From Zombie to Alive
Understanding What "Newness of Life" Actually Means
In the heart of Philadelphia lies Kensington, a neighborhood now infamous for open-air drug use and haunting images of people frozen mid-step — victims of a fentanyl epidemic. In 2023, Philadelphia saw over 1,400 fatal drug overdoses, the majority involving fentanyl — a drug so powerful it can sedate users to the point of catatonia, leaving them hunched over, motionless, and unaware of their surroundings.
(Source: Philadelphia Department of Public Health)
This image — eerie and tragic — offers a stark parallel to a spiritual condition the Bible repeatedly warns about: being physically alive but spiritually dead. In theological terms, it’s the condition of living "according to the flesh," cut off from the life-giving Spirit of God.
The Zombie Metaphor in Scripture
The New Testament doesn't use the word zombie, of course, but it does speak often of the walking dead. Paul writes in Romans 8:13 (NKJV):
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
The Greek word for "flesh" here is σάρξ (sarx), often referring not merely to the physical body, but to the fallen nature (which is still active in the regenerated man) — the self-centered, God-resistant human condition. In contrast, the life offered by the Spirit is ζωοποιέω (zōopoieō), meaning “to make alive, to quicken,” a verb used in Romans 8:11 to describe the Spirit’s effect on our mortal bodies.
Romans 8:11:
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He… will also give life (zōopoieō) to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
This “newness of life” is a spiritual reality tied to our union with Christ.
What Does “Newness of Life” Mean?
In Romans 6:4, Paul says:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
The phrase “newness of life” comes from the Greek καινότης ζωῆς (kainotēs zōēs).
Kainotēs denotes freshness, unprecedented quality, and innovation, not just a refurbished version of the old.
Zōē refers to life in its absolute fullness — not mere biological existence (bios), but divine vitality. The live of Christ.
John Chrysostom (4th century Church Father) explains:
“We were not merely improved by the resurrection of Christ — we were created anew. Not an old man patched, but a new man born.”
Not Just Connected — Activated
Being connected to the Holy Spirit is like a house wired to the power grid — but still freezing because the power grid has never been utilized. Paul exhorts:
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25
in other words, if we are connected to the power grid, walk in the potential of the power grid.
The verb "walk" here is στοιχέω (stoicheō), meaning “to proceed in order,” suggesting deliberate, habitual, Spirit-governed living.
Similarly, in Romans 8:4, the Spirit-filled life is presented as the fulfillment of the law — not by human effort, but divine enablement.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4
Paul is highlighting the continuous work of righteousness. We are made righteous through the exchanged life, but we are also called to a walk of righteousness as a way of living our our “Newness of life”
How to walk in the Newness of Life
Just as physical health depends on diet and exercise, spiritual vitality depends on feeding and activating the spirit.
1. Feed the Spirit
The spirit man is fed on the Word of God. Our spirit man must eat the Word Daily to stay robust. A staved spirit man cannot function and lead the whole human in the will of God.
Joshua 1:8 urges meditation on the Word “day and night.”
Daniel 11:32 declares that “the people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.”
A spirit man starved of Scripture cannot sponsor the ways of God. In fact, he becomes a spectator of life, not a participator in divine purpose.
2. Activate the Spirit
Jude 20 and 1 Corinthians 14:4 emphasize praying in the Spirit as a means of edification. The Greek word οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō) means “to build up like a house.” Prayer, especially in tongues, builds a spiritual infrastructure that can host God’s presence.
“A spiritual Christian is one whose spirit is led by the Spirit of God. Merely having the Spirit is not enough; we must walk in step with Him.” Watchman Nee
A Life That Flows — Not Just Fills
Jesus didn’t just offer containment of life, but flow. In John 7:38, He said:
“He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
The Hebrew idea of life (chayim – חַיִּים) is not static. It is dynamic, relational, and transformational. It involves not just being kept alive, but being used by God to bring life to others.
D.L. Moody: “The Spirit was given not for luxury but for service.”
Conclusion: No Longer the Walking Dead
The Christian life is not an upgraded zombie — it’s a resurrection reality. It’s walking, breathing, and living in a way that the world cannot manufacture. It is not about willpower or moralism. It’s about union with the Resurrected Christ through the indwelling Spirit.
Tozer summed it up best:
“The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.”
If you’ve been saved but spiritually sedentary, you don’t need reformation. You need revival. From zombie to alive — this is the gospel’s promise.