Lesson 5 The Law And Gospel In The Christian’s Conversion

A. God’s Teachings Of Law And Gospel Work Together To Convert People To Saving Faith In Jesus Christ 神律法与福音的教导共同作用，使人转而相信耶稣基督

  1. God uses His two great truths of law and gospel to work in harmony to accomplish the great miracle of bringing sinful people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ in which they enjoy the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of eternal life.
神使律法与福音两大真理和谐运作，一同完成转变罪人的人间奇迹。在耶稣基督里的信心令他们尽情享受罪得赦免的喜悦与永生的礼物。
  1. Both the law and gospel play important, but different and complementary, roles in accomplishing the conversion of unbelieving sinners into believing Christians.
在转变罪人的过程中，律法与福音具有同等重要的地位、各不相同的角色，二者相辅相成。
  1. God’s Holy Spirit works through the law to terrify the hearts of people who are naturally sinful, hostile and spiritually dead to God. Through the law, the Holy Spirit leads people to realize that they are spiritually lost and guilty of great sins against God. The Spirit also leads them to dread God’s fierce punishment and to desire His help to deliver them.
神的圣灵通过律法来震慑罪人的心，使他们意识到自己灵魂的迷失，意识到他们天然的罪性，他们悖逆神，与神隔绝。圣灵且引导他们敬畏神，渴求神的帮助与救赎。
  1. God’s Holy Spirit works through the gospel to comfort the hearts of people who are made contrite through the law and to make them confident that God has saved them by His grace in Jesus Christ. The Spirit assures them that God has forgiven them all their sins, accepts them as His dear children and assures them of everlasting life with Him.
神的圣灵通过福音来抚慰罪人的心，使那些因律法而知罪悔过的人坚信，靠着神在耶稣基督里的恩典，他们已得救赎。圣灵使罪人确信神已赦免了他们所有的罪过，并接纳他们为自己的儿女，与神同享永生。

B. The Law Leads Sinners To The Point Of Genuine Sorrow Over Their Sins And Despair Over God’s Punishment 神的律法使罪人真诚悔过并且惧怕神的惩罚

Under the Holy Spirit’s blessing, the law does a number of things to create sinners who are contrite.

蒙圣灵的祝福，律法多方引导罪人悔过。

  1. The law teaches people that God requires them to live an absolutely perfect life in which they obey all His moral commands whole-heartedly, completely, all the time.
律法教导人，神要求他们过绝对完美的生活，全心全意、完美无缺、时时刻刻遵行他全部的道德例律。

You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.  I am the Lord your God.  Be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy. Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them.  （Leviticus 18:4; 19:2, 37）

你们要遵我的典章，守我的律例，按此而行。我是耶和华你们的　神。“你晓谕以色列全会众说：你们要圣洁，因为我耶和华你们的　神是圣洁的。（利未记 18:4; 19:2, 37）

I am the Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  （Deuteronomy 6:5）

你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的　神。（申命记 6:5）
  1. The law declares to people that they and all others have failed to live the absolutely perfect life that God requires of them.
律法宣告，所有的人都没有达到神对他们的要求——过绝对完美的生活。

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away and become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.  No one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law.   （Romans 3:11, 12, 20a）

没有明白的，没有寻求　神的；都是偏离正路，一同变为无用；没有行善的，连一个也没有。所以凡有血气的，没有一个因行律法能在　神面前称义。（罗马书 3:11, 12, 20a）
  1. The law announces to people that they are guilty of sin against God and deserving of His eternal punishment.
律法宣布，人们犯罪悖逆神，应受神永恒的惩罚。

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  （Romans 3:23）

因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了　神的荣耀；（罗马书3:23）

The wages of sin is death. （Romans 6:23a）

因为罪的工价乃是死；惟有　神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生。（罗马书6:23a）

Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. （Matthew 25:41）

王又要向那左边的说：‘你们这被咒诅的人，离开我！进入那为魔鬼和他的使者所预备的永火里去！（马太福音25:41）
  1. The law extends God’s call to people to admit their sin and turn to Him for help.
律法将神对众人的呼召延伸扩展，使他们悔改，转向神寻求帮助。

Repent!  Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.  Why will you die?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent and live! （Ezekiel 18 30b-32）

你们当回头离开所犯的一切罪过；这样，罪孽必不使你们败亡。你们要将所犯的一切罪过，尽行抛弃，自作一个新心和新灵。以色列家啊！你们何必死亡呢？主耶和华说：我不喜悦那死人之死，所以你们当回头而存活。” （以西结书18:30b-32）
  1. The law leads people to sincerely regret their sins and to seek God’s mercy to save them.
律法引导人们衷心悔过，寻求神的怜悯与救赎。

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions; and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity （Psalm 51:1-4a, 9）

神啊！求你按你的慈爱怜恤我，按你丰盛的慈悲涂抹我的过犯。求你将我的罪孽洗除净尽，并洁除我的罪。因为我知道我的过犯，我的罪常在我面前。我向你犯罪，惟独得罪了你，在你眼前行了这恶；求你掩面不看我的罪，涂抹我一切的罪孽。（诗篇51:1-4a, 9）

C. The Gospel Leads Contrite Sinners To Believe In Jesus Christ As Their Savior From Sin And Eternal Death

福音带领悔过的罪人相信耶稣基督为他们的救主，救他们脱离罪恶与永恒的死亡

Under the Holy Spirit’s blessing, the gospel does a number of things to create believing Christians out of contrite sinners.

