8月14日

標 題：我們可以仍在罪中嗎？

經 節：這樣，怎麼說呢？我們可以仍在罪中、叫恩典顯多嗎？斷乎不可！我們在罪上死了的人豈可仍在罪中活著呢？（羅馬書六章1∼2節）

基督徒已經向著罪死了。罪再也不能控制一具死屍。試探可以不斷地引誘我們，然而，死屍一點也不會屈服！在你成為基督徒之前，你很容易受罪的影響。罪牢牢地掌控你。當你成為基督徒，你的老我死了（加拉太書二：20）。罪現在不能再控制你，就像試探不能勾引死屍一樣。你已經向著罪死了。你可能還會再犯罪，但是你已經不在罪的權勢之下。如果你選擇對試探讓步，你就拒絕了基督為你死所換取不犯罪的自由。

神的恩典更進一步地激發我們抵擋罪。神的恩典使得耶穌願意把自己交在那些祂要拯救的人手中，忍受他們的嘲弄、鞭打、和被釘死於十字架。儘管我們悖逆祂，神的恩典使我們的罪得饒恕。每回犯罪，神就施予如此的恩典，饒恕我們。既然知道這個恩典，我們不應該再繼續犯罪（羅馬書六：1∼2）。我們不能自恃有神的恩典，而繼續犯罪。

你不再被罪捆綁，作無助的受害者。我們的神早就得勝。神沒有必要為你的罪贏得勝利，因為祂早已經得勝！你所當做的，是將祂的勝利應用在生活的每個層面。如果你有某項惡習、不敬虔的態度，或不義的關係需要被除去，你要宣告今日基督復活的勝利。接著，你能夠自由地經歷神要賜給你的豐盛生活。

Can We Continue in Sin?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1-2)

A Christian has died to sin. Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip. When you became a Christian, your old self died (Gal. 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You have died to sin. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin’s power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God’s grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God’s grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those whom He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin despite our rebellion against Him. It is this same grace that God expresses toward us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Rom. 6:1–2). We cannot presume upon God’s forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The victory has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You only need to apply His victory to each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ’s resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you.