《西敏信条教牧简释 15.5》

Posted on Feb 17, 2023 by admin

15.5 人不应满足于一般性的悔改,针对每一件具体的罪而努力悔改,乃是人人当尽的本分 1

1 诗19:13;路19:8;提前1:13、15。

 

15.5  Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins, particularly.1

1 Ps 19:13; Lk 19:8; 1 Tim 1:13, 15.

 

这一章节的主题是关于一般性与具体的悔改。它告诉我们,没有人应该满足于那种完全不指出任何具体罪恶的悔改。反之,人人都有本分尽自己所能,针对每一件具体的罪而努力悔改。换言之,我们不应该只向上帝祈求:“请赦免我所有的罪”,而应该也祈求:“请赦免我这个罪”,并指出使你目前悔改的那件具体的罪。

This paragraph deals with the subject of general and particular repentance. It tells us that no one should be satisfied with the kind of repentance that never makes mention of any particular sin. Instead, it is the duty of everyone, as much as he is able, to repent of particular sins. In other words, we should not only say to the Lord, “Please forgive me of all my sinsbut we should also say, “Please forgive me of _______” and you name the particular sin that you are repenting of.

 

我们之所以不应满足于一般性悔改的原因至少有两种。

We should not be content with general repentance for at least two reasons.

 

第一,当基督被钉在十字架上,祂没有为一般人性受苦死亡。反而,祂付了祂每位子民每个罪恶的代价。以赛亚书53:5a写道:“哪知他为我们的过犯受害,为我们的罪孽压伤。”彼得前书2:24又写道:“他被挂在木头上,亲身担当了我们的罪……”而最后,当祂已经完成了为祂子民每一点每一滴罪恶而受苦,祂说:“成了!”既然基督在心目中带着我们每个罪恶去了十字架,并付了每个罪恶的代价,我们也不是应该针对我们每件呈现在脑海中的罪而悔改吗?

First, when Christ was crucified, He did not suffer and die in general for mankind. Rather, He paid for each of the sins of each of His people. Isaiah 53:5a says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…” And again, 1 Peter 2:24a, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” And finally, when He had finished suffering for every last sin of His people, He said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)  If Christ went to the cross with every one of our sins in mind and made payment for each one, should we not also repent of every one of our sins as they are brought to our mind?

 

第二,我们应当针对每一件具体的罪而努力悔改,因为我们很容易就能躲在空泛里、显出忏悔的样子,却其实不针对任何罪而悔改。查德·万迪克斯霍恩博士说过:“那些虔诚地满足于一般性认罪的人也经常就是最倔强的罪人。”如果我们确实针对我们的罪恶,并认真地真心想从中悔改,我们不应该停止于一般性的悔改,而需努力针对具体罪恶而努力悔改。使徒保罗不只形容自己为罪人中的罪魁,而且也承认自己曾经是亵渎神的、逼迫人的、侮慢人的(参考:提后1:13-15)。同样的,当撒该信主时,他并没有对自己所需悔改之处含糊不清,反而还公开宣布:“主啊,我把所有的一半给穷人,我若讹诈了谁,就还他四倍”(路19:8b)。

Second, we should repent of particular sins because it is very easy to hide behind vague generalities and appear to be penitent without actually repenting of anything. Professor Van Dixhoorn notes that, “Those who piously content themselves with general confessions of their sinfulness often prove to be the most stubborn sinners.” If we are truly serious and sincere about repenting of our sins, we should go beyond general repentance and endeavour to repent of particular sins. The Apostle Paul not only described himself as the chief of sinners, but he also confessed that he was once a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent man (see 1 Tim 1:13-15). Similarly, when Zacchaeus was converted, he was not vague about what his repentance involved but openly declared, “…and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Lk 19:8b).

 

让我们来实践以下三件事情:

Let us do three things by way of practical application.

 

首先,我们应当经常自己省察,认出自己犯罪、亏缺上帝荣耀之处,无论自己是在言语、举止或思想上犯了或忽略了什么。其次,当我们祈求上帝赦罪时,我们应该指出具体的罪恶。这不是说祈求上帝赦免我们所有的罪、洗净我们一切的不义是不对的。但是我们也应该愿意,又能指出违背祂律法的具体罪恶。最后,我们应该能明确定下从具体罪中悔改所涉及到的实际方法。因此,举例来说,当兵丁听从施洗约翰悔改的呼吁,并问约翰他们应当做什么时,他对他们说:“不要以强暴待人,也不要讹诈人,自己有钱粮就当知足。”(路3:14)

First, we should examine ourselves regularly to see where we have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory be it in what we have done or not done in our thoughts, words and deeds. Second, we should name particular sins when asking the Lord for His forgiveness. It is not wrong to pray that the Lord would forgive all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But we should also be willing and able to mention particular transgressions of His law. Third, we should be specific about what repentance of a particular sin in our life involves or looks like in practical terms. Thus for example, when the soldiers heeded John the Baptist’s call to repentance and asked him what they should do, he told them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:14)

 

愿上帝充使我们每个人不满足于一般性的悔改,反而针对每一件具体的罪而努力悔改。

May the Lord enable each of us not to be content with a general repentance but to endeavour to repent of each particular sin, particularly.