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《比利时信条》第二十二条 论在基督里的以信称义
我们相信,为了我们可以得着这伟大奥秘的真知识,圣灵在我们的心中生发真实的信心1。这信心使我们接受耶稣基督和祂一切的功劳,认祂作我们的救主,并在祂之外别无所求2。因为下列有件事情是重要的,除非我们对于救恩所必须的一切不是在基督里,否则,凡藉着信心在基督里的就必得着完全的救恩3。因此,声称基督的救赎是不完全的,在祂之外还需要一些别的东西,就是一种可怕的亵渎;因为这样的论调就等于在说基督仅是半个救主。
所以我们当用保罗的话说:“人称义是因着信,不在乎遵行律法”4。然而,严格来说,这不是指信心本身使我们称义5,因为信心仅仅是工具,我们藉着信心接受基督为我们的义;基督将自己的一切功劳及祂已为我们作成的一切圣工都归给了我们6。所以,耶稣基督是我们的义,并且信心是将我们与祂连接在团契中得着一切福益的工具。当我们得着基督恩惠时,我们的罪就足以得到赦免了。
1.约16:14; 林前2:12; 弗1:17-18.
2.约14:6; 徒4:12; 加2:21.
3.诗32:1; 太1:21; 路1:77; 徒13:38, 39; 罗8:1.
4.罗3:19-4:8; 罗10:4-11; 加2:16; 腓3:9; 多3:5.
5.林前4:7.
6.耶23:6; 太20:28; 罗8:33; 林前1:30-31; 林后5:21; 约壹4:10.
英文对照:
We believe that, in order that we may obtain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Spirit kindles in our hearts a true faith. This faith embraces Jesus Christ with all His merits, makes Him our own, and does not seek anything besides Him. For it must necessarily follow, either that all we need for our salvation is not in Jesus Christ or, if it is all in Him, that one who has Jesus Christ through faith, has complete salvation. It is, therefore, a terrible blasphemy to assert that Christ is not sufficient, but that something else is needed besides Him; for the conclusion would then be that Christ is only half a Saviour.
Therefore we rightly say with Paul that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith apart from works of law. Meanwhile, strictly speaking, we do not mean that faith as such justifies us, for faith is only the instrument by which we embrace Christ our righteousness; He imputes to us all His merits and as many holy works as He has done for us and in our place. Therefore Jesus Christ is our righteousness, and faith is the instrument that keeps us with Him in the communion of all His benefits. When those benefits have become ours, they are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.