Romans 6:18 (NKJV) And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans chapter 6 talks about a believer’s crossover into a new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul says that we are slaves of righteousness because we have been set free from sin. In other words, we can be instruments of righteousness and act righteously because of the new man in Christ.
Galatians 6:15 (NKJV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
We are a new creation—it is who we are and how God sees us. Therefore, we don’t need to be circumcised, because circumcision is of the heart when we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. God expects us to live in the new creation, or the new man, but we have a responsibility to keep the old man buried and put on the new man.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The new creation is found in our hearts when we are born again. Our physical bodies still look the same, and our minds still hold the same values and principles, but we need to renew our minds with the Word of God so we can start to live as the new man, because the new man should have the mind of Christ when we understand who we are in Christ.
Ephesians 4:23-24 (NKJV) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The new man is seen as righteous and holy before God. The new man can act righteously and live in holiness if we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, who teaches us how to live out the new life.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Because the new creation has the nature of God, we can be slaves of righteousness. We are to live from the inside out because the inner man is new and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Instead of living by the law or trying to use our own strength to gain God’s love and acceptance, we should make conscious decisions to live from the inside out so that we will not grow tired and weary. Our Christian walk should be easy and light because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. There is power to live in godliness because of the divine power given to us through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
Reflection: Have you ever struggled to please God through your actions, and what were the results? How might the truth that you are a slave of righteousness transform the way you live your Christian life?
Sermon Series：Legalism or Life in Christ
从律法主义到在基督里的生命
罗马书 6:18 你们既从罪里得了释放，就做了义的奴仆。
罗马书第六章讲述信徒如何跨入在基督里的新生命。使徒保罗指出，我们既然已经从罪中得释放，就成为义的奴仆。换句话说，因为我们在基督里有了新人，我们就能够成为义的器皿，活出公义的生命。
加拉太书 6:15 受割礼不受割礼都无关紧要，要紧的就是做新造的人。
我们是新造的人——这是我们的身份，也是神看待我们的方式。因此，我们不需要依靠外在的割礼，因为当我们相信耶稣是我们的主和救主时，我们的心已经受了割礼。神期望我们活在新造之人的身份中，活出新人生命；同时，我们也有责任让旧人持续被埋葬，并且穿上新人。
哥林多后书 5:17 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。
当我们重生的时候，新造的生命就存在于我们的灵里。虽然我们的身体看起来没有改变，我们的思想中仍然保留着过去的价值观和原则，但我们需要借着神的话语更新我们的心思意念，好使我们开始活出新人的生命。因为当我们真正明白自己在基督里的身份时，新人应当拥有基督的心思。
以弗所书 4:23-24 又要将你们的心志改换一新，并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。
在神眼中，新人是公义且圣洁的。只要我们愿意顺服圣灵的引导，新人就能够活出公义与圣洁的生命。圣灵会教导我们如何将这新的生命实践出来。
彼得后书 1:3-4 神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此，祂已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从私欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。
因为新造的人拥有神的性情，我们就能够成为义的奴仆。我们应当从里面活出来，因为里面的人已经被更新，并且有圣灵的大能扶持。我们不需要靠律法生活，也不需要凭自己的努力去赚取神的爱与接纳。相反地，我们应当有意识地选择从里面的新生命活出来。这样，我们就不会感到疲惫和重担。基督徒的生活本应是轻省的，因为有圣灵的能力在我们里面运行。借着圣灵在我们生命中的工作，神已经赐下能力，使我们能够活出敬虔的生命。因为祂的神能已经将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给了我们。
默想：你是否曾经试图通过自己的行为和努力来讨神喜悦？结果如何？当你明白自己已经成为“义的奴仆”这一真理后，这将如何改变你过基督徒生活的方式？
讲章系列：律法主义，还是在基督里的生命？