40.
聖靈的光照TheIllumination of The Holy Spirit
作者: 史鮑爾
(R.C. Sproul) 譯者: 姚錦榮
摘自《神學入門》《Essential
Truths of the Christian Faith》P107 ,更新傳道會出版http://www.crmnj.org/
現代最有用的發明之一就是手電筒，當家中停電而陷入黑暗時，手電便能大派用場，它的功能就是照亮，使我們能看得見周圍的事物。
聖經不是一本黑暗的書，聖經是光明的源頭。在詩篇中詩人說，神的話是「腳前的燈，路上的光。」（詩119：105）
然而並非每一處經文對我們來說都是同樣容易理解的，有些經文不易掌握，我們需要努力尋求經文的意義。而罪在我們身上的影響，就是遮蔽我們的思想，使之變得黑暗。按著我們墮落的本性，我們都是黑暗之子，急切需要光明。
雖然聖經本身對我們來說，就是光，但我們還需要額外的光照才能感受到光。聖靈不但啟示聖經，祂也光照我們，使我們從中得益。祂能在光中賜下更多的亮光，光照就是聖靈的工作。聖靈幫助我們聽見、接受和正確地明白神的話。正如使徒保羅所寫的：「如經上所記：『神為愛他的人所預備的，是眼睛未曾看見，耳朵未曾聽見，人心也未曾想到的。』只有神藉著聖靈向我們顯明了。因為聖靈參透萬事，就是神深奧的事也參透了。 除了在人裡頭的靈，誰知道人的事？像這樣，除了神的靈，也沒有人知道神的事。」（林前2：9-11）
保羅在此以人的經驗作類比：你可以從我的所言所行中知道很多關於我的事，但你不可能知道我思想或心靈中的事，除非我願意向你披露-------只有我本人才知道自己在想些什麽。（也許有時我的太太能看透我的思想！）
同樣地，知道神最終心思的是聖靈。保羅說，聖靈能參透神深奧的事情，這不是說，聖靈需要深究和探測神的心思去了解神；聖靈不是去尋找所缺乏的資訊，聖靈的參透（譯者註：新國際版譯作探查），就像探測燈射進幽暗一樣，能使隱蔽的事物顯露在光明之中。
聖靈的光照與啟示不同。今天不時有人說，他們怎樣地領受了聖靈私下的啟示，但聖靈的光照絕不會在聖經以外，再給我們任何新的資訊或不同的啟示。
改革宗信仰非常強調，神不會在今天再賜下新規範的啟示。聖靈會不斷地把聖經已有的啟示光照人心，幫助我們明白聖經，信服聖經的真理，並把真理應用在我們的生活中。祂藉著神的話語工作，又在神的話語中工作，祂的教訓永遠不會違背聖經的話，因此，我們必須以聖經的教訓檢查所聽見的教訓，因聖經是聖靈的著作。
總結
1.
聖靈的光照是指聖靈能幫助我們明白和應用聖經。
2.
聖靈的光照不同於啟示。
思考經文：
約16：13-15；林前2：9-16；彼後1：21
The
Illumination of The Holy Spirit
One
of the most useful modern inventions is the flashlight or, as the British call
it, the " torch". When the power goes off and the house is plunged
into darkness, the flashlight is a lifesaver. Its function is to shine light
into darkness in order that we may see what is there. It works to illumine the
scene.
The
Bible is not a book of darkness. On the contrary, it is a source of much-needed
light. The psalmist calls God's Word " a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path" (Psalm 119:105).
Not
every part of Scripture is equally clear to our understanding. Certain passages
are difficult to grasp. We struggle at certain point to gain insight into the
meaning of the text. The effect of sin upon us is to shroud our mind in
darkness. In our fallen nature we are creatures of darkness who are in
desperate need of light.
Though
the Scritures themselves are light for us, there is need for additional
illuminatin so that we may clearly perceive the light. The same Holy Spirit who
inspires the Scripture, works to illumine the Scritures for our benefit. He
sheds more light on the original light. Llumination is the work of the Holly
Spirit . He helps us to hear, receive, and properly understand the message of
God's Word. As the apostle Paul writes.
But
as it is written : " Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered
into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him,
" But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things
of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the
things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-11)
Here
Paul draws an analogy from human experience. You may learn many things about me
from observing me or from hearsay, but you cannot know what is going on inside
my mind or my spirit unless I choose to reveal it. Only I know what I am
thinking. ( Though at times I ' am sure my wife can read my mind!)
Likewise,
it is the Holy Spirit who knows the innermost thoughts of God. Paul says that
the Spirit "searches " the deep things of God. This does not mean
that the Holy Spirit must investigate and inquire into the mind of God in order
to be instructed. He is not seeking for information He otherwise lacks.
He" searches " as a searchlight scans the night to bring into the
light what otherwise would remain hidden.
Illimination
is not be confused with revelation. It is commonplace today to hear people
speak about private revelations they claim to have received from the Holy
Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in illumination is not the supplying of new
information or fresh revelations beyond those found in sacred Scriptue.
Reformed
Christianity emphatically denies that God is giving new normative revelation
today. The Spirit is still working to illumine what is revealed in Scriture.
The Spirit helps us to understand the Bible, to concict us of the truth of the
Bible, and to apply that truth to our lives. He works with the Word and through
the Word. His task is never to teach against the Word. It is therefore always
necessary to test what we hear by the teaching of Scriture. The Scripture is
the Spirit ´s book.
Summary
1.
Illumination refers to the Holy Spirit´s assistance in helping us understand
and apply Scripture.
2.
Illumination is not to be confused with revelation.
Biblical
passages for reflection:
John
16:14-15; 1Corinthians 2:9-16; 2Peter 1:21
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