The Exchange 交换

[Dexu Xia]

Our old self was crucified with [Christ] so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. Romans 6:6

Today's Scripture Romans 6:4-12

Today's Insights  In Romans 1-3, Paul shows that all human beings are slaves of sin in need of salvation. In chapter 4, he writes about our redemption and justification. Through faith in Jesus, who died for our sins and was raised from the dead (vv. 24-25), God has given us a right relationship with Him. In chapters 5-8, the apostle describes this new life. He writes metaphorically of our former life as something old which has been replaced by something new (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10). In Romans 6, the apostle likens our sinful nature to the “old self” (v. 6) that was crucified and buried with Christ. Believers in Jesus are no longer the same but are now “dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus” (v. 11 nlt). Those who accept God’s offer of new life through faith in Christ can now live in a way that honors Him because sin is no longer their master (vv. 11-14)

Today's Devotional  Elijah had accidentally ripped a ten-dollar bill while playing with his friends. But instead of admonishing him, his father offered to exchange the torn bill with a fresh one from his wallet.

“Why would you do that?” Elijah asked, confused. “For one, you’re my son,” his father explained. “It’s also a reminder of what Jesus did for us. Because Jesus came and gave His life in exchange for ours, we can now live new lives.”

Every human life is valuable to God because He created each of us. But our sinful nature—“the body ruled by sin” (Romans 6:6)—keeps us from living a life worthy of God’s holiness. So God, in His great love for us, willingly gave up His Son to pay the price of our sin. Our old self was put to death, and in exchange, He offers us a new one—“no longer . . . slaves to sin” (v. 6). When we accept God’s offer of new life, we can be assured that even though our old self was sinful and broken—“corrupted by its deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22), we are now being perfected “to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (v. 24).

Elijah’s father was willing to offer him something of his own because he loves him. But the even better offer is the one God extends to us: the redemption of our lives. When we accept His offer of new life, we aren’t the same as we were before.

Reflect & Pray

What was your life like before you received Jesus as your redeemer? How would you describe it now?

Dear God, thank You for offering me new life, set free from sin, through faith in Christ. By Jasmine Goh

我们的旧人已经与基督同钉十字架，使罪身灭绝，叫我们不再作罪的奴仆。（罗马书 6:6）

今日经文：罗马书 6:4-12

今日灵修：在罗马书 1-3 章中，保罗指出所有的人都是罪的奴隶，需要救赎。在第 4 章，他论述了我们如何得着救赎和称义。藉着信靠为我们的罪而死，且从死里复活（24-25 节）的耶稣，我们就蒙恩与上帝建立正确的生命关系。在 5-8 章中，使徒用比喻的手法描述这种新生命。他将我们过去的生命比喻作旧东西，而新的生命已经取代了这旧东西（参见哥林多后书 5:17；以弗所书 4:22-24；歌罗西书 3:9-10）。在罗马书第六章中，使徒保罗将我们抵挡上帝的罪性比作必须与基督一同钉十字架、一同埋葬的“旧我”（6节）。信靠耶稣的人不再是以前的自己，而是“向罪死了，在基督耶稣里向神活着”（11节）。那些接受上帝得恩典，藉着信靠基督得着新生命的人，如今可以活出荣耀神的生命，因为罪不再是他们生命的主宰（第11-14节）。

今日灵修：以利亚和朋友们玩耍时，不小心撕坏了一张十美元的钞票。但他的父亲没有责备他，而是提出从钱包里拿出一张新的钞票来换给他。“你为什么要这样做？”以利亚疑惑地问。“首先，你是我的儿子，”他的父亲解释说，“这也是为了提醒你耶稣为我们所做的一切。因为耶稣来，舍命代替了我们的坏生命，我们如今才能拥有新的生命。”

每个人的生命在上帝眼中都无比宝贵，因为我们每一个人都是祂创造的。然而，我们的本性是偏离上帝的, 我们的身体是“被罪所辖制的”（罗马书 6:6），使我们无法活出与上帝圣洁相称的生命。因此，出于对我们的大爱，上帝甘愿舍弃祂的儿子，为我们的罪付上赎价。我们被罪辖制的旧我必须被治死；作为交换，祂赐给我们一个“不再被罪辖制”的新生命（6节）。当我们接受上帝赐予的新生命时，我们可以确信，即使我们过去的自我充满罪恶、破碎不堪，“被私欲迷惑而无药可救”（以弗所书 4:22），如今我们正被塑造，得以完全，“在真理的仁义和圣洁上效法上帝”（24节）。

以利亚的父亲愿意将自己的东西给他，因为他爱他。然而，上帝赐予我们的却是更美好的生命的救赎。当我们接受祂赐给我们的新生命时，我们就不再是以前败坏的自我了。

反思与祷告 在你接受耶稣为救赎主之前，你的生活是怎样的？你现在会如何描述它？ 亲爱的上帝，感谢你藉着信靠基督赐予我新生命，使我从罪中得释放。——Jasmine Goh