得救乃是因主耶穌的恩 — 使徒行傳讀經隨筆 第15章

使徒行傳第十五章裏一些信徒原是猶太教法利賽教門的信了福音，但是他們堅持外邦人必須行割禮和遵守律法。辯論了多時，不能達成一致，彼得就站起來重新申明主的福音：神賜聖靈給外邦人正如賜聖靈給使徒們一樣，神同樣為外邦人作了見證，又借著信潔淨了他們的心，並不分是以色列人還是外邦人；不要試探神，不要把律法的軛放在門徒的頸項上。最後，彼得說：“得救乃是因主耶穌的恩”。可見，彼得不愧為主欽點的十二使徒之首，沒有辜負主的重托，他掌握並在這裏維護了福音的真理：潔淨乃是因著主所賜的信心，得救乃是因著主耶穌的恩，而不是必須行割禮和遵守律法。

 

徒15:5 惟有幾個信徒是法利賽教門的人、起來說、必須給外邦人行割禮、吩咐他們遵守摩西的律法。
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
徒15:6 使徒和長老、聚會商議這事。
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
徒15:7 辯論已經多了、彼得就起來、說、諸位弟兄、你們知道 神早已在你們中間揀選了我、叫外邦人從我口中得聽福音之道、而且相信。
When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.
徒15:8 知道人心的 神、也為他們作了見證．賜聖靈給他們、正如給我們一樣。
God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
徒15:9 又借著信潔淨了他們的心、並不分他們我們。
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
徒15:10 現在為甚麽試探 神、要把我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛、放在門徒的頸項上呢。
Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
徒15:11 我們得救、乃是因主耶穌的恩、和他們一樣、這是我們所信的。
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."