兩面
作者：K.A. 翻譯：鍾楨
你是否曾經覺得自己的人生有兩面。一面是光明面，讓你引以為傲：開朗、謙卑、慷慨，被眾人所歡迎。這是你最好的一面，是你每天不斷努力的成果。但你還有另外一面，讓你無法再為之自豪。在不為人知的時候，你斤斤計較、心胸狹隘、自私自利。這週，我深深地覺得自己在這兩面之間掙扎。我相信你能體會我的心情。使徒保羅肯定是能夠體會我的心情的：
「21. 我覺得有個律， 就是我願意為善的時候， 便有惡與我同在。 22. 因為按著我裡面的意思（ 原文是人） ， 我是喜歡神的律；23. 但我覺得肢體中另有個律和我心中的律交戰， 把我擄去， 叫我附從那肢體中犯罪的律。 24. 我真是苦阿！誰能救我脫離這取死的身體呢？」羅馬書 7: 21-24
像保羅一樣，我非常愛主。我希望能變得聖潔、純粹、正直，希望能夠在主面前無可指摘。但在我裡面的罪性非常頑固，它常常在我稍作鬆懈的時候就跑出來搗亂。我痛恨自己的這一面，我的心為之傷痛。有時候我覺得自己這樣地無力。我為此感到沮喪。我到底該怎麼辦？你又到底該怎麼辦呢？讓我們繼續從保羅的教導中找尋答案：
「25. 感謝神， 靠著我們的主耶穌基督就能脫離了。這樣看來， 我以內心順服神的律， 我肉體卻順服罪的律了。8: 1. 如今， 那些在基督耶穌裡的就不定罪了。 2. 因為賜生命聖靈的律， 在基督耶穌裡釋放了我， 使我脫離罪和死的律了。 3. ...... 神就差遣自己的兒子， 成為罪身的形狀， 作了贖罪祭， 在肉體中定了罪案，4. 使律法的義成就在我們這不隨從肉體、 只隨從聖靈的人身上。」羅馬書7: 25-8: 4
這真是一個好消息！在基督裡，我們已經從那陰暗面當中得到了釋放。我們曾經被罪捆綁、無路可走。但是基督的死與復活，是解開這些捆綁的鑰匙。我們自由了！我們不用再不得不臣服於撒旦的罪惡權勢。基督已經成了我們新的主，祂用祂的寶血救了我們。
我們怎麼知道我們已經獲得了自由？我們怎麼知道在我們裡面有新生命？
「3. 律法既因肉體軟弱， 有所不能行的， 神就差遣自己的兒子， 成為罪身的形狀， 作了贖罪祭， 在肉體中定了罪案，4. 使律法的義成就在我們這不隨從肉體、 只隨從聖靈的人身上。 5. 因為隨從肉體的人體貼肉體的事， 隨從聖靈的人體貼聖靈的事。 6. 體貼肉體的， 就是死； 體貼聖靈的， 乃是生命、 平安。」羅馬書 8:3-6
「9. 如果神的靈住在你們心裡， 你們就不屬肉體， 乃屬聖靈了。人若沒有基督的靈， 就不是屬基督的。」羅 馬書 8:9
你看這就意味著接受了耶穌基督成為他們救主的人，會變得越來越像耶穌基督本身。我們知道我們都有這樣的一個常識，你越花時間跟一個人相處，就越會被這個人影響。同樣地，你越花時間跟基督相處——讀經、禱告、參加被聖靈充滿的團契、敬拜——你就會越像祂。總而言之，你花越多的時間與基督相處，你的光明面就越容易戰勝黑暗面。
最後保羅以這樣的忠告作為結尾：「12. 弟兄們， 這樣看來， 我們並不是欠肉體的債去順從肉體活著。 13. 你們若順從肉體活著， 必要死； 若靠著聖靈治死身體的惡行， 必要活著。 14. 因為凡被神的靈引導的， 都是神的兒子。」羅馬書 8:12-14
順著聖靈撒種的就從聖靈得生命，順著罪性撒種的就從罪性得死亡。我知道這些話語非常嚴厲，但是保羅從來就不會為了好聽，而避開真理不說。靠我們自己，沒有希望。我們在罪裡迷失，被世界上虛假的承諾所愚弄。但是基督提供給我們一條出路。祂用祂的公義與我們的罪作交換。我們曾經在黑暗和死亡裡行走，如今我們可以行走在光明中。而最棒的是，我們再也不用回到黑暗裡。
我知道這些教導非常深奧，我並沒有完全明白它的精髓，所以我也不指望你能夠完全明白。但跟隨主的奇妙之處就是，祂會在你讀經的過程中，使得你對於他話語的理解越來越深刻。每次我閱讀他的話語，他就進一步光照我。有一天我能夠完全得著，而以下是我現在所能理解的部分：
耶穌是我們可以跟神有一個聯結的唯一途徑。神讓祂的獨生子被殺，而我們因此能夠從罪中得釋放。如果我們承認我們需要神，祂就會接受我們成為他家庭中的一員。我們會獲得新生，有一個新的名字，並且我們的新生命會越來越像祂。而最重要的是，在基督裡，我們可以找到那我們尋求了多年的愛和平安。而我深知這是來之不易的，因此心懷感恩。
Two "Versions"
Written by K.A. Translated by Zhen Zhong
Have you ever felt like there was two "versions" of you? The first one is whom you are proud of: the charitable, humble, generous person that everybody loves. This is your best "you", someone who you strive to be every day. But then, there's another "version" of you. This one you are not so proud of; the one that is calculating, judgmental and selfish "you" that comes out when nobody is looking. This week I felt really torn between these two "versions" of me. I think you can relate. Paul, the apostle, sure can:
"21. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong . 22. I love God's law with all my heart. 23. But there is another powere within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? " - Romans 7:21-24
Like Paul, I love God so much and I want to be holy, and pure and upright and blameless before Him, but my sinful nature is so strong sometimes that it comes out before I can reign it back in. I hate this version of myself! My heart breaks over it. Sometimes I feel so powerless! And it's so frustrating! What am I supposed to do? What are you supposed to do? Let's read on for Paul's answer:
