現世的苦楚與將顯於我們的榮耀 — 羅馬書讀經隨筆 第8章

羅馬書第八章第16—30節，保羅說我們作為神的兒女，就是神的後嗣，並且和耶穌基督同作後嗣。在現世，如果我們因被迫害或忍耐受苦（耶穌勸勉基督徒們不應以牙還牙，以眼還眼，而是要給予祝福），我們也必將和他一同得榮耀。將來與天父和耶穌一起在無比美好的天國，榮耀將是巨大的。保羅說我們現世的苦楚比起將來要顯於我們的榮耀是不值得比較的。說起現世的苦楚，因為一切受造之物自從亞當夏娃墮落後就一同歎息勞苦直到如今。在主給的希望裏，我們已經得到了拯救，但是我們必須忍耐等候，等候我們的身體最終得贖。在現世我們雖有苦楚，但我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助；我們有苦楚的時候也本不曉得當怎樣禱告，但是聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息替我們向父和耶穌禱告。鑒察人心的神曉得聖靈的意思，因為聖靈乃是照著神的旨意替我們祈求。在世活在耶穌基督裏，我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。總之，神把我們召來稱為義，又叫我們這些所稱為義的得榮耀。

羅8:16 聖靈與我們的心同證我們是 神的兒女．
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
羅8:17 既是兒女、便是後嗣、就是 神的後嗣、和基督同作後嗣．如果我們和他一同受苦、也必和他一同得榮耀。
and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
羅8:18 我想現在的苦楚、若比起將來要顯於我們的榮耀、就不足介意了。
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
羅8:19 受造之物、切望等候 神的眾子顯出來。
For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
羅8:20 因為受造之物服在虛空之下、不是自己願意、乃是因那叫他如此的。
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
羅8:21 但受造之物仍然指望脫離敗壞的轄製、得享 神兒女自由的榮耀。〔享原文作入〕
that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
羅8:22 我們知道一切受造之物、一同歎息勞苦、直到如今。
For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
羅8:23 不但如此、就是我們這有聖靈初結果子的、也是自己心裏歎息、等候得著兒子的名分、乃是我們的身體得贖。
Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
羅8:24 我們得救是在乎盼望．隻是所見的盼望不是盼望．誰還盼望他所見的呢。〔有古卷作人所看見的何必再盼望呢〕
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
羅8:25 但我們若盼望那所不見的、就必忍耐等候。
But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience.
羅8:26 況且我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助、我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告、隻是聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息、替我們禱告。
In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered.
羅8:27 鑒察人心的、曉得聖靈的意思．因為聖靈照著 神的旨意替聖徒祈求。
He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
羅8:28 我們曉得萬事都互相效力、叫愛 神的人得益處、就是按他旨意被召的人。
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
羅8:29 因為他預先所知道的人、就預先定下效法他兒子的模樣使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子．
For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
羅8:30 預先所定下的人又召他們來．所召來的人、又稱他們為義．所稱為義的人、又叫他們得榮耀。
Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.