这段经文有助于我们理解有关救恩的一些非常重要的事。
我们得救,是单单因着神的恩典,即祂在基督里所成就的工,而不是因我们自己所作的努力。我们因信得着这奇妙的救恩。而且,我们得救不是因为信的理由,乃是藉着信。
关于救恩,我们要强调三个相关真理:第一,救恩的原因是:恩典。第二,它的途径是:信心。第三,它的结果是:行善。我们藉着信心蒙恩得救,为要行善。
我们得救不是靠我们为神所做的任何工作,而是靠基督在十字架上舍命以及祂的复活为我们所做成的工作。我们行善,并不是要蒙神的悦纳,乃是因为我们蒙恩得救了。善行不是得救的原因,它乃是救恩的结果。我们得救了,是要践行神为我们所预备的善事。神的灵会加给我们力量去做这些事。
恩典、信心和善行宛如一个三角型,彰显我们的救恩。这三件事都是神亲自成就的,因为恩典、信心和善行都是神在我们身上所作的工。
慈悲的天父,我们在基督里得救这一伟大工作,在你赐给我们的恩典中,在你赐给我们的信心中,在你通过我们日常生活中所行的善事中,都显明出来了。请引导我们奉耶稣的名,忠心地为你而活。阿们。
以弗所书 2:1-10
1你们死在过犯罪恶之中,他叫你们活过来。
2那时你们在其中行事为人,随从今世的风俗,顺服空中掌权者的首领,就是现今在悖逆之子心中运行的邪灵。
3我们从前也都在他们中间,放纵肉体的私欲,随着肉体和心中所喜好的去行,本为可怒之子,和别人一样。
4然而,神既有丰富的怜悯,因他爱我们的大爱,
5当我们死在过犯中的时候,便叫我们与基督一同活过来。你们得救是本乎恩。
6他又叫我们与基督耶稣一同复活,一同坐在天上,
7要将他极丰富的恩典,就是他在基督耶稣里向我们所施的恩慈,显明给后来的世代看。
8你们得救是本乎恩,也因着信。这并不是出于自己,乃是神所赐的;
9也不是出于行为,免得有人自夸。
10我们原是他的工作,在基督耶稣里造成的,为要叫我们行善,就是神所预备叫我们行的。
"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
This passage helps us to understand some very important things about salvation.
We are saved only by God's grace to us in the finished work of Christ, not through any works of our own. And we receive this wonderful salvation through faith. Also, we are not saved because of faith, but through faith.
Three truths can be highlighted about salvation: first, its cause: grace. Second, its instrument: faith. Third, its consequence: good works. We are saved by grace through faith in order to do good works.
We are not saved by any work we do for God, but by the work Christ did for us on the cross and through his resurrection. And we do good works not to be accepted by God but because we are saved through grace. Good works are not the cause of salvation; they are the result of salvation. We have been saved to do good works that God has prepared for us to do. And the Spirit of God empowers us to do them.
Grace, faith, and good works are like a tripod that illustrates our salvation. All three are accomplished by God himself, for grace, faith, and good works are God's operations in us and for us.
Compassionate Father, the greatness of our salvation in Christ is revealed in your grace to us, in your gift of faith to us, and in your good work through us in our everyday lives. Guide us to live faithfully for you, in Jesus' name. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