因为知道我们的旧人和他同钉十字架,使罪身灭绝,叫我们不再作罪的奴仆。(罗六6)
同钉十字架。我是否已经对罪做出了这样的决定——必须将它从我内心消灭掉?我对罪所作的道德判决,是要花很长时间。可是,这却是我生命的伟大时刻。耶稣基督既为世人的罪而死,照样地,罪也必须在我里面死去。不是要把罪约束、压抑或是抵挡,乃是要把它钉死在十字架上。没有人可以使别人下这决心。我们可能被真诚地说服,并且虔诚地被说服,但我们必须照保罗在此所强调的,作出决定。
要鼓起勇气,振作起来,花时间与神单独相对,作一个道德上的抉择,对主说:“主啊,让你的死成为我的死,直至我知道罪已在我里面死去。”要斩钉截铁,下定决心,把罪治死。
对保罗来说,这不是一种属灵的期望,而是一个非常积极且肯定的经历。我肯不肯让神的灵鉴察我,直到我真知道罪的本相——就是在我里面与神的灵相争的事物?若肯的话,我接受神对罪的判断——就是它应该与耶稣同死吗?除非我在神面前解决这个根本的意志问题,否则我不能认为自己“确实向罪死了”。
我有没有进入与基督同钉的最高福祉里,直到我血肉之躯里除了基督的生命以外再无别的?“我已经与基督同钉十字架,现在活着的,不再是我,乃是基督在我里面活着。”
祈祷◆“我的灵在生病”——何等适切地描述我今天的状况!求你控制它,帮助我在当中起来和超越它。
April 10: Moral Decision About Sin
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6
Co-Crucifixion. Have I made this decision about sin – that it must be killed right out in me? It takes a long time to come to a moral decision about sin, but it is the great moment in my life when I do decide that just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world, so sin must die out in me, not be curbed or suppressed or counteracted, but crucified. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be earnestly convinced, and religiously convinced, but what we need to do is to come to the decision which Paul forces here.
Haul yourself up, take a time alone with God, make the moral decision and say – “Lord, identify me with Thy death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death.
It was not a divine anticipation on the part of Paul, but a very radical and definite experience. Am I prepared to let the Spirit of God search me until I know what the disposition of sin is – the thing that lusts against the Spirit of God in me? Then if so, will I agree with God’s verdict on that disposition of sin – that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? I cannot reckon myself “dead indeed unto sin” unless I have been through this radical issue of will before God.
Have I entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ until all that is left is the life of Christ in my flesh and blood? “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”