從恩典中失落

從恩典中失落
聖經閱讀：加拉太書5:1-6、猶大書3-7 現代中譯本|合和本
2015年1月14日(三)

有些人說，如果領受了上帝的恩典，你就永遠不會從恩典中失落，但是聖經並沒有這樣的教導。有很多經節鼓勵我們要「站立得穩」、「不放棄」，這是否意味著如果我們犯太多罪，上帝就會放棄我們？不！只要我們持續信靠祂，祂就會對我們永遠信實。 　但是，如果我們放棄，或者不再信靠上帝的恩典來拯救我們，就會從恩典中「失落」。一旦不再信靠上帝的恩典來拯救我們，我們就不會再受到祂的恩典的庇護。 　想一想之前一篇靈修文章中有關溺水之人的故事。想像一下有一個人從岸上伸出一根長竿給那些在水中的人來抓住，這就好像上帝透過耶穌賜給我們恩典。只要那些人抓住那根竿子，他們就會安全，但是如果他們放掉那根竿子，他們就會開始再次溺水。同理，如果我們停止信靠耶穌來拯救我們，就會開始在罪中死去。 －MK 「我們要勸勉你們：既然已經接受了上帝的恩典，你們不可使這恩典落空。」 哥林多後書6:1b 禱告：主，我願持續信靠?，唯有祢可以拯救我！奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (尤榮輝譯)

Falling from Grace
Bible Reading: Galatians 5:1-6, Jude 3-7
Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Some people say that if you receive God’s grace, you can never fall away from that grace. But the Bible does not teach that. There are many verses in the Bible that encourage us to “stand firm” and “not give up.” Does this mean that God will give up on us and stop forgiving us if we sin “too much”? No! As long as we continue to trust God, He will stay faithful to us. 　But if we give up or if we stop trusting in God’s grace to save us, we will “fall” from grace. Once we stop trusting in God’s grace to save us, we will no longer be covered by His grace. 　Think about the story in an earlier devotion about the drowning people. Imagine that a person on land holds out a long pole for the people in the water to grab onto. That is like God giving us His grace through Jesus. As long as the people hold onto that pole, they will be safe. But if they let go of that pole, they will begin to drown again. In the same way, if we stop trusting Jesus to save us, we will begin dying in our sins. —MK “So we beg you: Don’t let the grace that you received from God be for nothing.” 2 Corinthians 6:1b PRAYER: Lord, I want to continue trusting You. Only You can save me! In Jesus’ name. Amen.