《西敏信条教牧简释 15.3》

Posted on Jan 4, 2023 by admin

15.3 虽然不当把悔改视为对罪的补偿,也不能把悔改视为赦罪的缘由1,因这是出于上帝在基督里白白赐予的恩典2;但是,对于众罪人而言,悔改乃是必不可少的,罪人若不悔改,就不要期望罪得赦免3。

1 结36:31-32;16:61-63;2 何14:2、4;罗3:24;弗1:7;3 路13:3、5;徒17:30-31。

 

15.3   Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof,1 which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ;2 yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.3

1 Ezk 36:31-32; 16:61-63; 2 Hos. 14:2, 4; Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7;  3 Lk 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30-31.

 

我们已在前一章节考虑过真实悔改的性质。但是悔改与救恩的真正关系是什么呢?为了帮助我们回答此问题,这一章节告诉我们要避免两种极端。

We considered the nature of true repentance in the previous paragraph. But what is the true relationship between repentance and salvation? This paragraph helps us to answer this question by telling us to avoid two extremes.

 

我们应当避免的第一个极端就是:悔改是一种为我们的罪而给予上帝的补偿或代价。当我们悔改时,我们无论如何也不是在为我们的罪付出代价。确实,上帝会为罪接受的唯一代价就是基督在十字架上赎罪的祭献。而且因为基督已经完全赎了祂子民的罪,上帝不需要他们再付出罪的任何代价。

The first extreme we should avoid is the view that repentance is a form of satisfaction or payment to God for our sins. When we repent, we are not, in any way, paying for our sins. Indeed, the only payment for sin that God will accept is the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross. And since Christ has already fully atoned for the sins of His people, God does not require anything more from them in terms of making payment for sin.

 

此外,悔改不应该被视为赦罪的缘由或基础。上帝赦免祂子民的罪恶并不基于他们的悔改。赎罪唯一真正的基础正是上帝在基督里的白白恩典。我们的悔改是无功德的,也不能增加我们的救恩,因而是不可倚靠的。

Furthermore, repentance is not to be viewed as the cause or ground of pardon. God does not forgive His people on the basis of their repentance. The only true ground for pardon is the free grace of God in Christ Jesus. Our repentance is non-meritorious and adds nothing to our salvation, and thus should not be rested in.

 

那些教到悔改是对罪补偿、赦罪缘由的人所犯的罪不亚于减少基督完美、已完成的工。至于我们,每当我们从罪中悔改,祈求上帝赦罪时,我们千万不能呼吁自己悔改多么彻底、多么完善。反而,我们总是应当呼吁上帝因着基督的怜悯。

Those who teach repentance as satisfaction for sin or the cause of pardon are guilty of no less than minimizing the perfect and finished work of Christ. On our part, whenever we repent of our sins and seek God for His pardon, we should never appeal to how thorough or well we have repented. Instead, we should always appeal to God’s mercy for Christ’s sake.

 

我们应当避免的另一个极端观点就是:悔改是不必需的,也最多是个不必要的善行。我们的信条警告我们,悔改对所有罪人是非常必需的——罪人若不悔改,就不能期望罪的赦免。从圣经里关于上帝呼召、指令罪人悔改的许多文章里,我们能看得出悔改的必需性。使徒行传17:30写道:“世人蒙昧无知的时候,神并不监察,如今却吩咐各处的人都要悔改。”路加福音13:3又写道:“……你们若不悔改,都要如此灭亡。”

The other extreme we should avoid is the view that repentance is unnecessary or at best something good to have but not essential. Our confession warns us that repentance is so necessary for all sinners that no one may expect pardon without it. We see the necessity for repentance in the many passages where God Himself calls or commands sinners to repent. Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Luke 13:3, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

 

问题依然存在——如果悔改不是为了给上帝做补偿,又不是获得祂得宽恕,那么,为什么上帝还是需要所有罪人悔改呢?最明显的原因就是,悔改给上帝带来了荣耀。说明这点的好例子就在耶书亚记7:19-20里:“约书亚对亚干说:‘我儿,我劝你将荣耀归给耶和华—以色列的上帝,在他面前认罪,将你所做的事告诉我,不要向我隐瞒。’亚干回答约书亚说:‘我实在得罪了耶和华—以色列的上帝。我所做的事如此如此……’”

The question still remains – if repentance is not for the purpose of making payment to God or meriting His pardon, then why does God still require all sinners to repent? The most obvious reason is that repentance brings glory to God. A good example of this is seen in Joshua 7:19-20, “And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:”