[1]林前6:11；徒20:32；腓3:10；罗6:5，6；[2]约17:17；弗5:26 ；帖后2:13；[3]罗6:6，14；[4]加5:24；罗8:13；[5]西1:11；弗3:16－19；[6]林后7:1；来12:14

 

上帝喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶（参：诗45:7）。因此，一个罪人能与上帝相交的唯一方式，就是使他的罪恶得到赔偿，并以公义替代他的邪恶。上帝在祂的智慧中，为了安排让祂的选民以祂为乐，就送祂的独生子为他们而生活、受苦和死亡，使他们称义。但是上帝在祂的智慧中，也预定不让选民们在一生中得到犯罪癖性完全的撤除。祂则会让选民们继续与罪恶挣扎，成长于实际的圣洁中，以让他们在永恒中记起上帝救赎他们、准备他们与祂见面的怜悯。因为“非圣洁没有人能见主”（参考：来12:14）。

God loves righteousness and hates wickedness (cf. Ps 45:7). Therefore, the only way for a sinner to enjoy fellowship with God is to have his sin paid for and his wickedness replaced with righteousness. God in His wisdom has arranged for His elect so to enjoy Him by sending His only begotten Son to live, suffer and die for them for their justification. But God has also, in His wisdom, ordained that the elect should not have their propensity to sin removed completely in this life. He would have the elect continue to struggle with sin and to grow in actual holiness so that for all eternity they will remember the mercies God in saving them and preparing them to meet Him. For without holiness, “no man shall see the Lord” (cf. Heb 12:14).

 

这成为更圣洁的过程就被称为成圣。在我们救赎的顺序中，成圣跟随着称义。这是因为只有在我们被称为是公义的之后，圣灵才能在我们里面内住，以使我们成圣。但是，成圣之工——如我们所承认的——在实际上不是在称义那一刻开始，而是在我们蒙有效恩召、被重生的那一刻开始的。记得称义并没有涉及到心灵里任何实际变化，而成圣有。那变化是以我们的重生开始，而在重生其中，“[我们]里面有了新心和新灵[的]创造”。也许我们能说重生就像引导或催化剂一样，导致因信称义，从而开路促使成圣过程的进展。

This process of becoming more holy is known as sanctification. In the order of our salvation, sanctification follows justification. This is because it is only after we are declared righteous that the Holy Spirit might dwell in us to sanctify us. However, the work of sanctification, as we are given to confess, does not actually begin with justification, but with our effectual call and regeneration. Remember how justification does not involve any actual change in the soul, whereas sanctification does. That change began with our regeneration wherein “a new heart, and a new spirit [is] created in [us].” Regeneration, we may say, is like the bootstrap or catalyst to effect justification by faith, which in turn opens the way for the process of sanctification to be furthered. 

 

无论如何，我们不是在称义里而是在成圣中进一步得到“个人实际”的圣洁。这并不是靠我们的力量而被实现的，反而是“藉着基督的受死和复活的功德”，以及“祂那在[我们]里面内住的圣道和圣灵”。正如保罗所提醒我们说，我们需要当恐惧战兢做成我们得救的工夫，应用蒙恩之道，但必定“是上帝在[我们]心里运行，为要成就祂的美意”（腓2:12-13）。

 

In any case, unlike in justification, we are “really and personally” made more holy in sanctification. This is accomplished neither by nor on account of our efforts, but rather “through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection” and “by His Word and Spirit dwelling in [us].” As Paul reminds us, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling by making use of the means of grace, but it is “God which worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:12-13).

 

成圣包括什么呢？

 

What does sanctification involve? 

 

从反面来说，我们在罪上逐渐死亡，或如我们在信条里承认：“整个罪身的权势被除灭，此身的各种邪情私欲也逐渐被削弱、治死”。我们成圣时，我们应该察觉到自己更不倾向于罪恶，甚至更恨罪恶，犯罪时则觉得更沉痛。若你察觉到自己被罪之狡诈所硬化，堕落在罪中时又不怎么觉得沉痛，你就已经在冷淡退后。

 

Negatively, we die more and more unto sin, or as we are given to confess, “the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified.” As we are sanctified, we should find ourselves less inclined to sin, hating sin more, and feeling more grief when we sin. You are backsliding if you find yourself hardened by the deceitfulness of sin and feeling little or no grief when you fall into sin.

 

但从正面来说，我们成圣时，我们会发现自己“在一切使人得救的恩德上越来越活泼、坚固，以致能够行出真正的圣洁来”。这表明说我们会发现自己越来越喜爱公义、越来越被授权去实践圣洁。“义人的路好像黎明的光，越照越明，直到日午”（箴4:18）。

 

But positively, as we are sanctified, we will find ourselves “more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness.” That is to say, we will find ourselves growing to love righteousness and increasingly empowered to practice holiness. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov 4:18).

 

亲爱的弟兄与孩子们，你们是否在成圣过程中成长吗？你是否能坦白地见证自己在罪上死、在义上活？不然，你会不会求上帝使你里面重新有正直的灵？

 

Beloved brethren and children, are you growing in sanctification? Is it your honest testimony that you are dying unto sin and living unto righteousness? If not, will you not ask the Lord to renew a right spirit within you?

 

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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