九月六日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/09/0906.mp3″]
经文: 但你们若被圣灵引导,就不在律法以下。(加拉太书五:18)
一个人若从律法的观点来看他自己的品格和地位,结果必然会使他绝望。倘若我们按照律法受审,没有一个人是公义的。能知道我们是活在恩典的国度之下而非律法之下,是何等的福气啊!问题不再是:“在律法之前,我是否完全?”而是,“在基督耶稣之内,我是否完全?”那是两件截然不同的事。我们不需要问:“我是否自然地无罪了?”反当问。“我是否已在为罪人和为污秽的人所开启之泉中洗净了?”问题不在于:“我自己是否能取悦于上帝?”而是:“我是否蒙主接纳?”基督徒从西乃山顶正视祂的失败,因而对他的救恩生出警觉。若能藉加略山之亮光来明白他的身分更是上乘。他说:“我的信心中有不信,因此这信心不能救我。”倘若他所重视的是信心的对象而非他的信心,那么,他会说:“祂永不失败,所以我是平安稳妥的。”他对所盼望的事叹息道:“唉,因为焦虑眼前的事,使我的盼望受损模糊了。我怎能被上帝接纳?”他若考虑盼望的基础,就必见上帝的应许是确实的。无论我们的疑虑是什么,上帝的应许永不改变。靠圣灵引导进入福音的自由比带着律法的销链更为自由。以基督是如何来审判你自己,而不以你自己是如何来审判。撒旦总是藉着提醒你的罪过和不完全来搅扰你的平安。唯有靠着信心紧握福音来面对祂的控告,你才不致被捆绑之轭缚住。
Evening, September 6
Scripture: “If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”(Galatians 5:18)
We who looks at his own character and position from a legal point of view, will not only despair when he comes to the end of his reckoning, but if he be a wise man he will despair at the beginning; for if we are to be judged on the footing of the law, there shall no flesh living be justified. How blessed to know that we dwell in the domains of grace and not of law! When thinking of my state before God the question is not, “Am I perfect in myself before the law?” but, “Am I perfect in Christ Jesus?” That is a very different matter. We need not enquire, “Am I without sin naturally?” but, “Have I been washed in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness?” It is not “Am I in myself well pleasing to God?” but it is “Am I accepted in the Beloved?” The Christian views his evidences from the top of Sinai, and grows alarmed concerning his salvation; it were better far if he read his title by the light of Calvary. “Why,” saith he, “my faith has unbelief in it, it is not able to save me.” Suppose he had considered the object of his faith instead of his faith, then he would have said, “There is no failure in him, and therefore I am safe.” He sighs over his hope: “Ah! my hope is marred and dimmed by an anxious carefulness about present things; how can I be accepted?” Had he regarded the ground of his hope, he would have seen that the promise of God standeth sure, and that whatever our doubts may be, the oath and promise never fail. Ah! believer, it is safer always for you to be led of the Spirit into gospel liberty than to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself at what Christ is rather than at what you are. Satan will try to mar your peace by reminding you of your sinfulness and imperfections: you can only meet his accusations by faithfully adhering to the gospel and refusing to wear the yoke of bondage.