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2019-01-12


認識自由意志UnderstandingFree Will

[每日靈修] 1/12/2018,  駱鴻銘編譯

馬丁路德在上帝的主權與人的自由意志和罪惡之間的關係中苦苦掙扎。事實上有關這主題最偉大的書之一《意志的束縛》 The Bondage of the Will),就出自路德的筆。當路德努力解決這個問題時,他特別和舊約聖經的幾段經文鬥爭,在那裏我們讀到上帝使法老的心剛硬(出四21,七3413-142223,八15193032,九27~十2,十16202428)。

當我們閱讀這些段落時,我們傾向於認為,「難道這不是說上帝不僅通過人類的慾望和行動來行事,祂也實際上是在對人施加邪惡嗎?」畢竟,聖經確實說上帝已經使法老的心剛硬了。

當路德討論這個問題時,他觀察到當聖經說上帝使法老的心剛硬時,上帝並沒有在一個無辜者的心中製造嶄新的邪惡。路德說,上帝並沒有通過在他們心中放入邪惡來使人心剛硬。上帝為了使人心剛硬所必須做的只是克制自己的恩典;也就是說,祂把一個人交給他自己。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
你的心是否對他人的需求保持敞開?它對屬靈的事有反應嗎?求上帝使你的心保持柔軟,並且順從祂的神聖旨意和目的。

進一步研讀:
出四21 耶和華對摩西說:「你回到埃及的時候,要留意將我指示你的一切奇事行在法老面前。但我要使(或作:任憑;下同)他的心剛硬,他必不容百姓去。」
詩九五8 你們不可硬著心,像當日在米利巴,就是在曠野的瑪撒。
申十五7 在耶和華你神所賜你的地上,無論哪一座城裡,你弟兄中若有一個窮人,你不可忍著心、揝著手不幫補你窮乏的弟兄。


Understanding Free Will

Martin Luther struggled greatly with the relationship of God’s sovereignty to human free will and sin. In fact, one of the greatest books ever written on the subject, The Bondage of the Will, is from Luther’s pen. When Luther grappled with this issue, he especially struggled with the Old Testament passages where we read that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 4:21; 7:3–4, 13–14, 22–23; 8:15, 19, 30–32; 9:27–10:2; 10:16–20, 24–28).

When we read these passages, we tend to think, “Doesn’t this suggest that God not only works through the desires and actions of humans, but that He actually forces evil upon people?” After all, the Bible does say that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

When Luther discussed this, he observed that when the Bible says that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, God did not create fresh evil in the heart of an innocent man. Luther said that God didn’t harden people by putting evil in their hearts. All that God must do to harden anyone’s heart is to withhold His own grace; that is, He gives a person over to himself.

Coram Deo
Is your heart open to the needs of others? Is it responsive to spiritual things? Ask God to keep your heart soft and pliable to His divine will and purposes.

Passages for Further Study
Exodus 4:21
Psalm 95:8
Deuteronomy 15:7




附:
專題學習﹕阿米念主義、自由意志