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！

 

 

 

 

羅馬書3:9-20

 

3:9 這卻怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？決不是的！因我們已經證明：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。
3:10 就如經上所記：沒有義人，連一個也沒有。
3:11 沒有明白的；沒有尋求上帝的；
3:12 都是偏離正路，一同變為無用。沒有行善的，連一個也沒有。
3:13 他們的喉嚨是敞開的墳墓；他們用舌頭弄詭詐，嘴唇裡有虺蛇的毒氣，
3:14 滿口是咒罵苦毒。
3:15 殺人流血，他們的腳飛跑，
3:16 所經過的路便行殘害暴虐的事。
3:17 平安的路，他們未曾知道；
3:18 他們眼中不怕上帝。
3:19 我們曉得律法上的話都是對律法以下之人說的，好塞住各人的口，叫普世的人都伏在上帝審判之下。
3:20 所以凡有血氣的，沒有一個因行律法能在上帝面前稱義，因為律法本是叫人知罪。

 

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”^[b]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”^[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”^[d]
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”^[e]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶     ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”^[f]
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”^[g]

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

 

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    保羅在這裡引用了舊約的《詩篇》、《箴言》、《傳道書》、《以賽亞書》、…的經文，讓我們知道人心是何等的悖逆上帝，受到罪惡何等的控制，是無法達到律法的要求！所以他可以勇敢地宣告：「沒有義人，連一個也沒有。」「所以凡有血氣的，沒有一個因行律法能在上帝面前稱義，因為律法本是叫人知罪。」

 

    也因為這樣，不贊同有些傳道人說的：「只要有一顆願意的心，就會蒙上帝的賜福，討上帝的喜悅，會被聖靈來充滿，大有能力來服事主和人，為主做美好的見證！」

 

    如果照保羅的說法，這是不可能的！因為，人為罪惡所轄制，怎麼會有一顆願意的心呢？除非經歷在基督裡的救恩，讓聖靈重生，使石心變成肉心，人才可以活出討上帝喜悅的生命！然而這些不是靠我們自己的努力，而是要聖靈的工作在我們身上！這一切都要靠上帝的恩典，不是靠自己的決心！

 

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們不要被一些說詞很漂亮的傳道人欺騙，要回到聖經，看看聖經怎樣說，在末後的世代，有許多擄掠人心的假教師，不能不小心分辨，以免偏離了聖經的教訓而不知！

 

詩篇16:11

 

你必將生命的道路指示我。在你面前有滿足的喜樂；在你右手中有永遠的福樂。

 

 You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

 

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    上帝是公義的上帝，祂必定在我們身上做「對的」事，就是拯救我們脫離罪惡，和我們恢復合宜的關係，就是透過耶穌基督與我們和好，使我們可以被祂接納成為祂的兒女，這是上帝創造人原初的旨意！

 

    也因為這樣，詩人向上帝宣信：「你必將生命的道路指示我。在你面前有滿足的喜樂；在你右手中有永遠的福樂。」

 

    是的，當我們靠著耶穌基督的救恩，我們必定可以享受到這樣的福分！因為我們得拯救最後的結果，就是進入上帝的榮耀國中，與基督一同做王直到永遠！基督有的我們也有，正如保羅所說：「所以，你們若真與基督一同復活，就當求在上面的事；那裡有基督坐在上帝的右邊。」(歌羅西書3:1)

 

    我們自信主那一刻開始，就同基督在上帝的右邊了！這是何等的福分啊！

 

 

以斯帖記5章

   以斯帖記5:1-14  ,  以斯帖記5:2 ,

以斯帖記5:1-14

 

5:1 第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，進王宮的內院，對殿站立。王在殿裡坐在寶座上，對著殿門。
5:2 王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就施恩於她，向她伸出手中的金杖；以斯帖便向前摸杖頭。
5:3 王對她說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼？你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必賜給你。」
5:4 以斯帖說：「王若以為美，就請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席。」
5:5 王說：「叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的話去行」。於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。
5:6 在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」
5:7 以斯帖回答說：「我有所要，我有所求。
5:8 我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若願意賜我所要的，准我所求的，就請王帶著哈曼再赴我所要預備的筵席。明日我必照王所問的說明。」
5:9 那日哈曼心中快樂，歡歡喜喜地出來；但見末底改在朝門不站起來，連身也不動，就滿心惱怒末底改。
5:10 哈曼暫且忍耐回家，叫人請他朋友和他妻子細利斯來。
5:11 哈曼將他富厚的榮耀、眾多的兒女，和王抬舉他使他超乎首領臣僕之上，都述說給他們聽。
5:12 哈曼又說：「王后以斯帖預備筵席，除了我之外不許別人隨王赴席。明日王后又請我隨王赴席；
5:13 只是我見猶大人末底改坐在朝門，雖有這一切榮耀，也與我無益。」
5:14 他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」哈曼以這話為美，就叫人做了木架。

 

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. ² When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

³ Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

⁴ “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

⁵ “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. ⁶ As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

⁷ Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: ⁸ If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, ¹¹ Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. ¹² “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. ¹³ But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,^[a] and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

 

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    以斯帖雖然美貌，卻仍然有智慧和計謀在她的心中。她一出手，真的是讓人意料之外！就連仇敵哈曼都不知她的用心，還自以為了不得，認為王后也要給他尊榮，甚至回家炫耀！只是偏偏又看見末底改心中不悅！

 

    然而回家將這事訴苦的時候，家中這一群人和他一樣惡劣，竟然說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」

 

    哈曼聽了這段話，竟然以為美，真是物以類聚啊！

 

    上帝啊！人真是可悲，一直在為自己掘墳墓，走向滅亡之路，還自以為事做對的事情、做有益於自己的事情，真是是非不分了！求者幫助我們，讓我們因為敬畏祢而有智慧的心，能夠出死入生，到祢的榮耀境！