《西敏信条教牧简释 11.6》

Posted on Jun 4, 2021 by admin

11.6 旧约时代的信徒称义,与新约时代的信徒称义,在这些方面都是一样的。 加 3:9;13-14;罗 4:22-24;来 13:8。

11.6 The justification of believers under the old testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the new testament.   Gal 3:9, 13–14; Rom 4:22–24; Heb 13:8.

我们承认信徒是本乎恩,因着信,也唯靠基督称义。我们称义是基于圣父无条件的拣选,圣子为了我们的代理生死,以及圣灵将那为我们获取的惠益的大能施行。这很明显是对新约信徒的真理,因为基督已经为他们完成了祂那赎罪之工。但旧约信徒呢?不仅是基督的赎罪之工发生在他们的未来,而且旧约似乎没表示他们是信祂而得救的。显来他们则是在短命中通过遵守上帝之律法与献祭被上帝保存。这种看法似乎是太有说服力,以至于在1830年代,时代论这新颖理解圣经的途径被发明了。根据这种想法,旧约与新约之间有了明显的中断;上帝有两种人民:以色列与教会;以色列大多数是以遵守上帝之律法得救,而教会是以相信基督得救等等。如今,很少时代论学者坚守所有1830年代里被提出的经典教条。但这些想法曾被正经的基督徒认为有合理之处的事实就说明它们实在是不能被轻易忽视。

We are given to confess that believers are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our justification is founded upon the Father’s unconditional election, the Son’s vicarious life and death on our behalf, and the Holy Spirit powerful application of the benefits procured for us. It is easy to see how this is true for New Testament believers for Christ has already finished His work of atonement on their behalf. But what about in the case of Old Testament believers? Not only was Christ’s atonement still future for them, but the Old Testament does not seem to indicate that they are saved by faith in Him. It seems rather that they were preserved in temporal life by keeping God’s Law and offering sacrifices. This observation appears to be so compelling that in the 1830s, a new way of understanding the Scriptures known as Dispensationalism was invented. According to this way of thinking, there is a stark discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments; God has two people: Israel and the Church; Israel was saved largely by obedience to God’s Law, whereas the Church is saved by faith in Christ; etc. Today very few Dispensational scholars still hold to all the classical tenets proposed in the 1830s. However, the fact that these ideas were even entertained by serious Christians suggests that they cannot simply be brushed aside.

 

这也许是我们为何特定要在信条此章节里认同无论是生在旧约时代或新约时代里,历代所有信徒以完全同样的方式称义和得救的原因。

This is perhaps why we are given specifically to acknowledge in the present paragraph of our Confession that believers in all ages, whether they lived in Old Testament times or in New Testament times, are justified and saved in exactly the same way.

 

这个断言的基础是什么呢?其实,我们已经在西敏信条7.4—6处理这个问题的一部分。但简单来说,希伯来书清晰地教导这教义,也是为了警告那些被逼迫的犹太信徒不要回到犹太教式的崇拜,因为基督已来,又实现了旧约里所有似影的元素。回到犹太教式的崇拜就等于回到毫无意义的仪式与牺牲。这好像是当一个人刚从长期旅程回来时,你不跑去给他拥抱,反而坚持亲吻他的照片。因此,回到这样的崇拜方式就如践踏基督,鄙视祂的血(来10:29)。

What is the basis of this assertion? Well, we have already dealt with the question to some depth when we considered WCF 7.4–6. But briefly, this doctrine is clearly taught in the book of Hebrews which seeks to warn the persecuted Jewish believers not to return to Jeudaistic way of worship now that Christ has come and has fulfilled all the shadowy elements of the Old Covenant. To return to Judaistic worship is to return to rituals and sacrifices that are emptied of meaning. It is like insisting on kissing the photograph of a one who has just returned from a long trip when he is there for you to embrace. Thus, to return to such worship would be to trample underfoot Christ and to despise His blood (Heb 10:29).

 

整个书信里也确认了这一点。举例来说,它提醒我们,在旷野里死亡的以色列人因为不信而亏缺:“因为有福音传给我们,像传给他们一样;只是所听见的道与他们无益,因为他们没有信心与所听见的道调和”(来4:2)。次外,旧约圣徒——包括亚伯、亚伯拉罕、摩西、喇合、大卫等等—— 都是因信基督而得救。比如,摩西“因着信……看为基督受的凌辱比埃及的财物更宝贵”(来11:26)。

The case is made throughout the book. For examples, we are reminded that the Israelites who died in the wilderness, fell short because of unbelief: “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb 4:2). Furthermore, the saints of Old from Abel to Abraham to Moses to Rahab to David, etc, were all saved by faith in Christ. Moses, for instance, “by faith… [esteemed] the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Heb 11:26).

 

很明显,旧约圣徒与今日圣徒以同样的方式得救。所以,保罗坚持说亚伯拉罕和大卫都是因唯信基督而被称义(罗4:2、6),并不是无根据的。

It is clear that the saints of Old were saved in the same way as the saints today. Thus, it is not without sound basis that Paul insists that both Abraham and David were justified by faith in Christ alone (Rom 4:2, 6).

感谢上帝在圣经里提供了清晰的教导!因为这点,我们能精确地诠释旧约,因此而赞美荣耀上帝在历代中籍着基督展现出祂的正义与恩惠。

Thank God for the clarity provided in the Scriptures by which we may accurately interpret the Old Testament unto the praise and glory of God for His justice and His grace exhibited in Christ throughout the ages.

原文作者: 林集章 、蔡林斯 、欧阳效正
中文譯者: 何恩杰,刘行
來源: Westminster Confession of Faith — With Brief Pastoral Comments  

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