福音这老生常谈

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“既有人的样子，就自己卑微， 存心顺服，以至于死， 且死在十字架上。 所以，　神将他升为至高， 又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名， 叫一切在天上的、地上的，和地底下的， 因耶稣的名无不屈膝， 无不口称「耶稣基督为主」， 使荣耀归与父　神。” 腓立比书 2:8-11

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对于不少知道耶稣为罪人钉死在十字架上的人来说，福音信息已经成为老生常谈。唯有当我们重新思想基督的心（最好是常常），这“老生常谈”才会活起来，圣灵要向我们更新福音对于我们的意义。

许多人看待自己，看到的是失望，乃至绝望，巴不得自己是另外一个（我们所羡慕的）人。很难想象，有人愿意成为这样一个自己。这就是为什么“耶稣的心”如此奇妙。耶稣，创造万物的神，变成了你和我，过我们所过的（糟心的）生活，并为那些我们早就当作理所当然可以视而不见的宝贵生命（包括我们自己）而死在十字架上。从不否认“活着”这件事十足宝贵（我们却常常这样厌弃生活），反而拥抱它，为了使我们得着更丰盛的生命而舍弃自己的。耶稣基督如此顺服父神的旨意，使他配称为“万王之王、万主之主”，是唯一的一位。只有他，为受造者而死。其他君王，好像旧约里的尼布甲尼撒王，命人向他屈膝，不然就要了人的命。而我们要向耶稣屈膝，是因为他给我们他的命。深思耶稣的心，就是愿意为了你我放下万有而成为无有好使你我得生命，将改变福音这老生常谈，叫我们屈膝来敬拜他，口称他为主，将荣耀归于父神。

当我们明白这一切，我们就可以理解为什么保罗从一开始就劝我们要以基督耶稣的心为心（5节）。因为我们的心，对于那些能够透过我们看到基督的人意义非凡。我们的行事为人，加上那效法基督耶稣的心，将反映出福音的大能。5节提醒我们，要以基督耶稣的心为心。当我们愿意为了别人的好处而放下自己的权利、舒适和利益，我们身边的人将被耶稣所吸引，也要来称他为主。有一天，因为我们里面存着的耶稣的心，你所认识的某些人向耶稣屈膝。这听起来，还是老生常谈吗？

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Philippians 2: 8-11

The gospel can be cliche for those who have heard about Jesus dying on the cross for sinners. It stops being cliche and takes on a new meaning when we realize the attitude of Christ. Many of us look at ourselves in despair, wishing that we were someone else. We cannot think of anyone who would want to be in our shoes. Well this is where the attitude of Jesus is so amazing. Jesus who is God, became you and I, lived the life that you and I live and chose to die for all these precious lives that you and I take for granted. Rather than deny the preciousness of life, Jesus embraced it by giving up his own. His obedience to the will of the Father has made him the only one who is fit to be called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the only one to die for Creation. Other kings like King Nebuchadnezar from the Old testament wanted people to bow to him or else he would take their lives. We bow to King Jesus because he gave his life for us. Knowing his attitude of being EVERYTHING and CHOOSING TO become NOTHING changes the cliche, and helps us to willingly bow down and worship him. To proclaim him king of kings in our lives.

If we have understood this, then we will understand why Paul has from the start urged us to have the same type of attitude as Jesus (verse 5). Because our attitudes also matter to those who can only see Jesus from your example. Your actions must be combined with the Jesus attitude to truly reflect the power of the gospel. Verse 5 reminds us to wear the attitude of Christ. It is because this attitude of sacrificing ourselves for others can move the world towards Jesus and help them see him as Lord. One day because of this attitude in us, someone you know may one day bow his knee to Jesus. Or do we just live the cliche?

（图片来自网络）