15.1 悔改得生乃是一种福音性恩德1。所以每一位福音的传道人,不但要传信基督的道理,也要传悔改的教义2。
1亚12:10;徒11:18;2路24:47;可1:15;徒20:21
15.1 Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace,1 the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.2
1 Zech 12:10; Acts 11:18; 2 Lk 24:47; Mk 1:15; Acts 20:21.
汤姆•华森写下他针对悔改的小本书时,正以这些字开头:“圣徒今生有绝不可少的两大恩惠,就是信心和悔改。他凭这两扇翅膀,飞向天堂。”我特别欣赏他对翅膀与飞行的比喻,因为我们知道一架飞机失去了一只翅膀时如何会在滚转轴经验气动的不平,并不能有正常平稳的飞行!很遗憾的,一些基督徒过于注重信心,却失去了平衡,很少强调悔改,甚至完全忽略了它。
Thomas Watson began his little book on repentance with these words, “The two great graces essential to a saint in this life are faith and repentance. These are the two wings by which he flies to heaven.” I particularly appreciate his analogy to wings and flight because we know how when a fixed-wing aircraft loses one wing, it experiences aerodynamic imbalance in the roll axis and will not be unable able to fly properly! Sadly, though, some Christians have become very imbalanced when they focus on faith and leave out or else give little emphasis to repentance.
在前一章里,我们看到信心对我们灵魂的救赎以及基督徒整个生活的重要性。在这一章里,我们会把注意力转到悔改这个主题上,因为它在信徒的生活中也同样是很必要的一个要素。
In the previous chapter, we saw the importance of faith for the saving of our souls and for the whole of the Christian life. In this chapter, we shift our attention to the subject of repentance, which is likewise an essential element in the life of a believer.
这第一章节教导我们至少三种关于悔改的真理。
This first paragraph teaches us at least three things about repentance.
第一,这一章节以“悔改得生”这词来表示真正与虚假的悔改之间的区别。使徒保罗在歌林多后书7:10里间接提到这个区别,写道:“因为依着上帝的意思忧愁,就生出没有后悔的懊悔来,以致得救;但世俗的忧愁是叫人死。”有一种懊悔导致得救,又有另外一种导致死亡。加略人犹大虽然“后悔”(太27:3-4),却没有得救。
First, by using the phrase “repentance unto life,” it distinguishes between true and false repentance. The Apostle Paul alludes to this distinction in 2 Corinthians 7:10 when he wrote, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” There is a kind of repentance that leads to salvation and another kind that leads to death. Judas Iscariot “repented” (Matt. 27:3-4) but he was not saved.
第二,我们学到悔改得生,就如得救信心一样,是一种福音性恩德。这说明真实的悔改是上帝的恩赐。它不是罪人所能自己做和生成的。使徒行传11:18写道:“众人听见这话,就不言语了,只归荣耀与上帝,说:‘这样看来,上帝也赐恩给外邦人,叫他们悔改得生命了。’”我们又在提摩太后书2:25里读到:“用温柔劝戒那抵挡的人;或者上帝给他们悔改的心,可以明白真道……”
Second, we learn that repentance unto life, like saving faith, is an evangelical or gospel grace. This means that true repentance is a gift of God’s grace. It is not something which a sinner can work or produce of himself. Acts 11:18 says, “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” And again in 2 Timothy 2:25, we read, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
第三,我们学到每位福音的传道人应当传讲悔改的教义。若一位传道人在职事的历程中没有讲解真正的悔改是什么,又没有呼召罪人悔改,他就对自己蒙召的身份不忠实。
Third, we learn that every gospel minister ought to preach the doctrine of repentance. A minister would not be faithful to his calling if, in the course of his ministry, he did not explain what true repentance was and did not call sinners to repentance.
圣经提供了许多忠信的传道人传讲悔改的例子。比如说:施洗约翰呼召众人悔改、警告他们上帝将来会审判他们之后,就接着跟他们说明真正的悔改如何能被施行(路3:8-14)。同样的,主耶稣也传讲到悔改的教义。祂在路加福音13:2-3里说:“你们以为这些加利利人更有罪,所以受这害吗?我告诉你们:不是的!你们若不悔改,都要如此灭亡。”祂在路加福音5:32又讲道:“我来本不是召义人悔改,乃是召罪人悔改。”
The Bible gives many examples of faithful ministers preaching repentance. For example, after calling the people to repent and warning them of God’s coming judgment, John the Baptist went on to show them what true repentance looked like in practical terms (Luke 3:8-14). Likewise, the Lord Jesus preached the doctrine of repentance. He said in Luke 13:2-3, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” And again in Luke 5:32, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
愿主充使今日现代的教会忠信于福音——而这包括呼召罪人来信靠基督,并从罪中悔改(徒20:21)。
May the Lord enable the church in our day and age to be faithful to the gospel, and that includes calling sinners both to believe in Christ and to repent of their sins (Acts 20:21).