新约 - 加拉太书(Galatians)第3章

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
加拉太书第三章   第 3 章 

  加 3:1> 魔术,好看呀,你问我知道其力量来源吗?这…… 

  3:1 加拉太信徒被假教师迷住了,他们简直像中了妖术一般。当时,魔术十分盛行(参徒 8:9-11 ; 13:6-7 )。魔术来自掩眼法和撒但的能力。人们只被魔术师的奇幻手法所吸引,而忽略了其来源是多么危险的。 

  加 3:2-3> 我要吃东西才可以长大;灵命成长,不是也要多守点律法,才更属灵,更茁壮吗? 

  3:2-3 有些加拉太的信徒是五旬节的时候在耶路撒冷接受了圣灵的。他们知道自己不是因着遵守律法才领受到圣灵。保罗强调他们因为在圣灵的能力里开始了基督徒的生命,因此他们也应该靠着圣灵的能力成长。加拉太的信徒如果要坚持遵守犹太教的律法,其实就是在真理上后退了。我们必须明白自己的灵命成长并不是靠着遵守某些规矩,而是神藉着圣灵在我们生命里做工,才能成就的。 

  加 3:5> 单靠信心,就是觉得很不实在,再做一些,做多些我就会有多一点把握…… 

  3:5 加拉太人知道他们在信主时便领受了圣灵,并非是因遵守律法而得。但是他们仍然对自己的信仰不放心,认为单靠信心似乎太轻而易举了,因此希望遵守某些律法,好与神更加亲近。某些属灵操练(如读经、祈祷)和事奉,可以帮助我们成长,但是绝不能代替圣灵的工作。藉着提出这几个问题,保罗希望帮助加拉太的信徒重新以基督作为他们的信仰中心。 

  加 3:5> 你的属灵生命是奋兴的?是平淡的?给你选,你要──保罗说两者都不重要,重要的是…… 

  3:5 圣灵赐信徒能力为神而活。但是有些信徒却要超越这一方面,他们认为应不断处在奋兴的状态。当日常生活过分平静的时候,他们就以为属灵生命出了岔子。其实圣灵最重要的工作,就是教导我们持守真道,做正确的事,即使这些事对我们不再有新意和刺激。加拉太的信徒很快就离弃了保罗所教导的福音,去随从城里新来的教师,其实他们所需要的正是圣灵所赐的持久能力。假如你的基督徒生命变得平淡,那就需要圣灵来激发你,每日赐给你一个挑战,使你可以警醒地为基督而活。 

  加 3:6-9> 我所信的我明白吗?单单为这因信称义就教我头痛了,你可以帮我解释一下吗? 

  3:6-9 犹太教士最主要的争论就是,外邦人必须先成为犹太人才能成为基督徒。保罗为要揭露这论点的错误,指出真正亚伯拉罕的子孙是那些有信心的,而不是靠守律法的;亚伯拉罕本人就是因信称义(参创 15:6 )。每一个时代的信徒,不管是什么国籍,都分享了亚伯拉罕的祝福。这对我们是一个安慰的应许、一分伟大的产业,也是生活的稳固基础。 

  加 3:10> 我想我也是个好人,谁说我不可以靠守律法得救?要守的是“所有”?怎不早说? 

  3:10 保罗引用了旧约来驳斥犹太教士,证明律法不能使人称义或得救,只是定人的罪(参申 27:26 )。尽管只是违反一条律法,也会带来刑罚。由于每一个人都曾违反律法,所以每一人都被定罪。律法不能撤销人的罪(参罗 3:20-24 )。当基督被钉在十字架上时,祂就承受了这个咒诅,免去了我们的刑罚,只要接受基督代死,我们就能得救(参西 1:20-23 )。 

  加 3:11> 给我一个机会,我可以做好一点点的,你竟说我不可以靠自己?有什么原因,说来听听…… 

  3:11 要凭藉自己的能力成为义人是徒劳的。你有良好的愿望,诸如“下一次我要做得好一些”,“我再也不会这样做了”,但是往往都以失败告终。保罗引用先知哈巴谷的宣告“惟义人因信得生”(哈 2:4 ),就是指出信靠神,相信祂为我们提供的消除罪的方法,靠着祂所赐的能力过每一天的生活,我们就可以打破这必败的定律。 

