羅馬書3:21-31

 

3:21 但如今，上帝的義在律法以外已經顯明出來，有律法和先知為證：
3:22 就是上帝的義，因信耶穌基督加給一切相信的人，並沒有分別。
3:23 因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了上帝的榮耀；
3:24 如今卻蒙上帝的恩典，因基督耶穌的救贖，就白白地稱義。
3:25 上帝設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑著耶穌的血，藉著人的信，要顯明上帝的義；因為他用忍耐的心寬容人先時所犯的罪，
3:26 好在今時顯明他的義，使人知道他自己為義，也稱信耶穌的人為義。
3:27 既是這樣，哪裡能誇口呢？沒有可誇的了。用何法沒有的呢？是用立功之法嗎？不是，乃用信主之法。
3:28 所以（有古卷：因為）我們看定了：人稱義是因著信，不在乎遵行律法。
3:29 難道上帝只作猶太人的上帝嗎？不也是作外邦人的上帝嗎？是的，也作外邦人的上帝。
3:30 上帝既是一位，他就要因信稱那受割禮的為義，也要因信稱那未受割禮的為義。
3:31 這樣，我們因信廢了律法嗎？斷乎不是！更是堅固律法。

 

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in^[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

 

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    保羅在這裡清楚表達「因信稱義」：如今卻蒙上帝的恩典，因基督耶穌的救贖，就白白地稱義。上帝設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑著耶穌的血，藉著人的信，要顯明上帝的義；因為他用忍耐的心寬容人先時所犯的罪，好在今時顯明他的義，使人知道他自己為義，也稱信耶穌的人為義。

 

    在這裡看見「因信稱義」是出於上帝的恩典，不是人的相信！因為是上帝主動設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑著耶穌的血！而「人的信(faith)」是接受救恩的途徑，不是救恩本身！重要的是耶穌基督的贖罪祭（sacrifice of atonement），為我們犧牲性命和流出寶血，付出最該有的代價，也因為這樣上帝才會寬容和赦免我們的罪，展現祂的慈愛與公義！仍然是完成律法的要求：罪必須要流血才能得赦免！

 

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們雖是白白地稱義，卻是主耶穌為我們付出代價！這不是單單說人的相信，而是要全人的信仰與信靠來回應這樣無比的愛！這也是我們要來敬拜上帝的重要原因！