今天,当我们记念宗教改革500周年时,让我们为着像马丁路德和其他改教者这些忠信的仆人赞美神!他们力图透过呼吁教会回归圣经,以致得到复兴。
当默想这五个有关救恩的核心教导时,让我们为这些改教家们感谢神,因为他们呼吁我们——无论是当年或今日——紧握着“唯独圣经”、“唯独基督”、“唯独恩典”和“唯独信心”,以致我们能“唯独归荣耀于神”。这些不变的真理应该作为我们信仰的根基,以致我们能正确明白救恩,忠心地为神而活,以及与人分享我们的信仰。
记念宗教改革除了激励我们感恩,也成为我们一个很重要的提醒:教会运动就如大海的潮汐一般,有着潮起潮落。在我们这个时代,我们需要不断确认和宣告关乎我们救恩的属灵真理。因为如果我们在这些关键教导上受到冲击,把持不住,那么教会以致我们自己的属灵生命,也会蒙受亏损。
然而,在奋力持守信仰和持守忠诚的同时,我们可以得着安慰,因为教会的主——耶稣基督必要亲自成全神在我们里面、及透过我们所开始的善工。
“愿荣耀归给他 [神],直到永远。” (罗马书 11:36)。
耶稣,教会的主和救主啊,愿祢藉着祢的灵引导我们明白真理,使我们能够为着赞美及荣耀祢——圣父、圣子、圣灵——而活,直到永远。奉祢的名祷告。阿们。
腓利比书 1:3-11
3我每逢想念你们,就感谢我的神;
4每逢为你们众人祈求的时候,常是欢欢喜喜地祈求。
5因为从头一天直到如今,你们是同心合意地兴旺福音。
6我深信那在你们心里动了善工的,必成全这工,直到耶稣基督的日子。
7我为你们众人有这样的意念,原是应当的;因你们常在我心里,无论我是在捆锁之中,是辩明证实福音的时候,你们都与我一同得恩。
8我体会基督耶稣的心肠,切切地想念你们众人;这是神可以给我作见证的。
9我所祷告的,就是要你们的爱心在知识和各样见识上多而又多,
10使你们能分别是非,作诚实无过的人,直到基督的日子;
11并靠着耶稣基督结满了仁义的果子,叫荣耀称赞归与神。
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." — Philippians 1:6
As we observe the 500th anniversary of the Reformation today, let's praise God for faithful servants like Martin Luther and the other Reformers who sought to revive the church by calling it to return to its biblical moorings.
Reflecting on the five core teachings about our salvation, we can thank God for their call — then and now — to hold fast to Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, and faith alone as we give glory to God alone. These unchanging truths should be our foundation for understanding salvation, living faithfully for God, and sharing our faith.
While prompting our thanksgiving, looking again at the Reformation should also be a reminder to us that like ocean tides, church movements have ebbs and flows. In our time, we need to keep affirming and proclaiming the spiritual truths of our salvation. For if our grasp of and commitment to these crucial teachings erode, so will the church and our own spiritual lives.
Still, while striving to persevere in the faith and in faithfulness, we can take comfort that the Lord of the church, Jesus Christ himself, will complete the good work God has started in us and through us.
"To [God] be the glory forever!" (Romans 11:36).
Jesus, Savior and Lord of the church, by your Spirit guide us in understanding the truth that we may live for the praise and glory of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forever. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