 No matter how bad we are, God always accepts us as His children because of our reliance on Christ. Then, why not keep our old way of living, even if they are filled with bad stuff? Why change? Let’s learn from Romans 6:1-18. First, know our old way of living, or our old-self. In our old-self, typically we all have something/someone we treat as paramount. When we couldn’t get them or when we lose them, we blow up (not just angry), we are paralyzed by fear (not just afraid), or we lose interest in life (not just sad). Examples include our family, abilities, wealth, reputation, friends, achievements, beauty, and health. Inherently, these things could be good. But as our desires for them become excessive, they become our security/value/life/meaning. We live for them, and they become our idol. This master rules us and could destroy us (Romans 6:12 and 16). Don’t let that happen. Second, know our new-self. As Christians, we are united with Christ, engrafted in Him at the roots—into His death and resurrection, seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father (Romans 6:3 & 5, Colossians 3:1). We are rebirthed and renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), a power similar to the power one day renewing the cosmos (Matthew 19:28). Grasp the infinite magnitude in our unity with Christ. We no longer need worldly things/people to be secure/good/meaningful/significant. We don’t have to just go for small ambitions, like inner peace or small pickups. Instead, know who we are, and set our minds/hearts on much bigger things—on things above (Colossians 3:1). Third, know our self-in-transition. Our old-self is dead with Christ. We are no longer ruled by sin (Romans 6:6). But it is very difficult for us to believe we could break from our old-self, our old habits, the deeply-ingrained habits/nature/desires. Also, we don’t trust God. What would fully obey Him bring? Wouldn’t we miss out on many things? How to live daily in our self-in-transition? Constantly remind ourselves we are a new person, with the almighty God living in us (Romans 6:11). Constantly think about what Christ, the almighty God, did for us, giving up everything to suffer for us, without asking anything in return (Philippians 2, Mark 10:25). Constantly think about this selfless love. Trust Him, the almighty loving God who is infinitely wiser than us. Offer ourselves to this loving God. A Tim Keller’s sermon summarized. https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/perfect-freedom-5497/ 为什么我们不能像过去一样继续生活？ 无论我们多么糟糕，因为信赖基督, 神总会接受我们成为他的孩子。那么，为什么不能保留我们过去的生活方式，即使它们充满了不良东西呢？为何改变？让我们从罗马书 6：1-18 中学习。 首先要了解我们过去的生活方式，或者旧的我们。 在旧的自我中，通常我们都有一些我们视为最重要的。当我们无法得到它们或当我们失去它们时，我们会崩溃（不只是生气），我们因恐惧而瘫痪（不仅是害怕），或者我们对生活失去兴趣（不光是伤心）。那些东西包括我们的家庭，能力，财富，声誉，朋友，成就，美丽和健康。 这些东西本身也许没有问题。但如果我们对它们的渴望变得过分, 它们便成为我们的安全，价值，生命或意义。我们为这些东西而活，它们成了我们的偶像。这些东西支配着我们, 并可毁灭我们。罗马书6：12和16。不要让这种情况发生。 其次，了解新的我们。 作为基督徒，我们与基督联合，藉着他的死亡和复活，与基督一同坐在父的右边 (罗马书 6：3＆5，歌罗西书 3：1)。 我们被圣灵更新（提多书 3：5），这种力量类似于一日更新宇宙的力量 (马太福音 19：28)。 把握与基督合一的无穷无限。我们不再需要世俗的事物或人来保证我们的安全，良好，意义或重要。 我们不必只是寻求小小的祈望,如内心的平静。相反，要知道我们是谁，并将我们的心放在更重要的事情上 - 如天上的事情 (歌罗西书 3：1)。 第三，了解我们的自我转型。 旧的我们与基督同死。我们不再被罪所统治（罗马书 6：6）。但我们很难相信我们可以打破旧的自我，根深蒂固的习惯，本性和欲望。 而且，我们不相信上帝。完全信服神可会带来什么？我们可会错过许多事情吗？ 如何活在转型更新中的我? 不断提醒自己，我们是一个新的人，全能的上帝住在我们里面 (罗马书 6：11)。 记住万能的基督为我们做的所有事情, 放弃了一切为我们受苦，却没有要求任何回报 (腓立比书 2，马可福音10:25)。不断思考这种无私的爱。 相信他，全能慈爱的神比我们更聪明。 向这位仁爱的上帝献上自己。 Comments are closed.
|