Romans 7: 25 - "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. 8: 1. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2. And because you belong to him, the powera of the life-giving Spirit has freed youb from the power of sin that leads to death. 3. ...God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit." Romans 7:25-8:4
This is amazing news! In Christ, we are freed from the "version" of ourselves that we hate! Once we were imprisoned by sin, trapped with no home. But Christ's death and resurrection were the keys to unlock these chains! We are freed! We no longer have to submit to Satan, our old master because Christ, our new master, ransomed us with his blood.
How do we know we have been freed? How do we know we have this new life in us?
" 5. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace." Romans 8: 3-6
" 9. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you." Romans 8:9
You see, this means that those who accept Christ as their new Master, will inevitably reflect more and more of his nature. It's common knowledge that the more time you spend with someone, the more you are influenced by them. Likewise, the more time you spend with Christ--in his Word, in prayer, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in worship--the more you will resemble Him. So in essence, this means that the more time you spend with Christ, the more often the "good" version of you wins over the "bad" version of you.
Finally Paul ends with this warning: "12. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature f you will live. 14. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are childreng of God." Romans 8:12-14
Following the Spirit leads to life, but following your sinful nature leads to death. I know those are strong words, but Paul was never the type to candy-coat the truth. By ourselves, we have no hope. We are lost in sin and deluded by the false promises of the world. But Christ offers us a way out. He offers us an exchange: His righteousness for our sin. Once we walked in darkness and in death, but now we can walk in the light—and the best news is, we never have to go back to the darkness.
I know that was a lot to take in. I don't understand all of it, so I don't expect you to either, but the wonderful thing about life with God is that He will deepen our understanding of his Word as we spend time in it. Every time I read this passage, God enlightens me just a little bit more. One day I'll understand everything but for now, this is what I've gathered:
Jesus is the only way we can have a connection with God. God allowed his own son to be killed in order to set us free from sin. If we admit that we need God, He will adopt us into his family as his children. We will gain a new life, gain a new Name, and gain His new likeness. But most importantly, we gain in Christ, all the peace and all the love that we've been looking for all these years. That's something I never want to take for granted.