  加 3:17> 神真不可思义,一个承诺守了那许多年;可是有时我却会怀疑祂是否仍爱我,你不会这样想吧…… 

  3:17 神遵守了祂对亚伯拉罕的诺言(参创 17:7-8 ),即使已经过了几千年,祂仍然没有反悔。神因亚伯拉罕的信而拯救了他;又藉着他赐福给全人类,因为祂所差遣的弥赛亚是他的后裔。环境可能会改变,但是神却是不变的,也不会违背祂的承诺,祂应许藉着耶稣基督来赦免我们的罪,我们可以确信祂必定会如此做。 

  犹太教士与保罗的争论 

  加 3:18-19> 我们常说不要过于遵守律法,免得变成律法主义,但原来律法也很有用的…… 

  3:18-19 律法有双重的功效:从正面来说,它彰显了神的本性和旨意,教导人如何生活;从反面来说,它指出了世人的罪,使人明白不可能靠完全遵守律法而得到神喜悦。神对亚伯拉罕的应许是在于他的信心,而律法在乎人的行为。神与亚伯拉罕所立的约显示出惟独信心使人得救,而律法则只告诉我们如何心存感恩地来回应和顺服祂的旨意。越认识神,我们就越看清自己的丑恶,这样,就驱使我们只信靠基督是我们得救的惟一途径。 

  加 3:19-20> 如此说来律法是那么有用,难道救恩也在律法之下?还是…… 

  3:19-20 神赐应许给亚伯拉罕,并没有透过天使或摩西作中间人,是祂亲自赐下的。虽然出埃及记没有提到,但犹太人相信十诫是天使传给摩西的(参徒 7:38 , 53 )。保罗在此指出救恩超越律法;凭信得救与成长超越守犹太律法而得救。基督是神赐给我们最好并惟一到祂那里去的途径。 

  加 3:21-22> 罪,你说它是这么丑陋,谁人喜欢?但人总在其中兜转…… 

  3:21-22 在我们信靠基督蒙拯救之前,我们被罪捆绑,被过去的过失所谴责,也被私欲操纵着去做些我们明知是错的事。神知道我们是罪的俘虏,但是祂为我们开了一条出路,这就是相信耶稣基督。人人都被罪所控制,只有相信基督的人才能摆脱它。仰望耶稣吧!因为祂会亲自来释放我们。 

  律法是什么? 

  加 3:24-25> 训蒙老师,我想要,你说律法就是了?这…… 

  3:24-25 “律法是我们训蒙的师傅”就好像老师启蒙孩童,给予启发、引导。律法让我们知道救恩的需要;神的恩典则把救恩赐给我们。今天旧约仍然有它的功效。在旧约中,神启示了祂的本性、对人类的计划、祂的道德规范以及生活的原则。 

  加 3:26-27> 既受了洗,就披戴了主基督?人怎可以披戴了基督? 

  3:26-27 在罗马社会,一个年轻人进入成年阶段,就会换上成年人的外袍,以显示他已成为成年公民,拥有公民的所有权利和责任。保罗把这一文化理念和洗礼的概念结合起来;当成为基督徒和接受洗礼之后,加拉太信徒的灵命也已经成长,可以担负起更多的权利和责任了。保罗说他们已将律法的旧衣服脱去,穿上了公义的基督新袍(参林后 5:21 ;弗 4:23-24 )。 

  加 3:28> 或男或女,在基督里都归于一,男女原来是平等的…… 

  3:28 有些犹太男人每天早上祈祷说“主啊,我感谢你,因为我不是一个外邦人、奴隶或女人。”基督教把女人的地位提高了。基督教信仰超越了歧视和差异,使所有的信徒在基督里成为一体。不要把基督所废除的等级观念,再次提出来,因为所有的信徒都是祂的后裔,没有谁是高人一等或享有特权的。 

  加 3:28> 我就是觉得与他有点格格不入──尝试欣赏他?这,我…… 

  3:28 若身边的人跟我们截然不同,我们会感到不自在;我们总喜欢跟同一类的人在一起。但是当我们容许自己因某些差异而和其他信徒分隔时,便是蔑视那明确的圣经教导。尝试欣赏跟你或你的朋友不同的人,你可能也会找到彼此的相同点。 

  加 3:29> 神与亚伯拉罕的约,意义重大! 

  3:29 神对亚伯拉罕的应许原是对全人类的,并非单单跟他的后裔有关(参创 12:3 )。所有信徒都分享这个应许,也蒙祝福而成了亚伯拉罕的后裔。──《灵修版圣经注释》