participation.

This follows a consistent biblical pattern: salvation is not merely a declared status but a transformative reality. A believer’s life should naturally reflect this change. Paul’s discussion of ‘walking in newness of life’ in Romans 6:4 is part of this larger biblical framework—one where justification and sanctification are distinct yet inseparable.

2. The Biblical Paradigm of Walking in Newness of Life

The plan of redemption is a logical and consequential decree of God in eternity, initiated solely by His love for fallen humanity, whom He created in His image and likeness.

Salvation is a gift from God, received by faith in Christ Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God, whose atonement is sufficient for all but efficacious for those who believe—affirming that this is not Universalism (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2). Justification occurs at a specific point in time, yet it is inseparably linked to a lifelong journey of sanctification, marked by a commitment to following Jesus (Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 12:14).

Romans 6:4 concerns the new person who has received a new breath of life—alive and moving toward the heavenly, just as a once-dead fish, upon revival, begins to swim upstream against the current (a metaphor illustrating spiritual renewal, cf. Ephesians 2:1-5).

Thus, Paul’s teaching in Romans 6:4 presents a balanced perspective: Walking in newness of life is not an effort to earn salvation (synergism), nor is it an automatic consequence that requires no participation (monergism). Rather, it is the natural outworking of being united with Christ. But what are the broader theological implications of this? Does it challenge the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone?

Conclusion:

Romans 6:4b challenges both passive and legalistic views of salvation. Paul’s teaching makes it clear: justification is not an isolated event but the beginning of a transformative journey. Walking in newness of life is not optional—it is the natural result of being raised with Christ

However, both Paul and Jesus warn that failing to live in this reality has consequences. As Jesus declared:

“The one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

This is not a call to fear but to perseverance—a faith that does not shrink back but presses forward in obedience (Hebrews 10:39).

Paul, in line with Jesus’ teachings, affirms that while believers are called to faithfulness, they can also fall away. Jesus repeatedly warned of this reality, illustrating through parables such as the Sower, the True Vine, the Talents, and the Wise and Foolish Builders—each showing the difference between perseverance and unfaithfulness.

Thus, walking in newness of life is neither a condition to earn salvation (synergism) nor an automatic guarantee requiring no response (fatalistic monergism). Rather, it is the expected outworking of salvation, aligning with Paul’s use of the Aorist Subjunctive Active—which signifies both intention and responsible participation:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them…” (Luke 6:46-49)

Any theological framework that neglects this balance distorts the full biblical witness on salvation and misleads people about the necessity of abiding in Christ for eternal life.

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Salvation is a call to endurance—not merely a past confession but a lived reality. True faith is not passive but persevering—trusting, abiding, and walking in newness of life until the end.

Sola Scriptura!