保羅常說，「若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人」。在我們接受耶穌為救主和生命的主的時候，就有了新的生命。這就是我們常說的因得救而重生的新生命。然而，得著重生和新生命是什麼意思呢？有些人把它看為很神秘，並強調在得救那一刻要有某種特殊經歷，類似於一種特殊的心理或精神狀態，才算是得救或得著重生。於是便極力去追求那種感覺，把重生得救變成一種主觀心理的特殊又神秘的經歷。這些情緒對某些人來說，雖然很具吸引力，但重生的經歷，或聖經應許的新生命，就真的只是一些情緒的現象，或某種指定的行為反應嗎？
從聖經的教導，特別是保羅的經歷和他在書信中所論及的新生命，遠遠超過時下一些人所追求的所謂重生得救的精神現象。保羅本身除了在強光中被挑戰和呼召的經歷外，就沒有別的什麼說方言、大喊大叫的歇斯底里的精神現象。聖經甚至沒有記載保羅為那經驗大哭一場，或情緒激動得出現反常現象。他的整個蒙召得救的過程是極深刻，卻又極其平靜和理性。
從保羅的經歷和教導中讓我們知道，新造的人是產生在新的關係中的人。所以保羅說，只有當我們在基督裡才是新造的人。因為我們接受耶穌做我們的救主，所以神就成為我們人生和每天生活的主。凡以耶穌為生活的主的人，他就成為新造的人。人與神和好是產生新生命的唯一和必要條件，不是什麼心理的反應，或什麼特殊的情緒與歇斯底里式的行為舉止。
下一星期我們會繼續進一步討論，當一個人獲得了新生命，他的整個人到底起了什麼變化。神與人和好為什麼會在人的生命中產生脫胎換骨的改變？我們如何經歷新生命？我們又如何培育這個新生命？
Paul always says that, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” When we receive Jesus as our Savior and the Lord of our lives, we will have a new life. This is why we will always say that we will be born again at the time when we are saved. But what does it mean to be born again or have a new life? There are people having a mysterious view on this issue to emphasize some special experiences, such as certain psychological phenomenon or emotional reactions, to justify a born again experience. Therefore, by pursuing such emotions, new life will be reduced into a set of subjective and mysterious emotional phenomena. New life or born again is the biblical promise for Christians, even though some may want to have such emotions in the moment of their conversions, should be far more than just some emotional reactions or predefined behaviors.
From the biblical teachings, or Paul’s discussions in his epistles, born again experience is far more than just those emotional phenomena. As matter of fact, Paul himself did not have any experience of speaking in tongue or hysterical reaction in his conversion experience, except the challenge and calling in that very strong light. There is even no record of his crying or strong emotional reaction, but rather calm, rational and profound in that Damascus event.
Paul’s experience and his teaching tell us that a new life begins in a new relationship. Paul asserts that only when we are in Christ, we are born again. It is because of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, so God is our Lord in our daily life. Whoever receives Jesus as the Lord of his or her life, he or she will become a new being. The reconciled relationship with God is the only and necessary condition for being born again, and it has nothing to do with emotion or any hysterical behavior.
Next Sunday, we will continue to discuss further on the changes a new life should have. How can a new relationship with God transform a person’s life? How should we experience a new life? And, how can we nurture this new life?
