在基督里的新生命
哥林多后书五章11至21节
11我们既知道主是可畏的，所以劝人。但我们在神面前是显明的，盼望在你们的良心里也是显明的。
12我们不是向你们再举荐自己，乃是叫你们因我们有可夸之处，好对那凭外貌不凭内心夸口的人，有言可答。
13我们若果颠狂，是为神；若果谨守，是为你们。
14原来基督的爱激励我们；因我们想，一人既替众人死，众人就都死了；
15并且他替众人死，是叫那些活着的人不再为自己活，乃为替他们死而复活的主活。
16所以，我们从今以后，不凭着外貌（原文是肉体；本节同）认人了。虽然凭着外貌认过基督，如今却不再这样认他了。
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。
18一切都是出于神；他借着基督使我们与他和好，又将劝人与他和好的职分赐给我们。
19这就是神在基督里，叫世人与自己和好，不将他们的过犯归到他们身上，并且将这和好的道理托付了我们。
20所以，我们作基督的使者，就好像神藉我们劝你们一般。我们替基督求你们与神和好。
21神使那无罪（无罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。
信息分享
对我们来说，它真正的意思是与基督联合。让我们再看经文17、19和20节，我们可以用「与基督联合」来代替「在基督里」。原来在神的眼中，信徒就是与基督联合的人；我们也是借此而享有基督的新生命。
如今，我们既有新生命，我们的生命和事奉就应该反映出一些新的改变。例如，保罗指出，我们应该有新的原动力、新的身份和新的事奉。
新的原动力
保罗在第11节指出了一个非常重要的原动力──对主存敬畏的心。这不是说，我们畏惧自己做得不好或失败，会遭到神的惩罚；乃是我们害怕自己的表现令祂伤心、失望或忧伤。神希望我们凡事能讨祂喜悦，我们也该以此为目标。
第14节指出另一个原动力──基督的爱。不单是因为我们爱基督，所以愿意凡事讨祂的喜悦；更是因为祂对我们和全人类的爱深深地激励我们，祂要透过我们将祂的爱带给所有人。这是何等大的特权，也是何等大的责任。
最后，第15节告诉我们该怎样生活──不是为自己而活，而是为别人而活。当我们与基督联合之后，我们的价值观便会改变。基督为爱世人而甘愿牺牲的真理，以及祂渴望拯救世人的目标，将会扭转我们对别人的看法，以致我们能透过基督的眼睛来看人，并且学习基督的榜样去服侍人。
一个与基督联合的人，便会产生以上的原动力。神在基督里已为世人作成救恩。倘若我已明白并经历救恩，那么，神便期望我会向未认识救恩的人分享这真理。我有做吗？我知道祂的心意，但愿我不要畏缩，勇敢地承担使命。
OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Message
A very small word occurs several times in our reading today. It has only two letters but has tremendous meaning for us. It is the little word "in". If you looked it up in a dictionary, you would be surprised how much space is given to such a small word.
Its real meaning for us refers to our union with Christ. Look again at verses 17, 19 and 20. As you do, substitute the words "in union with Christ" for the word "in". That is how God sees us. That is how we have new life.
Now because we have new life, there are several consequences which should be seen in our lives and ministries. For example, Paul says we have new motives, we have a new position and we have a new ministry.
WE HAVE NEW MOTIVES
A very strong motive is mentioned in verse 11 - the "fear of the Lord". This is not a fear of what God may do to us if we fail. Rather it is the fear of hurting, disappointing or grieving Him. God wants us to do only the things which please Him. That should be our aim too.
Then verse 14 mentions another new motive - the love of Christ. It is not merely our love for Christ that is meant, but His love for us and for all men. He wants to reach them through us. What a privilege it is, but also what a responsibility!
Finally, verse 15 tells us how we should live - not for ourselves but for others. Our value system changes when we are in union with Christ. As the truth of what Christ has done and wants to do lays hold of us, we will see men and women differently. We will see them through the eyes of Christ. We will learn to live for others as Christ did.
These are or should be some of the new and compelling motives for the person who is in union with Christ. God in Christ has done all He could possibly do to save men and women. If I know this, if I have experienced it myself, then God is looking to me to share the truth with those who don't know it. Am I doing just that? I know what He wants. Let me not be afraid to do it.