我们多么需要一位救主

　　马丁路德对自己的罪性有很深的体会。他曾很多年因自己的软弱败坏而备受折磨，以致开始憎恨神，因为他无法活出神的标准，深感痛苦。

　　如今，或许很少有人像路德一样，对折磨他的败坏罪性有同样深切的感受，然而我们都清楚自己的缺点。在我们内心深处，我们知道自己偏离了靶心，我们都是罪人。

　　我们的行为很少能显示我们私下的真实状况，因为我们多么懂得玩那些游戏。然而，我们知道自己暗地里的罪有多么深。我们从心底知道，爱人如己和尽心、尽意、尽力爱神，是多么难！

　　我们无法对自己的道德状况满意。正如使徒保罗简明而精准地说：“因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。”

　　就在路德属灵生命最低点的时候，他开始得到一些令他震撼并痛彻心扉的领悟：我们不能做任何事情来拯救我们自己。只有在基督里才有自由，只有在耶稣基督里我们才能与神和好。

　　感谢神，因祂知道我们的无助，便把我们带到基督那里，得到帮助！

主耶稣，尽管我将自己的罪隐藏得很好，但我知道我是多么地卑劣。我知道自己不能做任何事来改变自己，我实在需要祢，唯独需要祢。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。

21但如今，神的义在律法以外已经显明出来，有律法和先知为证：
22就是神的义，因信耶稣基督加给一切相信的人，并没有分别。
23因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀；
24如今却蒙神的恩典，因基督耶稣的救赎，就白白地称义。
25神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭着耶稣的血，藉着人的信，要显明神的义；因为他用忍耐的心宽容人先时所犯的罪，
26好在今时显明他的义，使人知道他自己为义，也称信耶稣的人为义。
27既是这样，哪里能夸口呢？没有可夸的了。用何法没有的呢？是用立功之法吗？不是，乃用信主之法。
28所以我们看定了：人称义是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。
29难道神只作犹太人的神吗？不也是作外邦人的神吗？是的，也作外邦人的神。
30神既是一位，他就要因信称那受割礼的为义，也要因信称那未受割礼的为义。
31这样，我们因信废了律法吗？断乎不是！更是坚固律法。

We Need A Savior

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." — Romans 3:23

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Martin Luther had a deep sense of his own sinfulness. For years he was so tormented by his depravity that he came to hate God for his own painful inability to live up to God's standards.

Though perhaps few now have the same deep sense of depravity that tortured Luther, we are all aware of our shortcomings. Deep in our hearts, we know we miss the mark. We are sinners.

Our behavior seldom reveals our private reality. We know the rules, and we can usually play by them. But we have a secret awareness of the depth of our sinfulness. Only we know how hard it is to love our neighbor as ourselves and to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

There's just no way to put a happy face on our moral condition. As the apostle Paul says so concisely and accurately: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

What in the world are we to do?

At perhaps the lowest point in his spiritual life, Luther came to a realization that shook him to his core: we can do nothing to save ourselves. Only in Christ is there freedom. Only in Jesus Christ are we made right with God.

Thanks be to God that being aware of our helplessness delivers us straight to Christ!

Prayer

Though I hide my sinfulness well, Lord Jesus, I know how totally unworthy I am. I know that I can do nothing to change myself. I need you and you alone. Amen.