Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The opening Scripture reiterates what it means to be crucified with Christ. As believers who are in Christ, we were united with Him at the cross through God’s sovereign, inscrutable act; we were crucified with Christ and buried with Him, dead to sin and no longer slaves to sin. When Christ was raised as the firstborn of the new creation, we too were raised with Him into new life. Our old man, or the old nature, is dead.
What does it look like in practical terms? Let us take marriage as an example. The family is under tremendous attack today. Words, attitudes and actions affect relationships. The devil is still in the business of divide and conquer today. Therefore, the more he attempts to divide, the more we must cling to one another through love and forgiveness.
To the old man, marriage is a contract with an escape clause. Consequently, the couple will think in terms of conditions, limits, rights, and even “outs.” Marriage is about the big “I” rather than viewing ourselves as one flesh. Sin is fundamentally about the self and the gratification of the self; it is filled with individualistic ideology. However, when a couple has this mindset, a broken marriage becomes inevitable. When the relationship stops providing what you desire, becomes difficult, or even dull, you may feel inclined to end it. In the process, hearts are broken, homes are shattered, and the collateral damage ripples through society.
Luke 6:37 (NKJV) “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
It is easy for us to judge and even condemn others for their actions, particularly those who are closest to us. However, the Bible encourages us not to look at the speck in our brothers’ eyes and forget the log in our own. It is easy to be critical of others instead of engaging in self-reflection about our own actions.
Some of us are blessed to have time to study the Bible, but we may forget that while our knowledge has increased through studying the Word, our spouse has been busy with work. If we are not careful, we may use what we have learnt to judge whether our spouse measures up. The Word of God encourages us not to judge, but to forgive their shortcomings and pray for them.
When you have been crucified with Christ, you have also died to individualism and have begun to walk in love for others. Your old man is dead, and you start to live for Christ and your spouse. You will do unto your spouse just as you would like your spouse to do unto you, treating them with respect, just as you would wish to be treated with respect and love.
Sermon Series: Dying to Self
新生命的婚姻
加拉太书2:20 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；并且我如今在肉身活着，是因信神的儿子而活，他是爱我，为我舍己。
这段开篇经文向我们阐明与基督同钉十字架的真义。我们这些在基督里的信徒，藉着神主权而奥秘的作为，已经在十字架上与祂联合；我们不仅与基督同钉十字架，更与祂同埋葬，向罪而死，不再作罪的奴仆。当基督作为新造之物的初熟果子复活时，我们也与祂一同复活，得着崭新的生命。我们的旧人，就是那个属血气的生命，已经彻底死了。
这在实际生活中如何体现呢？让我们以婚姻为例来说明。当今时代，家庭正遭受前所未有的攻击。我们的言语、态度和行为都在影响着婚姻关系。魔鬼至今仍在施行”分而治之”的诡计。正因如此，当牠越发想要离间夫妻关系时，我们就越要藉着爱与宽恕彼此紧紧连结。
对未重生的人而言，婚姻只是一份附有免责条款的契约。这样的夫妻会处处计较条件、限度、权利，甚至随时准备”退出”。婚姻变成了以”自我”为中心，而不是视二人为一体。罪的本质就是自我中心和自我满足，充满了个人主义的意识形态。然而，当夫妻双方都持守这种心态时，婚姻破裂就成为必然结果。当这段关系不再能满足你的需求、变得艰难甚至乏味时，你就会想要放弃。在这个过程中，心灵破碎，家庭瓦解，造成的伤害将如涟漪般波及整个社会。
路加福音6:37 “你们不要论断人，就不被论断；你们不要定人的罪，就不被定罪；你们要饶恕人，就必蒙饶恕。“
我们很容易论断他人，甚至定他们的罪，特别是对那些与我们最亲近的人。但圣经教导我们不要只看见弟兄眼中的刺，却不想自己眼中的梁木。人们常常苛责他人，却疏于反省自己的行为。
我们中间有些人蒙恩能时常研读圣经，但可能忽略了：当我们因神的话语知识增长时，我们的配偶可能正为工作忙碌奔波。若不谨慎，我们就会用圣经知识作为标尺来评判配偶是否达标。但神的话语教导我们不要论断，而要饶恕对方的不足，并为他们祷告。
当你真正与基督同钉十字架时，你就已经向个人主义死了，开始活出爱人的新生命。你的旧人已经死去，如今是为基督和配偶而活。你会以自己期望被对待的方式来对待配偶，用你渴慕得到的尊重和关爱去尊重关爱对方。
讲章系列：治死老我
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