試想像你面前有兩個大圓圈，一個寫著「在亞當裡」，另一個寫著「在基督裡」。當你生而為人，你便活在第一個圓圈──在亞當裡。可是，在你接受基督的那一刻，你便遷移到另一個圓圈──在基督裡。圓圈只有兩個，你不是在這個裡面，就是在那個裡面，再沒有第三個選擇。當我們活在亞當的圓圈裡，我們就像亞當一樣，拒絕接受神限制他自由的唯一規範。他可能認為神叫他不要去做的只是一件小事，他在這件小事上不聽從神也不打緊；然而，他做了一件違背神的事，已足以使他與神隔絕，也足以將罪帶給全人類。神已將違背祂的後果預先警告亞當，但他卻執意不理。正如羅馬書第五章告訴我們，因一人的悖逆，眾人都成為罪人。我們也是這「眾人」之一，因為我們同屬亞當家的人。除非我們離開那個圈子，否則我們將永遠與神隔絕。

「罪」已成為全人類急待解決的問題，但神卻願意親自為我們提供出路。神因著祂的愛與憐憫，差祂的兒子耶穌基督降世，為我們的罪受死，從此便為我們造出了一個新的生存空間。正如保羅說：「在亞當裡眾人都死了，照樣，在基督裡人人都要復活」。凡離開亞當的圓圈，憑著信心接受耶穌基督，並在祂裡面得著新生的人，都會得著生命。

我們不會自自然然由一個圓圈進到另一個圓圈。我們靠著自己，是永遠不能離開亞當的圓圈的，因為我們與生俱來就是屬於這個圓圈。你是否希望離開它呢？它確實有它的吸引力，可是它卻是永遠與神隔絕的地方。我們只有憑著信心，相信耶穌基督能拯救我們離開，我們才有機會出死入生。

你在那個圓圈裡面呢？是在亞當裡還是在基督裡呢？是在死亡之地，或是在永生之地呢？你是罪的奴僕，還是耶穌基督的僕人呢？祂正在祂的圈子裡不斷地向你招手呢。

牢記：

只要仰望十字架上的耶穌基督，就是你進入新生的開始。

Day 18

WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? IN ADAM OR IN CHRIST?

1 Corinthians 15:12-25

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.

14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.

16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.

17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

Message

Could you draw two great circles in the air and imagine that one of them is labelled 'In Adam' and the other 'In Christ'? As a member of the human race you are in the first circle-in Adam; you were born into that circle. When you I receive Christ you move into the other circle, in Christ. There is no possibility of a third circle. You are in one or the other.

In Adam-that takes us back to the very beginning, when Adam refused to accept the only limitation God put on his liberty. It was a step of disobedience in a very small matter, but it was enough to separate Adam from God and to bring sin into the human race. Adam had been warned, but he refused to take notice of the warning. As Romans 5 tells us, by the disobedience of one, many were made sinners. That word 'many' includes us all because we all belong to the family of Adam. Unless we move out of that circle we will be forever separated from God.

But there is heaven's answer to our need-Jesus Christ himself. In God's love and mercy he sent his Son to die for us. A new circle has been created and Paul says, 'As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' There is life for all who step out of the Adam circle and come in faith to Jesus Christ and find new life in him.

We don't grow from one circle to another. We cannot do it by ourselves. It is a step of faith in Jesus Christ. You are in Adam's circle simply because you have been born into this world, into the human race. You can't help that, but you can help remaining there. Are you willing to leave it? It has its attractions, but it is a place of separation from God.

Which circle are you in? In Adam or in Christ? In the place of death or the place of life? Are you the servant of sin or the servant of Jesus Christ? He is waiting to welcome you into his circle today.

REMEMBER:

There is life for a look at the crucified one-Jesus Christ.

There is life at this moment for you.