我的罪太大,連上帝都救不了我?

概要

如果上帝只是把兒子賜給那些配得之人,那麼上帝也不能救聖彼得、大衛、和保羅,因為他們也和我一樣都是罪人。



約翰福音3:16 上帝愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們,叫一切信他的,不致滅亡,反得永生。

「是的」,你說:「如果我像聖彼得,保羅,或其他公義聖潔的人,我就會高興地信耶穌了。但是,我的罪太大,誰知道我是否被揀選呢?」
答:看這經文怎麼說!「上帝愛世人」這裡的「世人」是在說誰呢?這「世人」不只是說「聖彼得和保羅」,而是指「整個人類,所有人」。沒有人被排除在外。上帝把獨生子賜給所有的人,所有相信這福音的人。所有相信的人就不會滅亡。看看你的臉、或你的身體,是不是也是一個人。如果你是人,那麼,你就屬於「世人」,就包括在「所有」這個數字裏。其他人也被包括在其中。如果我和你不贊同這道理,那麼,這經文就說錯,也白說了。
這經文當然不是對牛和鵝說的,更不可能是賜給它們的。所以,千萬不要想說:「誰知道這經文是不是給我的呢!」不要把自己排除在這經文之外。這樣做,就如同指責上帝是說謊的一樣。
你要在自己身上劃一個十字,然後,重複這樣的話說:「即使我不是聖彼得或保羅,我仍然是「世人」的一部分。如果上帝只是把兒子賜給那些配得之人,那麼祂就是在向聖潔無罪的天使傳道。是的,上帝也不能救聖彼得、大衛、和保羅,因為他們也和我一樣都是罪人。無論我是誰,我知道上帝的話語是真的,如果我不接受這經文,就在我所有的罪之上,再加一條:我褻瀆上帝的話語和真理為謊言,並詆毀這話語了。」——馬丁路德(五旬節主日福音經文講道,1544年)(AE 77:375-76)


Too Great a Sinner?
John 3:16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

38. 「Yes,」 you say, 「I would gladly believe if I were like St. Peter, Paul, and others who are righteous and holy, but I am too great a sinner. Who knows whether I am elect?」 Answer: Look at the words! Look at how and about whom He is speaking: 「God so loved the world」 and 「so that all who believe in Him」 [John 3:16]. Now, 「the world」 does not mean only St. Peter and Paul, but the entire human race together, and here no one is excluded. God’s Son was given for all, all are to believe this, and all who believe will not be lost, etc. Look at yourself in the face, or look in your bosom, to see whether or not you are also a human being (that is, a part of the world) and in the number which the word 「all」 includes, as well as others. If I and you do not accept this, then these words must also have been spoken falsely and in vain.
39. This was surely not preached—much less given and granted—to cows and geese. Therefore, beware of excluding yourself by permitting thoughts such as: 「Who knows whether it has also been given to me?」 That would be calling God a liar in His Word. Rather, make a cross before yourself and repeat these words: 「Even if I am not St. Peter or Paul, I am still a part of the world. If He had wanted to give it only to the worthy, then He would have had to send this preaching only to the angels, who are pure and without sin. Yes, He would even have had to withhold it from St. Peter, David, and Paul, for they were sinners as well as I am. No matter who I am, I know that God’s Word is true, and if I do not accept it, then, on top of all other sins, I am also committing this one, that I regard God’s Word and truth as lies and am slandering them.」 (AE 77:375-76)
photo is from wall.alphacoders.com.