1月18日

標題：新生命

經節：若有人在基督裏，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。（哥林多後書五章17節）

邀請耶穌住進你的心裏，並不能使你成為基督徒，只有重生才能成為基督徒。耶穌說：「人若不重生，就不能見神的國。」（約翰福音三：3）禱告、公開地委身於神，或是簽署決志卡，都不能使你得救。只有重生才能使你得救。使徒保羅說，當你「在基督裏」，舊事已過，都變成新的了。在得救的那一刻，你所有的罪都被赦免，過去曾經遭受的每個傷害都可得醫治。無論你經歷多少失敗，神的愛與接納會臨到你。不管你如何困苦，一切都成為過去。

有些人小看你靈裏重生那令人敬畏的真實性。你會聽他們說：「即使你現在是基督徒，你還是非得接受好幾年的心理協談，才能克服你的傷害。」或是：「你可能已經重生，但你還是會繼續與罪搏鬥。倘若順利的話，你最後可以在自己的軟弱上，得到勝利。」

問題就在於：我們寧可靠自己的力量尋求改變，也不願憑信心將自己的生命交在那位賜予新生命的主。聖經有個深奧的聲明，就是耶穌基督的血和神子的死亡，足以把我們由罪惡中釋放出來。撒但會想法子欺騙你，讓你以為這不是真的。你要相信誰呢？

New Life

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You do not become a Christian by asking Jesus into your heart. You become a Christian when you are born again. Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Saying a prayer or making a public commitment or signing a decision card will not save you. Only being born again will do that. The apostle Paul said that when you are “in Christ,” the old things pass away. In the moment of your salvation, every sin you ever committed is forgiven. Healing for every hurt you have ever suffered is available. Love and acceptance are yours despite every failure you have ever experienced. Your past, no matter how difficult or painful, is completely and thoroughly provided for.

Some will seek to diminish the awesome reality of your spiritual rebirth. You will hear them say, “Even though you’re now a Christian, you must still undergo years of counseling to overcome the hurts you’ve experienced” or “You may be born again, but you’ll continue to struggle with your sin, and hopefully you will eventually gain victory in areas of your weakness.”

The problem is that we seek changes by our own will rather than by turning our lives over in faith to the One who has given us new life. The profound testimony of Scripture is that the blood of Jesus Christ and the death of the Son of God is sufficient to completely free you from your sin. Satan will seek to convince you that it is not. Whom will you believe?