To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. C. S. Lewis

作为一个基督徒，就是要去宽恕那不值得宽恕的人， 因为上帝正是这样宽恕你。–鲁益师

The trouble is with me, for I am all too human. Romans 7:14 NLT

但我是属乎肉体的，是已经卖给罪了。-罗马书7章14节

British writer Evelyn Waugh wielded his words in a way that accentuated his character flaws. Eventually the novelist converted to Christianity, yet he still struggled. One day a woman asked him, “Mr. Waugh, how can you behave as you do and still call yourself a Christian?” He replied, “Madam, I may be as bad as you say. But believe me, were it not for my religion, I would scarcely be a human being.”

英国作家伊夫林·沃（Evelyn Waugh）的遣词用字常凸显他性格上的缺点。他后来虽然信了主，却仍无法完全改掉老毛病。一天，有位女士问他：“沃先生，以你的行为表现怎能自称是基督徒？”他回答：“这位太太，我或许如妳所言那般差劲，但若不是相信基督，我恐怕比现在更糟！”

Waugh was waging the internal battle the apostle Paul describes: “I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (Rom. 7:18 nlt). He also says, “The trouble is not with the law . . . [It] is with me, for I am all too human” (v. 14 nlt). He further explains, “In my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me . . . . Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (vv. 22–24). And then the exultant answer: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25).

沃所面临的内心争战，正是使徒保罗所描述的：“立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我”（罗马书7章18节）。保罗也提到：“我们原晓得律法是属乎灵的，但我是属乎肉体的”（14节），保罗进一步解释：“因为按着我里面的意思，我是喜欢上帝的律；但我觉得肢体中另有个律和我心中的律交战……谁能救我脱离这取死的身体呢？”（22-24节）接着他的答案令人振奋：“感谢上帝！靠着我们的主耶稣基督就能脱离了。”（25节）

When we come in faith to Christ, admitting our wrongdoing and need of a Savior, we immediately become a new creation. But our spiritual formation remains a lifelong journey. As John the disciple observed: “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But . . . when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

 当我们带着信心来到基督面前，承认自己的过错而且需要这一位救主时，我们立即成为新造的人。但我们的属灵生命却是一生的操练，正如使徒约翰所说：“我们现在是上帝的儿女，将来如何，尚未显明；但我们知道，主若显现，我们必要像祂，因为必得见祂的真体。”（约翰一书3章2节）

Father, we bring our struggles to You because You know all about them, yet You love us anyway. Teach us to rely on Your Holy Spirit. Make us more like Your Son each day.

天父，我们把老我的毛病带到祢面前，因祢深知我们的问题，但祢还是爱我们。教导我们倚靠圣灵的大能，学习更像祢的爱子耶稣。

Romans 7:14-25New International Version (NIV)

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin.