8.6 Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being yesterday and today the same, and forever.1

1 Gal 4:4–5; Gen 3:15; Rev 13:8; Heb 13:8.

对于基督来到这世上之前那些已出生并去世的人，我们应当如何看待他们的救赎呢？他们是否与我们有同样的得救方式吗？其实，他们真的被得救过吗? 还是他们太早出生，使他们享受不到祂救赎之工的惠益？

How should we view the salvation of those who lived and died before Christ Himself lived and died on this earth? Were they saved in the same way that you and I are saved or were they saved in a different way? In fact, were they even saved at all? Or were they born too early to benefit from His saving work?

我们信条这一章节回答了这些以及类似的问题。的确，那些出生于基督来之前的人是有受到救赎的，而他们得救的根基与我们今日的是相同的。虽然事实上，基督的确在祂道成肉身以后才完成救赎之工，但救赎之工的惠益从世界起始以来便在历代之中赐给或施行于祂的选民了。

This section of our confession answers these and other questions. Yes, there was salvation for those who were born prior to the coming of Christ, and those who were saved were saved on the same basis as us today. While it is true that Christ only accomplished the work of redemption in time after His incarnation, yet the benefits of His redemptive work were communicated or applied to His chosen people in all ages from the beginning of the world.

这说明了，在人类历史中堕落之后，救赎从未在任何时代是由一个人自己的善行，或通过顺服于上帝的律法所获得的。一个人在任何时代唯一被救的方式，是通过信靠于耶稣基督之位格和祂的救赎之工。在提摩太后书3:15，使徒保罗告诉提摩太，圣经（这里指旧约）能使他因信基督耶稣，而有得救的智慧。这说明了通过信靠基督而得救的教义不仅是新约中的真理，而且也是深植于旧约之中的。

 

This means that at no time in human history after the fall of mankind was salvation ever obtained through a person’s own good works or obedience to the law of God. The only way that a person at any time can be saved is by believing in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 3:15, the Apostle Paul told Timothy that the Holy Scriptures (referring to the Old Testament) are able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. This means that the doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ is not only a New Testament truth but it is firmly rooted in the Old Testament.

 

旧约中包含许多关于基督的应许。其中最早的便在创世纪3:15，其中祂被描述为击碎蛇头的女人的后裔。旧约也通过预表和影子揭示基督，尤其是通过礼仪律中所要求的带血的动物献祭。希伯来书明确地提到这些动物献祭本身是永远不能消除人们的罪的。反之，它们是为了将人们指向真正的上帝的羔羊，祂为祂的人民舍命，将他们从他们的罪里救出。所有那些人凡是以信心仰望那位将要到来的祂，他们都得救了。同样的，如今所有人凡是以信心仰望那位已经到来的祂，他们也得救了。

The Old Testament contains many promises about Christ. The first of these is found in Genesis 3:15, which pictures Him as the seed of the woman who comes to crush the head of the serpent. The Old Testament also reveals Christ through various shadows and types, particularly the bloody animal sacrifices which the ceremonial law required. The book of Hebrews makes it clear that these animal sacrifices could never, of themselves, take away the sins of the people. Instead, they served to point the people to the true Lamb of God, who would give His life to save His people from their sins. All who looked by faith to Him, who was to come, were saved. Similarly, all today who look by faith to Him, who has already come, will be saved.

 

你有没有以信心仰望基督? 如果没有，为何不现在就这样做并被得救? 主耶稣对无论何方所有的人说：“地极的人都当仰望我，就必得救，因为我是神，再没有别神。”（以赛亚书45:22）阿们。

 

Have you looked to Christ by faith? If not, would you not do so now and be saved? The Lord Jesus says to all men everywhere, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isa. 45:22) Amen.