你认识的最坏罪人THE WORST SINNER YOU KNOW
作者: Joe Thorn 译者: Duncan Liang
你是你认识的最坏罪人吗？你对这问题的回答，既可显出你灵魂的光景，也可以表明你的神学观念。一些基督徒认为这问题若不是不当，也是非常难以回答。所以让我一开始就告诉你，我相信基督徒被人问到这问题时，回答总应该是：“是的，我是我认识最坏的罪人。”很多人不愿面对这回答，指出有人因着负罪感不断被压制，不得释放，这种神学观念可能会非常残忍。但对此有了正确认识，这就要给人释放，而不是绝望。认识自我，认识我们的救主，这就如此显明我们的过犯和基督的荣耀，结果我们既降卑，也因着神在基督里的恩典变为喜乐。
Are
you the worst sinner you know? How you answer that question says a lot about
your theology as well as the condition of your soul. Some Christians find this
questions to be difficult, if not inappropriate. So let me tell you up front
that I am convinced the answer to this question, when posed to a Christian,
ought to always be, "Yes. I am the worst sinner I know." Many balk at this idea--pointing to people
who are constantly overwhelmed by guilt and find no relief. Such theology can
seem cruel. Yet when properly understood this leads to deliverance rather than
to despair. Knowing ourselves and knowing our Savior highlights our
transgressions and Christ's glories in such a way that we are both humbled and
made happy by the grace of God in Christ.
使徒保罗讲到自己，表明他相信自己是一个怎样的人。一开始他说他是“使徒中最小的”（林前15:9），然后说自己“比众圣徒中最小的还小”（弗3:8），到了他生命即将结束时，他看自己是一个“罪魁”（提前1:15）。与保罗在罗马书7:13-25描写他不断与罪相争结合起来，这就让人看到使徒的自我形象。虽然现在他是一个圣徒，但因着他过去的邪恶，甚至因着他目前的败坏，他仍看自己是他认识最坏的罪人。请留意《伦敦浸信会第二公认信条》对信徒里面罪性的描述：
The
Apostle Paul wrote of himself in a way that demonstrates what he believed about
himself. First he said he was "least of the Apostles" (1 Cor. 15:9),
then "least of all the saints" (Eph. 3:8), and, at the end of his
life, he saw himself as the "foremost" of sinners (1 Tim 1:15). This,
combined with Paul's ongoing struggle with sin described in Romans 7:13-25,
gives a picture of the Apostle's self-image. Though now a saint he remained, in
his own eyes, the worst sinner he knew due to his wicked past and even his
present corruption. Note what the Second London Confession has to say about the
sin nature in believers:
这种人性的败坏，今生仍然残留在那些重生的人里面；虽然藉着基督得蒙赦免，并受到克制，可是它本身及其起初的运行就是真正的罪。—— 《伦敦浸信会第二公认信条》第6章第5条
The
corruption of nature, during this life, does remain in those that are
regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both
itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
-
Second London Confession, VI.5
说你是你认识的最坏罪人，这并不是把你自己和其他人作比较。这是承认你自己的软弱和过犯。我们能作出这判断，是因为我们更清楚认识自己的罪，超过认识任何别的人的罪。我们知道（至少部分知道）我们的动机、想法和愿望。我们不仅知道其他人可能会留意到我们自己可见的罪，也知道那些不被人注意的罪。我们不仅是作为罪人，还是首先是作为圣徒感受到这一点。我们感受到我们的罪，知道面对神对我们的忍耐，基督为我们作的牺牲，我们这些罪何等罪大恶极。在这方面我们发现自己大大降卑。
To
say that you are the worst sinner you know is not to compare yourself to
others. It is a confession of one's own weakness and transgressions. What
enables us to make such a judgment is that we know our sins better than we know
anyone else's. We know (at least in part) our motives, thoughts, and desires.
We know not only those visible sins that others may take notice of, but also
those that go unnoticed. We do not merely sense this as sinners, but we sense
it primarily as saints. We feel our sins, and know the greatness of their
heinousness in light of God's patience toward us, and Christ's sacrifice for
us. In this we find deep humility.