蒙圣灵的祝福，福音多方引导悔过的罪人信靠耶稣基督。

  1. The gospel teaches people that God loves sinners apart from their deserving and graciously desires to deliver them.
福音教导人们，神爱一切不配得此厚爱的罪人，神以宽容与仁慈救助罪人。

With everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer. （Isaiah 54:8b）

要以永远的慈爱怜恤你。这是耶和华你的救赎主说的。（以赛亚书54:8b）

The Lord, the Lord, is the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. （Exodus 34:6b-7a）

耶和华，耶和华，是有怜悯有恩典的　神，不轻易发怒，并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实。为千万人存留慈爱，赦免罪孽、过犯和罪恶；（出埃及记34:6b-7a）

Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. （Isaiah 45:22）

地极的人都当仰望我，就必得救；因为我是　神，再没有别神。（以赛亚书45:22）
  1. The gospel announces that Jesus Christ has come to save them by living a perfect life of obedience to God’s laws for them and dying on the cross to pay for their sins.
福音宣布，耶稣基督降世拯救罪人，他全然顺服神的律法，活出完美无瑕的生命，在十字架上受难，为世人的罪付清赎价。

But when the time had fully come God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  （Galatians 4:4-5）

及至时候满足，　神就差遣他的儿子为女子所生，且生在律法以下，要把律法以下的人赎出来，叫我们得着儿子的名分。（加拉太书4:4-5）

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. （Matthew 5:17）

莫想我来要废掉律法和先知；我来不是要废掉，乃是要成全。（马太福音5:17）

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. （Romans 5:6,9）

因我们还软弱的时候，基督就按所定的日期为罪人死。惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死， （Romans 5:6,8b）

Christ died for our sins. （1 Corinthians 15:3b）

就是基督照圣经所说，为我们的罪死了。 （ 哥林多前书15:3b）
  1. The gospel relates that God justifies all sinners, that is, He declares all people in the world to be innocent of their sin and righteous in His sight because of Jesus’ ransoming work.
福音与神的赦免相联系——神宣告世人无罪，在他的眼中成为公义，完全是因着耶稣基督的救赎大业。

Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.  （1 John 2:2）

他为我们的罪作了挽回祭，不是单为我们的罪，也是为普天下人的罪。（约翰一书2:2）

All are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  （Romans 3:24）

如今却蒙　神的恩典，因基督耶稣的救赎，就白白地称义。（罗马书3:24）

The result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.  （Romans 5:18b）

因一次的义行，众人也就被称义得生命了。（罗马书5:18b）

The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. （1 John 1:7b）

他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。（约翰一书 1:7b）
  1. The gospel extends the invitation to people that they receive God’s free gift of forgiveness and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
福音广发邀请，人们凭着在耶稣基督里的信心无偿地得到神赐予的罪得宽恕与救恩的礼物。

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts,  Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. （Isaiah 55:6-7）

当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找他，相近的时候求告他。恶人当离弃自己的道路，不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华，耶和华就必怜恤他；当归向我们的　神，因为　神必广行赦免。（以赛亚书55:6-7）

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. （Acts 16:31）

当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救。（使徒行传16:31）
  1. The gospel itself creates faith so a person believes in Jesus as his/her Savior and receives God’s gift of pardon and new life.
福音本身建造信心，一个相信耶稣为救主的人会得到神的宽恕与新生命。

Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.  （1 Thessalonians 1:5a）

我们的福音传到你们那里，不独在乎言语，也在乎权能和圣灵，并充足的信心。（帖撒罗尼迦前书 1:5a）

No one can say, “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.  （1 Corinthians 12:3b）

若不是被圣灵感动的，也没有能说耶稣是主的。（哥林多前书  12:3b）

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. （Ephesians 2:8-9）

你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，这并不是出于自己，乃是　神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。（以弗所书2:8-9）

D. The Law And Gospel Work To Produce A Proper “Cautious-Yet-Confident” Assurance Of Salvation In The Christian

律法与福音使人 “谨慎却又自信”,确信基督的救恩

God uses His powerful teachings of the law and gospel not only to bring people to saving faith in Christ. He also uses them to keep people in saving faith.

