十二月十四日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1214.mp3″]
经文: 我已经与基督同钉十字架。(加拉太书二:20)
主耶稣基督是一位伟大的代表,祂死于十字架上就代表着全体属祂子民也死了。祂的一代圣徒藉着祂得以称义,也完全平息了上帝对罪的愤怒。保罗很高兴知道因为自己是基督的选民,所以等于已经与基督同死于十字架上了。他不仅相信这一教义,更采取行动,以信心接受这一事实,且将他的盼望建于这事实上。他相信藉着基督的死,他满足了上帝的公义,并能与上帝和好。当灵魂在基督的十字架上,张开双手双脚时,他就能感觉到,“我已经死了。律法已将我处死了,我已不在它的权势之下了。我已经与基督同钉十字架,祂为我代死,在祂身上,所有律法能定的刑罚都已经执行了。”保罗不仅相信基督的死,更信靠祂的死。他真正感受到上帝的能力,以致能把自己老旧腐朽的本性钉死。每一位真正的基督徒向这个世界都是死的。一旦他能感受到自己向世界死了,便能像使徒保罗那样宣称:“但是我是活的。”他向上帝是完全活的。基督徒的生命是个猜不透的谜。没有一位非基督徒能领悟,甚至基督徒本人也不能明白。死了,却活了!与基督同钉十字架,同时,又与基督一同复活,得着新生的样式!与受苦、流血的基督连合,向世界和罪恶而死,真是有福的。
Evening, December 14
Scripture: “I am crucified with Christ.”(Galatians 2:20)
The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what he did as a great public representative person, and his dying upon the cross was the virtual dying of all his people. Then all his saints rendered unto justice what was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for all their sins. The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ’s chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than believe this doctrinally, he accepted it confidently, resting his hope upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ’s death, he had satisfied divine justice, and found reconciliation with God. Beloved, what a blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon the cross of Christ, and feel, “I am dead; the law has slain me, and I am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the curse, and in the person of my Substitute the whole that the law could do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am crucified with Christ.”
But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ’s death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, “I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them.” Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, “Nevertheless I live.” He is fully alive unto God. The Christian’s life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life! Union with the suffering, bleeding Saviour, and death to the world and sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them!