认识自己的罪这痛苦现实的圣徒，不仅承认自己的败坏，也承认他相信他的救主。所以他不仅谦卑，他还快乐。因为最坏的罪人，已经有耶稣来寻找，祂血已经把他买赎，祂的血洗净我们一切的不义。没有归正的人，绝不明白自己内心黑暗，或他的罪渗透得何等之深。我们与基督相交越亲密，我们目前的罪就越悲苦，祂的恩典就越甘甜。我们越爱基督，我们就越恨罪。我们在恩典中被抬举得越高，我们在谦卑中就俯伏得越低。约翰府来写的这番话，如此深深抓住了这一点：
The
saint who knows the painful reality of his sin not only confesses his
corruption, but also confesses his confidence in his Savior. He is therefore
not only humble, he is also happy. For the worst sinner has been sought by
Jesus and bought by his blood which cleanses us from all unrighteousness. The
unconverted person will never understand the darkness of his heart, or how deep
his sin goes. The more intimate our communion with Christ the more bitter our
present sin and the sweeter his grace. The more love we have for Christ, the
more hatred we have for sin. The higher we are lifted in grace, the lower we
bend down in humility. John Flavel captured this so well when he wrote:
麦子即将成熟时，就把头低下，比它青绿时屈身更低。神的百姓即将成熟可以上天堂时，他们变得比一开始认信时更谦卑、更舍己。一位圣徒在世上活得越长久，他就仍越发认识自己的内心，认识他对神当尽的义务；而这两样都非常令人降卑。（《对属地事物的属天运用》）
When
the corn is nearly ripe, it bows the head, and stoops lower than when it was
green. When the people of God are nearly ripe for heaven, they grow more humble
and self-denying than in the days of their first profession. The longer a saint
grows in the world, the better he is still acquainted with his own heart, and
his obligations to God; both which are very humbling things.1
知道自己是最坏罪人的男人，为着自己过犯深重忧伤的女人，不会落在绝望当中，而是要因着那临到不义之人的恩典感到惊奇，大呼“连我也能得救！”这让每一个真心的圣徒强烈要为所有残留的罪悔改，天天奔向耶稣。
The
man who knows he is the worst of sinners, and the woman who grieves the depths
of her transgressions, does not wind up in despair, but in the wonder of grace
that comes to the ungodly--and exclaims, "Even me!" This leaves every
saint with earnest hearts eager to repent of all remaining sin and flee to
Jesus daily.
因此就生出每天所犯的软弱之罪，从此在圣徒最好的善行上附带着污点；要使他们时常在神面前谦卑，并飞奔到被钉十字架的基督那里避难；用祈祷的心以及圣洁敬虔的操练多多治死肉体，并向着完全的标竿努力前进，直到至终脱离肉身的死亡，他们就在天上与神的羔羊一同作王。—— 《多特信经》第五项第二条
Hence
spring forth the daily sins of infirmity, and blemishes cleave even to the best
works of the saints. These are to them a perpetual reason to humiliate
themselves before God and to flee for refuge to Christ crucified; to mortify
the flesh more and more by the spirit of prayer and by holy exercises of piety;
and to press forward to the goal of perfection, until at length, delivered from
this body of death, they shall reign with the Lamb of God in heaven.
-
Canons of Dort, V.2
除非你认识到自己是罪人当中最低劣的那一个，否则你就不会看到你救主的伟大。得赦免多的人，爱的回应就多。（路7:41-49）
Unless
you know yourself to be the lowest of sinners you will not see the greatness of
your Savior. It is the one who is forgiven of much that loves much in response
(Luke 7:41-49).
敬虔的生活不是脱离了罪的生活，而是脱离了罪定罪和辖制权势的生活。敬虔的生活，是悔改离开残留的罪，相信那位通过耶稣的生死和复活，胜过这一切罪的神的生活。敬虔的生活，是不断在谦卑和喜乐中长进的生活。
A
godly life is not a life free from sin, but from sin's condemning and
controlling power. A godly life is one of repentance from the sins that remain
and faith in the God who overcomes all of them through Jesus' life, death, and
resurrection. A godly life is one of constant growth in humility and happiness.
我是我认识的最坏罪人，但神爱我。祂通过祂儿子的牺牲证明了这爱。靠着祂的儿子，我被救赎，现在永远与主和好。
I am
the worst sinner I know, but God loves me. He proves it in the sacrifice of his
Son, and through him I am redeemed and reconciled now and forever to the Lord.