神运用律法与福音独具权能的教导带领人们相信基督，并且使他们信心坚固持久。

You through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. （1 Peter 1:5）

你们这因信蒙　神能力保守的人，必能得着所预备，到末世要显现的救恩。（彼得前书 1:5）

  1. Because Christians have both a sinful nature that strives to lead them to fall away from Christ and a believing nature that trustingly clings to Christ, they need both the law and the gospel to remain in faith.
在基督徒的身心当中，罪性（罪恶天性）与新生命共存。罪性力图引诱他们背离基督；新生命使他们一心信靠追随基督。因而他们需要律法与福音共同作用，以保守他们的信心。
  1. God uses the strong warnings of the law to speak to the sinful natures of Christians so that they do not become proud or careless and fall from faith.
神以律法向基督徒的罪性发出严正警告，使他们远离傲慢与不洁，保守他们的信心。

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! （1 Corinthians 10:12）

所以，自己以为站得稳的，须要谨慎，免得跌倒。（哥林多前书 10:12）

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. （Hebrews 2:1）

所以，我们当越发郑重所听见的道理，恐怕我们随流失去。（希伯来书 2:1）
  1. God uses the comforting promises of the gospel to speak to the believing natures of Christians so that they do not despair over their sinful weakness, but cling in faith to Jesus for salvation.
神以福音安慰的应许看顾保守基督徒的新生命，驱散他们的绝望与软弱，让他们靠着耶稣得救恩。

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.  （John 10:28-29）

我又赐给他们永生；他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。我父把羊赐给我，他比万有都大，谁也不能从我父手里把他们夺去。（约翰福音10:28-29）

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  （Philippians 1:6）

我深信那在你们心里动了善工的，必成全这工，直到耶稣基督的日子。（腓利比书 1:6）
  1. Christians are confident of their salvation because of God’s gospel promises in Christ. Yet they are cautious and guard against the efforts of the sinful nature to cause them to fall away from faith in Jesus and lose their salvation.
因着神在福音中的应许，基督徒对自己必得神的救恩充满自信。然而他们也时刻谨慎警惕，严防罪性引诱他们丧失对耶稣基督的信心从而失去神的救恩。

E. Review The Lesson 本课回顾

Agree And Disagree Statements 判断题

Mark each statement A （agree） or D （disagree）

正确的划“V”,错误的划“X”

—- 1. A person can follow either the teaching of the law or the gospel to gain salvation from sin.

—- 一个人可以靠着或者律法或者福音二者中的任何一项教导而得救恩。

—- 2. Before God can make people certain of their salvation, He must make them certain of their damnation,

—- 神在使人确信自己必得救恩之前，先使他们懂得自己因着罪而必遭毁灭的事实。

—- 3. In the law God tells us that we must live a very good life, a life that is far better than the average person.

—- 神在律法中告诉我们，必须过一个远高于常人标准的美好生活。

—- 4. The law delivers to us the devastating message that we are spiritual failures who are lost and doomed because of our sins.

—- 律法向我们传达严酷的信息：我们是属灵的败亡者，因着罪，我们失丧遭毁灭。

—- 5. Through the message of the law, God encourages us to keep fighting to earn our salvation by striving to keep His commandments better than before.

—- 神通过律法鼓励我们靠着不断努力遵行他的诫命，艰苦奋斗来赢得他赐予我们的救恩。

—- 6. In the gospel God announces the pleasing message that He loves us because we are such good and loving beings.

—- 神在福音中宣告他对我们的爱，是因为我们美善而可爱。

—- 7. The central message of the gospel is that Jesus Christ has won salvation for us by His perfectly obedient life and sin-removing death.

—- 福音的中心信息是，耶稣基督在世上活出完全顺服的生命，替我们的罪受死，从而为我们赢得神的救恩。

—- 8. In the gospel, God not only invites us to believe in Jesus, but He also creates faith in us so we do believe.

—- 在福音中，神不仅鼓励带领我们相信耶稣，而且为我们建立、坚固这样的信心。

—- 9. A person who has come to saving faith in Jesus never has to worry about losing that faith.

—- 一个相信耶稣的人再不用担心自己会丧失这样的信心。

—- 10. God graciously brings us to faith in Jesus, but after that, it is entirely up to us to continue in that faith.

—- 神带领我们相信耶稣基督，从此以后全靠我们自己去保守这样的信心。

Reflection Questions 思考题

  1. What things must a person know and believe in order to have eternal life?
一个人必须知道并相信什么，才能享有永生？

  1. A believer once said: “I believe that I am saved by works, but not by my own works.” What do you think he meant by that statement?

    一个基督徒说：“我相信我是靠行为而得救，但并非我个人的作为。”你如何理解他的这一说法？

最后更新于 2012年8月25日 星期六 08:50

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