【双语灵修】不再需要悔改？OUTGROWING REPENTANCE?

罗马书 7:14-25

我们原晓得律法是属乎灵的，但我是属乎肉体的，是已经卖给罪了。因为我所做的，我自己不明白；我所愿意的，我并不做；我所恨恶的，我倒去做。若所做是我所不愿意的，就应承律法是善的。既是这样，就不是我做的，乃是住在我里头的罪做的。我也知道在我里头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善。因为，立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。故此，我所愿意的善，我反不做；我所不愿意的恶，我倒去做。若我去做所不愿意做的，就不是我做的，乃是住在我里头的罪做的。因为我觉得有个律，就是我愿意为善的时候，就有恶与我同在。按着我里面的意思，我是喜欢神的律；但我觉得肢体中另有个律和我心中的律交战，把我掳去，叫我附从那肢体中犯罪的律。我真是苦啊！谁能救我脱离这取死的身体呢？感谢神，靠着我们的主耶稣基督就能脱离了。这样看来，我以内心顺服神的律，我肉体却顺服罪的律了。

11月11日

不再需要悔改？

“我所作的，我自己不明白。我所愿意的，我并不作。我所恨恶的，我倒去作。”罗 7:15

有时教会可能会妨碍了我们悔改。

悔改是我们成为跟随基督的人非常重要的一环，我们从昔日生活的方向，改而朝着救主的方向走。

然而，跟着发生了一些事情。我们进步了，我们得医治，信心也增长了。《圣经》称之为成圣，这是一件美事。

当我们的信心增长时，我们需要悔改的事情似乎已越来越少了，这看来是合理的。当我们对基督的信心日渐成熟时，我们的生活也应该会改变的。然而，这是不是全部的细节和真相呢？

对我来说，我已经能够抗拒某些我年青时犯的罪了，但我必须承认，有其他引诱会静静地列队等候加入—例如：骄傲、找藉口自我防卫。当我看到防御某一种罪有进展时，很快就留意到有新的罪冒出来了。保罗在《罗马书》第7章解释说，罪会在我们心里生长的，我深知他在说什么。

我正在学习调整对灵命成长的看法。我小时有时会猜想，成年人是否也需要悔改。现在，身为成年人，我知道自己是永远不会“不再需要悔改的”。感谢神的灵在我心里作的工，我已渐渐学会忠心地过生活了。

我希望你已经有悔改的经历。而当你的信心逐渐增长时，在神不断的帮助下，希望你仍继续有那种经历。

祷告

主啊，我们的信心成长时，求你保守我们有谦卑的心。又提醒我们，常常需要你的恩典，帮助我们继续转向你，因为我们必定常常需要你。阿们。

Romans 7:14-25

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

OUTGROWING REPENTANCE?

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. —Romans 7:15

Sometimes church can get in the way of repentance.

Repentance plays a huge part in our becoming followers of Christ. We pivot from our previous direction, turning toward the Savior.

But then something happens. We get better. We heal and grow in faith. The Bible calls this sanctification, and this is a good thing.

As we grow in faith, it can seem like we have less to repent of. And that makes sense. Our lives should change as we mature in our faith in Christ. But is that the whole story?

Personally, I have grown in my resistance to some of the sins of my younger days. But I have to admit that other, quieter temptations can easily line up to take their place—sins like pride or defensiveness. When I see progress in resisting one kind of sin, I soon notice a new one cropping up. In Romans 7, Paul explains that sin grows inside us. I get that.

I’m learning to adjust my idea of what spiritual growth looks like. As a boy, I sometimes wondered if grown-ups needed to repent. Now, as a grown-up, I realize that I’ll never move past my need for repentance. But, thanks to the work of God’s Spirit in me, I’m getting better at living faithfully.

I hope you have experienced repentance. And, as your faith grows, I hope you keep experiencing that, with God’s help all along the way.

Lord, keep us humble as we grow in faith. Remind us that we always need your grace, and help us continually to turn back to you, realizing we need you always. Amen.