七月二十九日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/07/0729.mp3″]
经文: 凡父所赐给我的人,必到我这里来。(约翰福音六:37)
这一宣告包含了有关选民的教义──有一些灵魂是上帝赐给基督的,也包含了有效呼召的教义──这些上帝所赐的人,必要到祂这里来。虽然他们自己可能抵挡,但是终必脱离黑暗进入上帝奇妙的光中。这一宣告也教导我们信心的必然性──虽然这些人是赐给基督的人,但除非他们来到祂面前,否则不能得救。进入天国别无他法,唯有通过大门,就是基督耶稣。父所赐给救赎主的人必须到祂那里去,因此,除非他们来就基督,否则无人能进入天国。哦,在这两字“必来”中有何等的能力和权威!主耶稣用祂的使者、祂的话语、和祂的灵、甜蜜地、满有恩典地驱使人来,使他们可以在祂的婚宴中坐席,祂并不强迫人,祂给人自由选择,却以祂恩典的能力吸引他来。我可能在别人的意愿上行使权力,但是别人仍有完全自由的意愿,因为约束之行为是建立在人共同认可的律法上。耶稣用不可抗拒之论点向明白的人说话,以有力的理由来吸引人心,此外尚有圣灵奥秘之影响,以全部力量和热情在心灵中工作。以前曾经悖逆的人,现在以喜乐的心降服在耶稣的管理下,被至高者的爱所征服。那些被上帝所拣选的人,心甘情愿、欢喜快乐地接受基督,以单一、纯净的信心到祂跟前来。他们安息在祂里面,因祂是他们的救恩,也是他们一切所望,你是否也这样来就耶稣?
Evening, July 29
Scripture: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.”(John 6:37)
This declaration involves the doctrine of election: there are some whom the Father gave to Christ. It involves the doctrine of effectual calling: these who are given must and shall come; however stoutly they may set themselves against it, yet they shall be brought out of darkness into God’s marvellous light. It teaches us the indispensable necessity of faith; for even those who are given to Christ are not saved except they come to Jesus. Even they must come, for there is no other way to heaven but by the door, Christ Jesus. All that the Father gives to our Redeemer must come to him, therefore none can come to heaven except they come to Christ.
Oh! the power and majesty which rest in the words “shall come.” He does not say they have power to come, nor they may come if they will, but they “shall come.” The Lord Jesus doth by his messengers, his word, and his Spirit, sweetly and graciously compel men to come in that they may eat of his marriage supper; and this he does, not by any violation of the free agency of man, but by the power of his grace. I may exercise power over another man’s will, and yet that other man’s will may be perfectly free, because the constraint is exercised in a manner accordant with the laws of the human mind. Jehovah Jesus knows how, by irresistible arguments addressed to the understanding, by mighty reasons appealing to the affections, and by the mysterious influence of his Holy Spirit operating upon all the powers and passions of the soul, so to subdue the whole man, that whereas he was once rebellious, he yields cheerfully to his government, subdued by sovereign love. But how shall those be known whom God hath chosen? By this result: that they do willingly and joyfully accept Christ, and come to him with simple and unfeigned faith, resting upon him as all their salvation and all their desire. Reader, have you thus come to Jesus?