阅读经文 

一本基督教杂志邀请读者用最多七个词汇来概括福音。不少人发来了很多好的答案，这是我记得的一个：“我是神定义的人”(We are who God says we are)。

我喜欢这句话，因为它表明我不是被社会或文化类别所定义的——例如教育、年龄、财务、性别、政治观点、身体形象、脸书喜好、忙碌程度，甚至是我在某一天的自我感觉如何，这对我们每个人都是如此。这意味着我们不是以“别人说我们是什么”而被定义的，甚至不是按着我们可能选择的类别来定义的。相反，我们是被神——我们的创造主和让耶稣从死里复活的天父——定义的。

作为基督的信徒，我们属于新造的人。我们都是蒙爱的、罪得赦免的、受祝福的神的儿女。我们已经与神和好，神呼召我们与他人分享这一信息。神呼召我们像大使一样，他们在外国生活时代表了自己的国家。我们被呼召代表神所新造的人，与神同工，将祂的爱带给这个世界。

我们是神所定义的人。因着基督的复活，开启了新的创造，凡相信祂的人都是新造的人。靠着神的能力，我们可以与每个人分享这个厚赐生命的信息，说：“现在正是悦纳的时候，现在正是拯救的日子。”（参林后 6:2）

A Christian magazine invited readers to summarize the gospel in seven words or less. People sent in lots of good suggestions, and here is one I remember: “We are who God says we are.”

I like that because it means I am not defined by social or cultural categories—such as education, age, finances, sexual identity, political view, body image, Facebook likes, busyness, or even how I feel about myself on a given day. This is true for each one of us. It means we are not defined in terms of what others say we are—or even first of all by categories that we might choose. Instead, we are who God—our Creator and Father who raised Jesus from the dead—says we are.

As believers in Christ, we are part of a new creation. We are all beloved, forgiven, and blessed children of God. We are reconciled to God, who calls us to share this message with others. God calls us to be like ambassadors, who represent their nation as they live in another nation. We are called to represent God’s new creation as we work with God to bring his love into this world.

We are who God says we are. Since Christ has risen, a new creation has come, and all who believe in him are a part of it. And in God’s strength we can share this life-giving news with everyone, saying, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”