这个月,在我们默想宗教改革的五个唯独时,已经涵盖了有关“唯独圣经”、“唯独基督”、“唯独恩典”和“唯独信心”的许多内容。现在,我们会用几天专注思想“唯独神的荣耀”。而重要的是,我们要明白,并不因为它是最后的一个“唯独”,就比其它几个的重要性低。事实上,我们甚至可以说,它是五个中最重要的。毫无疑问,神的荣耀就是这五个关于救恩真理的中心。
“唯独圣经”荣耀了神对自己和祂的救恩计划的独特启示,“唯独基督”荣耀了神差遣祂独生子的智慧和爱,“唯独恩典”荣耀了神寻找失丧罪人的怜悯,“唯独信心”荣耀了神以信心这礼物来表达祂的爱和怜悯。很明显,这四个关键原则都指向“唯独神的荣耀”,没有任何人能邀功请赏。
在详细解释神的救恩计划之后,使徒保罗所想到的都是神的荣耀,他不禁以敬畏和惊奇回应,就正如今天经文中我们所读到的:他明白到救恩 (实际上包括万物)都是本于祂,倚靠祂,归于祂。
救恩,多么美妙,令人赞叹。更令人惊叹的是,它至终的意义不是我们,而是神自己。神为我们所作的一切,回响了祂的荣耀。“愿荣耀归给祂!”
我们在天上的父,我们感谢祢的爱与怜悯。求祢帮助我们在一切言行中荣耀祢。我们也祈求祢,帮助我们在世上为祢发光。奉耶稣的名求,阿们。
罗马书 11:33-36
33深哉,神丰富的智慧和知识! 他的判断何其难测! 他的踪迹何其难寻!
34谁知道主的心? 谁作过他的谋士呢?
35谁是先给了他, 使他后来偿还呢?
36因为万有都是本于他, 倚靠他,归于他。 愿荣耀归给他,直到永远。阿们!
"From him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." — Romans 11:36
In our reflection this month on the five solae of the Reformation, we have covered a lot of material about Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, and faith alone. And now, as we focus for a few days on glory to God alone, it's important to note that this teaching is not in any way less significant because it comes last. Indeed, we might even say it is the most important of the five. Without a doubt, God's glory is at the heart of the five core teachings about the truth of our salvation.
Scripture alone glorifies God's unique revelation of himself and his plan for salvation. Christ alone glorifies God's wisdom and love in sending his only begotten Son. Grace alone glorifies God's mercy in reaching out to lost sinners. Faith alone glorifies God's gift of faith to channel his love and mercy. So all four of these key principles point to God's glory alone. No one else can claim any credit.
The apostle Paul has God's glory in mind when, after a long explanation about God's plan of salvation, he responds in awe and wonder in the passage we have read today, recognizing that salvation — and indeed all things — come from him, through him, and for him.
As wonderful and amazing as salvation is for us, it is ultimately not about us. What God has done for us echoes his glory. "To [God] be the glory forever!"
Father in heaven, we thank you for your love and mercy. Help us to glorify you in all that we do and say. And help us, we pray, to radiate your glory in the world. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