C****i 发帖数: 1776 | 1 第十八章 论蒙恩得救的确信
一.凡假冒为善和其他未重生的人,虽然可能凭虚假的希望和属肉体的自负,自己欺
骗自己,以为已经得蒙上帝恩宠,处于得救的状态(伯8:13-14;弥3:11;申29:19;约
8:41);其实他们的这种希望必要落空(太7:22-23);但那真信主耶稣,诚心爱祂,
努力用无亏的良心行在祂面前的人,在今生便可以确知自己已处于恩典之中(约壹2:3;
3:14,18,19,21,24;5:13),并且可以欢欢喜喜地盼望上帝的荣耀,这盼望永不会
使他们羞愧(罗5:2,5)。
二.这种确信不是一种空幻的臆测与或然的信念,基于可能有错误的希望(来6:11,19
),而是一种由信所生的无谬的确信,基于上帝拯救人的可靠应许(来6:17-18),基于
心中存有得到这些应许所必有的诸般美德的明证(彼后1:4,5,10,11;约壹2:3,3:1
4;林后1:12),又基于赐人儿子名分的圣灵与我们的心同证我们是上帝的儿女(罗8:1
5-16)。这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据,我们受了祂的印记,等候得赎的日子来到(弗1:
13,14;4:30;林后1:21-22)。
三.此无谬的确信并不是信心的本质,一个真信徒在获得这种确信以前,他也许要长
久等待,并与许多困难奋斗(约壹5:13;赛50:10;可9:24;诗88;77:1-12);可是,
因为圣灵使他能够知道上帝所白白赐给他的事,所以他可由于善用普通的蒙恩之道,毋
须特别的启示,就获得这种确信(林前2:12;约壹4:13;来6:11,12;弗3:17-19)。
因此人人都当更加殷勤,使自己更加确知是真正蒙召和被选的(彼后1:10);如此,在
自己心中便可以加增圣灵里的平安与喜乐,对上帝的爱慕与感谢,并在顺服的本分上力
上加力,在顺服中甘心乐意,这些都是此种确信当生的果子(罗5:1,2,5;14:17;15
:13;弗1:3-4;诗4:6-7;119:32)。但这确信绝不会使人趋于懈怠放荡(约壹2:1-2;
罗6:1-2;多2:11-12,14;林后7:1;罗8:1,12;约壹3:2-3 ;诗130:4;约壹1:6-7)
。
四.虽然真信徒得救的确信可能因各种缘故而被动摇、减弱或间断,如因忽略保守它
,或因坠入某种损害良心、叫圣灵担忧的罪,或因遇着某种猝然和猛烈的试探,或因上
帝收回祂面上的光,甚至让敬畏祂的人也行在黑暗中,而无光照(歌5:2,3,6;诗51:8,
12,14;弗4:30-31;诗77:1-10 ;太26:69-72;诗31:22;88篇;赛50:10);但他们
绝不会完全缺乏上帝所赐的生命的种子与信心的生命,也绝不会完全缺乏对基督和弟兄
的爱,以及诚实之心和尽本分的良心。藉着这一切,圣灵可以在适当的时候恢复这种确
信(约壹3:9;路22:32;伯13:15;诗73:15;51:8,12;赛50:10)。同时,藉着这一切
,他们可以获得帮助,而不至于绝望(弥7:7-9;耶32:40;赛54:7-10;诗22:1;88篇
)。 | C****i 发帖数: 1776 | 2 CHAPTER 18
OF THE ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION
1. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themsel
ves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, a
nd estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as trul
y believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk
in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured t
hat they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory
of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded
upon a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the
divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those gra
ces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of adopt
ion witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God, which Spiri
t is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of red
emption.
3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but
that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties bef
ore he be partaker of it: yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the thing
s which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelatio
n, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is
the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election
sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy G
host, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in t
he duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it fr
om inclining men to looseness.
4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shak
en, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by f
alling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the
Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the ligh
t of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darknes
s and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of
God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerit
y of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Sp
irit, this assurance may, in due time, be revived; and by the which, in the
meantime, they are supported from utter despair.
己欺
3;
19
基于
【在 C****i 的大作中提到】 : 第十八章 论蒙恩得救的确信 : 一.凡假冒为善和其他未重生的人,虽然可能凭虚假的希望和属肉体的自负,自己欺 : 骗自己,以为已经得蒙上帝恩宠,处于得救的状态(伯8:13-14;弥3:11;申29:19;约 : 8:41);其实他们的这种希望必要落空(太7:22-23);但那真信主耶稣,诚心爱祂, : 努力用无亏的良心行在祂面前的人,在今生便可以确知自己已处于恩典之中(约壹2:3; : 3:14,18,19,21,24;5:13),并且可以欢欢喜喜地盼望上帝的荣耀,这盼望永不会 : 使他们羞愧(罗5:2,5)。 : 二.这种确信不是一种空幻的臆测与或然的信念,基于可能有错误的希望(来6:11,19 : ),而是一种由信所生的无谬的确信,基于上帝拯救人的可靠应许(来6:17-18),基于 : 心中存有得到这些应许所必有的诸般美德的明证(彼后1:4,5,10,11;约壹2:3,3:1
|
|