提要
每到新年，人們就開始立志。「我要節食」，或「我決定少看電視」、或「今年開始我要參加健身俱樂部」、「今年我要發奮將聖經讀完一遍」。其背後的含意皆是：「我不喜歡我過去的樣子，我要開始改變。」但我們似乎還是會回到原來的惡習上。我們前進一步，卻倒退兩步。
我們對基督徒的成長也常作如是觀。我們有最好的意念，但我們的表現與理想卻相去甚遠。罪咎感加上一篇牧師的講道足以激發我們頃刻的決心──但從禮拜一到禮拜六卻是一段很長的時間！
那麼我們如何脫離這種永無止境的犯罪──認罪的惡性循環呢？我已經強調過悔改──心的改變加上方向的改變──是必須的要件，而意志的參與在這件事上是十分重要的。但有時我們也會疲於要日復一日定意拒絕我們天然慾望的要求。我們天然的需要使我們疲倦不堪。因此，唯一的答案似乎只有靠天性的改變──使我們的慾望改換一新。
那就是保羅在今天的鑰節所作的結論。當我們「在基督裡」，我們就處於改變的過程中。不錯，我們的舊人有時仍會浮現（如果我們容讓它抬頭），但我們自私的傾向至終會被「先求祂的國和祂的義」所取代。現在我們感到有一種討上帝喜悅的需要──即使我們同時也想使自己喜悅。但當兩者衝突時，我們就否定自己，只討上帝的喜悅。我們已成了「新造的人」。
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Overview
I call it "the New Year's syndrome". Every new year, people make resolutions. "I'm going to eat less", or "I'm going to watch less television", or "This year I'm joining that fitness club", or "This is the year I read through the Bible". The message is, "I don't like what I've been doing. I'm going to change." But we always seem to fall back into the same old bad habits. We rush ahead, then we backslide. One step forward, two steps back.
Generally, we tend to look at Christian growth this way, as well. We have the best intentions, but our performance leaves a lot to be desired. The resultant guilt, combined with a sermon from our pastor, can provide a momentary resolution — but Monday through Saturday is a long time!
So how do we exit this seemingly endless cycle of sin-confess-sin? I've already stressed, in past comments, the absolute necessity of repentance — a change of mind accompanied by a change of direction. The will is vitally involved here. But there's something else: fatigue. We get tired, day after day, turning away willfully from what our natural appetites demand. Our felt needs wear us down. The only answer seems to be a transformation of nature — where our "felt needs" become new.
That's what Paul is getting at in the key verse. When we're "in Christ", we are in the process of being transformed. Yes, the vestiges of the old nature will raise their heads as often as we let them, but ultimately our tendency to self-absorption is giving way to seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. We now have a need — a felt need — to please God, even while pleasing ourselves. And if pleasing ourselves is at odds with pleasing God on any point, we deny ourselves and please Him. We've become a "new creation".
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Prayer
Lord Jesus, after reading this commentary, we are asking forgiveness again for the times we've pleased ourselves and displeased You. We praise You that You are transforming us into Your image until we at last will be truly like You. Amen. (2 Cor.3:18, Rom.8:29) |
