效法基督的模樣Conforming to the Image ofChrist
[每日靈修] 9/30/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
「眾人都犯了罪」這一顯而易見的事實可以在我們中間創造一種虛假的安全感，使我們輕易接受這樣一種觀念，即罪是如此平常，以至於我們不必太過於憂心忡忡，以免我們將自己的心理健康交給一種自我貶低的精神官能症。然而，在我們想要安慰自己並保持良好的自我形象的願望中，我們可能會把上帝的命令推到一邊：「你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。」
福音派基督徒最容易屈服於這種扭曲。我們強調這樣一個事實，即我們的稱義只靠信心，堅持只有在基督裏才能找到我們的義。雖然這些斷言是正確的，但同樣正確的是，我們被稱義的信心是一種在我們的生活中結出果實的信心。宗教改革的口號是，我們唯獨因信稱義，但這信心絕不是孤零零的（絕不會不結果子）。
真正的信心一旦存在於信徒心中，成聖的過程就開始了。改變也立刻開始。基督徒開始被塑造成基督的模樣。我們逐漸變得聖潔。如果我們沒有變得聖潔，那麼基督就不在我們裏面，我們的信仰宣告就是空洞的。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
反思這一課的最後一句話：「如果我們沒有變得聖潔，那麼基督就不在我們裏面，我們的信仰宣告就是空洞的。」
進一步研讀：
彼前一15～16 那召你們的既是聖潔，你們在一切所行的事上也要聖潔。 因為經上記著說：「你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。」
提前二8 我願男人無忿怒，無爭論，舉起聖潔的手，隨處禱告。
Conforming to the Image of
Christ
The
obvious fact that we all sin can create an atmosphere of false security among
us, leading us to accept with ease the idea that sin is so commonplace that we
ought not to be too bothered by it lest we surrender our mental health to a
self-deprecating neurosis. Yet in our desire to console ourselves and maintain
a good self-image, we may push to the back burner the mandate of God, “Be you
holy, even as I am holy.”
Evangelical
Christians are most vulnerable to succumbing to this distortion. We stress the
fact that our justification is by faith alone and insist that our righteousness
is found in Christ alone. Though these assertions are true, it is equally true
that the faith by which we are justified is a faith that brings forth fruit in
our lives. The slogan of the Reformation was that we are justified by faith
alone, but not by a faith that is alone.
The
instant true faith is present in the heart of the believer, the process of
sanctification begins. Change begins at once. The Christian begins to be
conformed to the image of Christ. We are becoming holy. If we are not becoming
holy, then Christ is not in us and our profession of faith is empty.
Coram
Deo
Reflect
on the final statement of this reading: “We are becoming holy. If we are not
becoming holy, then Christ is not in us and our profession of faith is empty.”
Passages
for Further Study
1
Peter 1:15–16
1
Timothy 2:8