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•16所以，从今以后，我们不再按照人的看法来认识人，纵使我们曾经按照人的看法认识基督，如今却不再这样认识他了。17所以，若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人：旧事已过，都变成新的了。

我记得曾经有一个电视节目，内容主要是帮助人进行“终极改造”，在节目中，长相平平的人通过正确的发型、化妆和衣服变得美丽。保罗也在谈论“终极改造”，但不仅仅只是在外面，而且是内在的改变。当你相信耶稣后，你就成为一个全新的人，一个新造的人。最重要的，你对耶稣的看法也不同了。在你认识耶稣之前，你害怕上帝，你憎恨耶稣，因为你想做自己的主人。你认为没有任何人，甚至连上帝也无权告诉你该做什么，不该做什么。即使你相信上帝，你也只是把他看做是法官和陪审团，仅仅是来定你的罪的。当你相信了耶稣，这带来了多么巨大的变化！现在上帝成为你亲爱的天父，耶稣成为你的兄弟，你的朋友，最重要的是他是你的救赎主。从前你把遵行律法当做是不得不做的苦差事，如今却变成了喜乐，因为基督的爱激励着你。

这种“终极改造”，也延伸到你如何看待他人。保罗自己深有体会，这就是为什么他说“我们不再按照人的看法来认识人”，保罗过去作为法利赛人，他看不起别人。比起那些外邦人、税吏和底层的人，保罗感觉自己要优越得多。他总是论断别人，因为这让他在自己眼中自我感觉良好。但他后来遇到耶稣，从此他再也不能按照人的看法（原文是按照肉体罪性）去看待别人了。他从耶稣基督的视角去看待他们，基督愿意万人都能得救，并明白真道。

昨天晚上我看了一个电影名叫“自由”，讲述了约翰·牛顿的生平以及他归信耶稣基督的过程。约翰·牛顿在一条运送奴隶的船上担任船长。他认识并相信耶稣后，再也无法像以前那样看待奴隶了。在上帝的恩典下，他们并非低人一等，而是与他平等。他写下赞美诗的歌词：“奇异恩典，何等甘甜，我罪已得赦免。” 就像保罗和约翰·牛顿一样，如果我们认识上帝的恩典，认识到我是一个多么可怜的人，那么我们就永远不会“按照人的看法”来看待任何人，无论他们在生命中处于什么状态。。相反我们唯独从上帝恩典的角度看待他。这对我们来说就是一个“终极改造”。

祷告：主耶稣，感谢你藉着你的恩典让我成为一个新人。求你使我不要再凭着我的罪性看待任何人，而是在我的新人里面，只透过你恩典的角度去看待他们！阿们。

2 Corinthians 5: 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here! (NIV)

It seems to me that I remember a television show that featured an “extreme makeover,” that featured ordinary looking people made beautiful with the right haircut, makeup, and clothes.  Paul is talking about an “extreme makeover,” too, only it is not just on the outside, but on the inside. When you believe in Jesus, you become a whole new person, a new creation.  Above all, you looked at Jesus differently. Before you came to know Jesus, you were afraid of God, and you resented Jesus, because you wanted to be your own boss. No one, not even God, could tell you what to do or not to do. Even if you believed in God, you saw him only as your judge and jury. What a difference faith in Jesus makes! Now, God is your dear Father. Jesus became your brother, your friend, and most of all, your Redeemer. What used to be drudgery has become a joy, because you are compelled by the love of Christ.

        That “extreme makeover” also extends to how you see other people. Paul understood that, which is why he says “we” instead of “you.” As a Pharisee, he looked down on other people. He felt he was superior to the Gentiles, to the tax collectors, to the rabble. He was always judging others, because that made him feel good about himself in his own eyes. But then Paul met Jesus, and he could no longer look at anyone from a worldly (the original says, “according to the flesh”) point of view. He saw them through the eyes of Christ, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

        I watched a movie last night (“Freedom”) that included the story of John Newton’s life and conversion to the Christian faith. John Newton served as a captain of a slave ship. When he came to know Jesus, he couldn’t look at slaves the same way. They were not inferior, but his equal under God’s grace. He penned the words of the hymn, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”  Like Paul and like John Newton, if we know the grace of God, and what a wretch I really am, then we can never look at anyone in the world, no matter what their state in life, except through the prism of God’s grace.  That’s an extreme makeover!

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, thank you for making me a new person by your grace! Never let me see anyone in the world according to my sinful nature, but only in my new person through the prism of your grace!  Amen.