“Do Not Mistake the True Meaning of the Cross 不要誤解十字架的真義“(Galatians 加拉太書6:14-16)
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule – to the Israel of God.
至於我,我絕不以別的誇口,只誇我們主耶穌基督的十字架。藉著這十字架,在我來說,世界已經釘在十字架上了;就世界來說,我也已經釘在十字架上了。受割禮或不受割禮,都算不得甚麼,要緊的是作新造的人。所有照這準則而行的人,願平安憐憫臨到他們,就是臨到神的以色列。
At root, Christianity is about God making a new creation in whoever believes in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and thereafter resurrection for redemption, not something we do for God. This can simply define the difference between the systems of grace and law. Modern false and blind philosophy of the Christian life makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers the same thing the world does, only on a higher level. The new cross does not slay the sinner. It redirects him instead! God cannot approve any of the fruits of sin. The true cross stands for death sentence, the abrupt, violent end of a human being. He who carried the cross was not going to have his life redirected: he was going out to have it ended! Thus God salvages the individual by killing him and then raising him again to newness of life.
從根本上說,基督教信仰是有關神作成新造的人,在凡相信耶穌基督為了救贖在十字架上受死和其後復活的人裡面,而不是某些我們為上帝而作的事,這能簡潔地定義恩典和律法兩個與神復和操作系統之間的區別。現代錯繆得令人瞎眼的基督徒生活哲學,不會向人發出令人討厭的要求;相反地,它只是在更高的層面上,提供與世界無分別的相同東西。新的十字架並不殺害罪人,而是使他們改方向!神不會認可任何罪性的果子,那真正的十字架代表死刑:人生命突然、殘暴的終結。那背起十字架的人不是在生命方向上改道,而是行出來將生命結束!因此,神把個別的人殺害,然後使他復活去得著生命的嶄新,從而救贖他。
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your word which reveals such a crucial rule for the Christian life to follow. As we go along our Christian life, help we just to not make it up but to measure ourselves according to this rule and have relationship with you restored to enjoy peace, mercy and blessings from you. Amen.
禱告: 天父啊,感謝你的話語啓示如此基督徒生活至關重要的準則去跟從。當我們過著基督徒生活時,求你幫助我們,不要只是在順口編造,卻務要照此準則衡量自己,並與你的關係得以恢復,去享受從你而來的平安、慈悲憐憫和祝福。阿們。