Let’s look at the distinctions of Law and the Gospel. Simply put, the Law reminds us that we cannot be thegood enough for God, but the gospel gives us hope in the Savior.
※讓我們來看看「律法」與「福音」的區別。
簡而言之,「律法」提醒我們我們不合上帝「好」的標準,但是「福音」裡救贖主替我們滿足上帝的條件。
The Law tells us what we must do according to God’s standards—it condemns and corrects us. The gospel tells us what God has done for us in Jesus Christ—it assures us of God’s love and salvation. Under the Law, we think it’s our merit that saves us. But the gospel shows us that Christ’s merit alone saves us. Walther stated, “God has created us without our cooperation, and He wants to save us the same way. We are to thank Him for having created us with a hope of life everlasting. Even so, He alone wants to save us.”
In his book The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, C.F.W. Walther wrote, “But it is the Gospel alone that satisfies men, makes them cheerful, revives them, and comforts their conscience” (Third Evening Lecture, 24).
We need to hear both sides preached in church every Sunday.
「律法」告訴我們我們必須按照上帝的標準去做…譴責和糾正我們。
「福音」告訴我們上帝在耶穌基督裡為我們做了什麼…並向我們保證能得上帝的愛與救恩。
在法律之下,我們會以為靠自己的好行為能得救。但是福音告訴我們,單單只有靠基督的功勞才能救我們。Walther說:「上帝自己主動創造了我們,祂想以同樣的方式拯救我們。我們信福音就白白得救,本來應該要感謝祂為我們創造了永生的盼望。即便如此,只有祂單方面一直想拯救我們。」
C.F.W. Walther在他的《法律與福音之間的正確區別》一書中寫道:「單單靠福音,就有滿足人類需求、使他們快樂、使他們恢復活力並安慰其良知」。
因此,我們需要在每個星期日都到教堂裡聽道,好讓悖逆的我們能走在成聖道路上。