任何信徒若對救恩的確據失去信心,今天選讀的經文一定對他大有幫助。請看第12節。它說:「凡接待祂的,就是信祂名的人,祂就賜他們權柄,作神的兒女。」還有比這更清楚明確的嗎?這節經文告訴我們,任何人若邀請基督進入他們的生命中,他們便成了神的兒女。 在這之前的幾節經文道出一個可悲的事實。基督來到祂所造的世界,世人卻不接待祂。舊約的以色列民拒絕神的先知,如今更拒絕神的兒子。今天豈不是一樣?世界上有許多不同階層、不同文化的人,都不肯承認基督是他們的救主和主。 然而,經文告訴我們一個奇妙的真理:你只需接受耶穌基督,便會出現一個明顯的轉變過程。你向基督承認你的罪,換來的是基督不斷將許多東西賜給你。祂賜我們權柄,得稱為神的兒女;祂賜我們永生;祂賜下聖靈幫助我們,使我們每天都為祂而活;祂賜我們教會的相交生活;祂賜我們悟性明白神的話語,使它成為我們每天的靈糧;祂應許會垂聽我們的禱告。直到我們回到天家,祂都會毫不保留地賜恩給我們。 經文也包含了一個警告。請看第13節。我們不會因為自己的父母是信徒,便成為神的兒女;我們也不能靠立志,說「從今以後,我要表現得像個神的兒女」,(而並沒有接受基督)便得著這名份;就算我們的父親決定我們應該如此,也不會有結果。惟有我們個人真心誠意地接受耶穌基督,祂才會把神兒女的名份賜給我們。 當我們真心接受耶穌基督之後,我們便可以放心信任第12節經文所說的,確信我們必永遠得救。讓我們背誦且相信這節經文。 |
One of the best verses to use with a believer who is lacking in the assurance of their salvation is here in our reading today. Look at verse 12. What does it say? All who have received Christ, who have believed in Him are given the right, the authority, to call themselves, members of God's family. Could anything be plainer? If a person has asked Christ into their lives, the Bible here says that they are a child of God. There is real tragedy in the preceding verses. Christ came into the world He had made and the people of that world turned their backs on Him. In the Old Testament, the people rejected God's prophets, now they were rejecting God's Son. It is still the same today. Men and women of every class and culture refuse to recognise Christ as Saviour and Lord. But here is a wonderful truth. You only need to accept (receive) Jesus Christ and a remarkable transaction takes place. In exchange for your sin, Christ starts giving and giving and giving again. He gives us the right to call ourselves God's children. He gives us eternal life. He gives us the Holy Spirit to enable us to live day by day for Christ. He gives us the fellowship of the church. He gives us new light on the Word of God which can become food for our souls. He gives us the assurance of answers to our prayers. He keeps on giving until He finally gives us entrance into heaven itself. There is a warning in these verses however. Look at verse 13. We do not become a child of God simply because our parents are believers. We cannot do it simply by saying "from now on I am going to act like a child of God" (without accepting Christ). It will not happen even if our own father decides that is what we ought to be. It can only happen to those who are willing to receive Jesus Christ personally, definitely for themselves. But having done so, we can count on this verse 12. We can believe this verse and it will give us strong assurance that we are saved for ever. Read it again and believe it today. |
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