| 本章的最後一節，豈不是新約其中一節最為人熟悉的經文？它經常被人引用，也清楚說明所有人必須面對的選擇：或是以罪人的身份死在罪中，或是在基督裡以信徒身份得著永生。 幾乎每個大洲都有巨大的分水嶺，使河流分道而流，各奔前路。人生的河流也會流向生與死這兩個截然不同的目的地。讓我們再看看這節引人注意的經文中的用詞。 「工價」通常是指士兵的軍餉，是他應得的工資。「罪」的含義很廣，包括我們熟悉的背逆、懷疑、不信、失敗和不能正中目標。「死亡」可以理解為「分隔」，肉體的死亡是人的身體與心靈和靈魂的分隔；屬靈的死亡是人與神的分隔；永遠的死亡即永遠與神隔絕。 將這幾個詞連接起來，我們便清楚看見我們在基督以外的境況，我們是與神分隔的罪人，除了活該永遠與神隔絕之外，不配得任何東西。但是，下一個詞「惟有」卻帶給我們盼望。這節經文告訴我們甚麼呢？「惟有神的恩賜」，意指我們不配得到任何恩賜。人總想要這樣理解這節經文：「好人的工價就是永生。」但這不是它要表達的意思。 救恩是神的恩賜，我們卻曾背逆得罪祂。多麼奇妙！祂賜給我們甚麼呢？就是永生──與死亡和隔絕完全相反。生命就是我們能夠對環境做出回應；永生則是我們藉著耶穌基督能夠與神相交。耶穌曾說過：「認識你獨一的真神，並且認識你所差來的耶穌基督，這就是永生。」認識神就是向祂作出回應，在我們的生命中，得著祂的生命與同在。這豈不是奇妙的恩賜嗎？ |
| Is the last verse of this chapter one of the best known in the New Testament? It is quoted so often and clearly sets out the one alternative facing all men - death as a sinner or life as a believer in Christ. In almost every continent there is a great divide which decides the final destination of each river. In the same way here are two streams with destinations which could not be further apart, life and death. Let's look again at the words of this remarkable verse. "Wages" was often used for soldier's pay, that which was owed to the man. It was rightfully his. "Sin" can cover many terms, all of them known to us: disobedience, doubt, unbelief, failure, and missing the mark. "Death" can simply be defined as separation. Physical death is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body. Spiritual death is separation from God. Eternal death is that same separation made permanent. Put those words together and we have a clear picture of our position outside of Christ. We are sinners, separated from God and deserving nothing less than being separated from Him for Eternity. What is the next word? There's hope in this word "BUT". What does the verse say? "But the gift", that is, we don't deserve any gift. Men want to read into this verse, "The wages of being a good person is eternal life" but that is not what it says. Salvation is a gift from God, the very Person whom we have disobeyed and wronged. Isn't that wonderful? What does He give? He gives eternal life, the opposite of death and separation. Life is the ability to respond to environment. Eternal life is our ability to be in fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. He Himself said, "this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."(John17:3) To know God is to be able to respond to Him and share in His life, and to be in His presence in our lives. Isn't that a wonderful gift? |
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