不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着
加拉太二章二十节是我们很熟悉的经文。这一节说到神新约经纶的一个基本项目：不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着。按照神的经纶，我们不该再活着；反之，基督应当在我们里面活着。这是福音真理基本的一面。然而，大多数的基督徒对于这一点，没有正确、充分的领会。
不是一种替换的生命
因着这点没有厘清，有些基督徒，包括一些基督教教师，就以为二章二十节所说的是一种所谓替换的生命。按照这个观念，我们由基督所顶替─基督进来，我们出去。按照替换生命的观念，我们的生命是可怜的，基督的生命好多了；所以我们应当把我们的生命，替换成基督的生命。我们要看见，这个观念是错误的。
二十节所说的不是替换的生命。在这里保罗说，“现在活着的，不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着。”然后他继续说，“并且我如今在肉身里所活的生命，是我在神儿子的信里，与祂联结所活的。”一面保罗说，“现在活着的，不再是我。”另一面，他说，“我…活着。”你若整体来考虑这一节，你会看见这里并没有替换生命的思想。这里所陈明的，不是一种替换；反之，这里所说的乃是一个深奥的奥秘。
旧“我”和新“我”
我们曾指出，加拉太书启示神新约经纶的基本真理。在这些基本真理当中，最基本的就在二章二十节。在这一节中，保罗一面说，“不再是我；”另一面又说，“我…活着。”我们怎能使这话一致呢？我要再一次指出，这不是替换生命。我们若要了解这一节，就需要别处的经节。罗马六章六节告诉我们，我们的旧人已经与基督同钉十字架。这一节帮助我们看见，与基督同钉十字架的我是旧我，就是旧人。我们重生的人，有旧“我”和新“我”。旧“我”已经了结了，但新“我”是活着的。加拉太二章二十节给我们看见旧我与新我。旧我已经与基督同钉十字架，了结了。所以保罗说，“不再是我。”但新“我”仍然活着，因这缘故，保罗能说，“我…活着。”
请享受生命诗歌329首 (点击诗歌名）
No Longer I, But Christ Living in Me — Gal. 2:20
Galatians 2:20 is a familiar verse. In this verse is one of the basic items of God’s New Testament economy: no longer I, but Christ living in me. According to God’s economy, we should no longer live; rather, Christ should live in us. This is a basic aspect of the truth of the gospel. However, most Christians do not have the proper and adequate understanding of what it means to say no longer I, but Christ living in me.
Not an Exchange Life
Because this has not been made clear, some Christians, including certain Christian teachers, think that 2:20 speaks of what has been called an exchanged life. According to this concept, we are replaced by Christ. Christ comes in, and we go out. According to the concept of an exchanged life, our life is pitiful, and the life of Christ is far better. Therefore, we should exchange our life for Christ’s life. As we shall see, this concept is wrong.
Galatians 2:20 does not speak of an exchanged life. Here Paul says, “No longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Then he goes on to say, “And the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God.” On the one hand, Paul says, “It is no longer I who live”; on the other hand, he says, “I live.” If you consider this verse as a whole, you will see that there is no thought of an exchanged life. Here what is presented is not an exchange; rather, it is a profound mystery.
The Old “I” and the New “I”
We have pointed out that the book of Galatians reveals the basic truths of God’s New Testament economy. Among these basic truths, the most basic one is found in 2:20. In this verse Paul says, on the one hand, “no longer I” and, on the other hand, “I live.” How can we reconcile this? Once again I wish to point out that this is not an exchange of life. The way to interpret the Bible properly is by the Bible itself. This means that other verses are needed if we are to understand this verse. Romans 6:6 tells us that our old man has been crucified with Christ. This verse helps us to see that the very I who has been crucified with Christ is the old “I,” the old man. As regenerated people, we have both an old “I” and a new “I.” The old “I” has been terminated, but the new “I” lives. In Galatians 2:20 we have both the old “I” and the new “I.” The old “I” has been crucified with Christ, terminated. Therefore, Paul can say, “no longer I.” However, the new “I” still lives. For this reason, Paul can say, “I live.”