《西敏信条教牧简释 12.1》

Posted on Jun 25, 2021 by admin

12.1 上帝在祂的独生子耶稣基督里，并为了祂，将得儿子的名分的恩典，赐给一切称义的人¹；他们由此而被归入上帝的子民之列，得享上帝儿女的自由和特权²；有祂的名字写在他们身上³；领受那赐人儿子名分的圣灵⁴；可以坦然无惧地来到施恩宝座前⁵；得以呼叫‘阿爸，父’⁶；并蒙受祂如父一般的怜恤⁷，保护⁸，供给⁹，管教¹⁰；永不被撇弃¹¹，且受印记，等候得赎的日子来到¹²，并承受应许¹³，为上帝永远救恩的后嗣¹⁴。

¹弗1:5；²加4:4‑5；罗8:17；约1:12；³耶14:9；林后6:18；启3:12；⁴罗8:15；⁵弗3:12；罗5:2；⁶加4:6；⁷诗103:13；⁸箴14:26；⁹太6:30，32；彼前5:7；¹⁰来12:6；¹¹哀3:13；¹²弗4:30；¹³来6:12；¹⁴彼前1:3，4；来1:14。

Chapter XII Of Adoption

12.1 All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,¹ by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,² have His name put upon them,³ receive the spirit of adoption,⁴ have access to the throne of grace with boldness,⁵ are enabled to cry, Abba, Father,⁶ are pitied,⁷ protected,⁸ provided for,⁹ and chastened by Him as by a Father:¹⁰ yet never cast off,¹¹ but sealed to the day of redemption;¹² and inherit the promises,¹³ as heirs of everlasting salvation.¹⁴

¹ Eph 1:5; Gal 4:4–5; ² Rom 8:17; Jn 1:12; ³ Jer 14:9; 2 Cor 6:18; Rev 3:12; ⁴ Rom 8:15; ⁵ Eph 3:12; Rom 5:2; ⁶ Gal 4:6; ⁷ Ps 103:13; ⁸ Prov 14:26; ⁹ Mt 6:30, 32; 1 Pet 5:7; ¹⁰ Heb 12:6; ¹¹ Lam. 3:31; ¹² Eph 4:30; ¹³ Heb 6:12; ¹⁴ 1 Pet 1:3–4; Heb 1:14.

虽然称义是极其重要的教导，我们必须要了解到称义只是一个步骤，而不是我们救赎的最终目的。相比之下，我们得到上帝子民的名分，这可以被看作是一个目的。圣经中有清楚的教导，正如使徒保罗提醒我们，“[上帝]预定我们借着耶稣基督得儿子的名分”（弗1:5），而我们的救赎是为了“叫我们得着儿子的名分。”（加4:5）。就是因为这点，我们才能承认道：“上帝在祂的独生子耶稣基督里，并为了祂，将得儿子的名分的恩典，赐给一切称义的人”。通过祂的独生子基督，上帝将接受许多人为祂收养的孩子。

Although justification is a doctrine of utmost importance, it is essential for us to understand that it is really a means to an end and not the goal of our redemption. Our adoption as the children of God, on the other hand, may be seen a goal. This is clearly taught in Scripture where the apostle Paul reminds us that we were “predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ” (Eph 1:5) and that we are redeemed “that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:5). This is why we are given to confess that “all those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption.” Through Christ, His only begotten Son, God would receive many to be His adoptive children.

在我们归正前，我们本是可怒之子，是不属于上帝家庭的外人和客旅（弗2:3、19）。当我们迁移到祂的国度里以后，上帝并没有让我们继续在外，或仅仅当成祂家庭的朋友。祂反而使我们成为祂的儿女，收养我们进入祂的家庭。

Before our conversion, we were by nature the children of wrath and strangers and foreigners of the household of God (Eph 2:3, 19). When we were converted God did not leave us to continue to live as aliens, or even as friends of His household. Instead, He made us His children by adopting us into His family.

作为上帝收纳的儿女，我们不仅“被归入上帝的子民之列”，而也有权“得享所有上帝儿女的特权”，比如：

As the adoptive children of God, we are not only “taken into the number” but given the right to all the “liberties and privileges of the children of God” such as:
1. 有“[上帝]的名字写在[我]们身上”，所以我们可以被识别或认同为上帝的儿女。
Having “[God’s] name put upon [us]” so that we are recognised and may identify ourselves as God’s sons and daughters.
1. “赐人儿子名分的圣灵”的内住：通过祂我们内心确信我们是上帝的儿女，因此可以肯定上帝如父般的爱与呵护。使徒保罗说：“你们所受的，不是奴仆的心，仍旧害怕；所受的，乃是儿子的心，因此我们呼叫：‘阿爸！父！’圣灵与我们的心同证我们是上帝的儿女”（罗8:15-16）。
1. Indwelling of the “Spirit of Adoption” by whom we have inward assurance that we are the children of God, and therefore can be sure of His fatherly love and care. Paul says: “Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom 8:15–16).
2. 祷告时“可以坦然无惧”(弗3:12)。
“Boldness and access with confidence” in prayer (Eph 3:12).
1. 在苦难之时有上帝如父般的怜悯——“父亲怎样怜恤他的儿女，耶和华也怎样怜恤敬畏他的人。”(诗103:13)
Fatherly pity in tribulation—“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” (Ps 103:13).
1. 在现世与灵命的灾害之中如父般的保护——“耶和华要保护你，免受一切的灾害”（诗121:7a）。
Fatherly protection through temporal and spiritual evils—“The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil” (Ps 121:7a).
1. 如父般为我们身体与灵魂所需一切的预备——“你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的”（太6:32b) 。
Fatherly provision for the needs of our bodies and souls—“your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Mt 6:32b).
1. 当我们偏离正道时如父般的管教——“因为主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子”（来12:6）。
  Fatherly chastisement when we stray—“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Heb 12:6).
2. 有确定的权柄，可以承受上帝的国度——“既是儿女，便是后嗣，就是上帝的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣。”（罗8:17；比较彼前1:3-5）。
A sure title to the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven—“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17; cf. 1 Pet 1:3–5, Eph 1:13-14).

“你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱，使我们得称为上帝的儿女”（约壹3:1a）。亲爱的弟兄和孩子们，你们有没有充分地利用这极大的特权？今天以敬爱的祷告来到祂的面前，感谢祂对你如父般的爱。“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 Jn 3:1a). Have you, beloved brethren and children, availed yourself to this great privilege? Go to Him in loving prayer today to thank Him for His Fatherly love for you.