為什麼「確定的贖罪」必然是真的？Why Definite Atonement(Particular Redemption) Must Be True
作者：Geoffrey R. Kirkland 譯者：誠之
http://vassaloftheking.blogspot.ca/2016/10/why-definite-atonement-particular.html
http://www.crtsbooks.net/blog/post/2016/10/23/Why_Definite_Atonement_Particular-Redemption_Must_Be_True.aspx
確定的贖罪（definite atonement）或特定的救贖（particular redemption），指的是一項聖經真理，即基督只為祂的選民死在十字架上，並實際上在骷髏地確保了他們的永生。無論天父賜給聖子的有多少人，聖子就為他們而死；而聖子所救贖的人，聖靈就重生他們。這個教義和所謂的「無限的贖罪」（unlimited atonement）或「普世範圍的救贖」（universal redemption，指基督為所有世人而死；或簡譯為「普遍救贖」）形成了對比。基督贖罪的範圍是有限的，卻沒有上限。一切基督為之死的人，基督就會完全並永遠的救贖他們，因為祂在骷髏地「完成了救贖」。以下是「確定的贖罪」為什麼必須為真的九個理由。
The doctrine of definite atonement or particular redemption refers to the biblical truth that Jesus died on the cross only for His elect and actually procured their eternal salvation at Calvary. All that the Father gave to the Son are those for whom the Son died. And all that the Spirit regenerates are those that the Son redeemed. This is contrasted with what is sometimes called unlimited atonement or universal redemption (Jesus died for everyone). The atonement of Christ is limited in scope, not in extent. All that Christ died for are fully and everlastingly redeemed by Christ since He ‘accomplished redemption’ at Calvary. What follows are nine reasons why definite atonement must be true.
The doctrine of definite atonement or particular redemption refers to the biblical truth that Jesus died on the cross only for His elect and actually procured their eternal salvation at Calvary. All that the Father gave to the Son are those for whom the Son died. And all that the Spirit regenerates are those that the Son redeemed. This is contrasted with what is sometimes called unlimited atonement or universal redemption (Jesus died for everyone). The atonement of Christ is limited in scope, not in extent. All that Christ died for are fully and everlastingly redeemed by Christ since He ‘accomplished redemption’ at Calvary. What follows are nine reasons why definite atonement must be true.
1. 因為三一真神是合一的
1. Because of the UNITY
OF THE TRINITY
主耶穌在約翰福音十七章的禱告一再提到父神所賜給祂的人。自永恆的過去以來，滿有榮耀的父神就賜給了聖子一群特定的、特別的百姓。這些人是特定的靈魂，他們是上帝揀選的人。聖子取了人的肉身來到世上，為這些父神所賜給祂的特定的人而活，為他們死。父神賜給聖子的人，每一個都會在骷髏地得到完全的赦免。上帝的靈會將生命賜給所有被揀選的人。基督為他們捨命。父神和聖子將生命賜給一群特定的個人。因此，聖子來是為了救贖他們。將上帝的兒子描述為是在忤逆父神、對抗聖靈，會讓三一真神的成員直接彼此不和。上帝的神格永遠是和諧運作、至善至美的，彼此合作無間。
The Lord Jesus prayed in John 17 and repeatedly referred to those people that the Father had given Him. From eternity past, the glorious Father gave a particular, a special, a peculiar people to the Son. These are particular souls. These are divinely chosen ones. The Son came in human flesh to live for & die for these particular ones that the Father gave Him. All that the Father gave to the Son were fully pardoned at Calvary. The Spirit of God grants life to all who are elect. He gives life to them. The Father and the Son give life to a particular group of individuals. And thus, the Son came to redeem them. To pit the Son of God against the Father and the Spirit would make the members of the Triune Godhead to be at odds with each other. And this cannot be. The Godhead always works in glorious concert, beauty, happiness, and harmony together.
The Lord Jesus prayed in John 17 and repeatedly referred to those people that the Father had given Him. From eternity past, the glorious Father gave a particular, a special, a peculiar people to the Son. These are particular souls. These are divinely chosen ones. The Son came in human flesh to live for & die for these particular ones that the Father gave Him. All that the Father gave to the Son were fully pardoned at Calvary. The Spirit of God grants life to all who are elect. He gives life to them. The Father and the Son give life to a particular group of individuals. And thus, the Son came to redeem them. To pit the Son of God against the Father and the Spirit would make the members of the Triune Godhead to be at odds with each other. And this cannot be. The Godhead always works in glorious concert, beauty, happiness, and harmony together.
2. 因為基督的救贖是有目的的
2. Because of the
INTENTION OF CHRIST’S REDEMPTION
主耶穌經常提到祂的宣教宣言，或者說是祂的生命事奉宣言。祂說：「人子來，為要尋找、拯救失喪的人。」（路十九10）倘若祂是為所有世人而死，那麼所有的人要麼是全部得救了，要麼基督在十字架上的工作，實際上並沒有拯救任何人，僅僅是給人得救的可能。主耶穌在其他地方說過，人子來不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命，作多人的贖價（可十45）。祂來，並奉獻自己作為贖價，是要買贖某一群人。因此，基督的目的是要確實地拯救罪人，而不是讓所有的人有得救的可能。贖罪的目的界定了贖罪的範圍。祂的目的是拯救、救贖、買贖。藉著這個拯救的目的，基督實際上拯救了他們。
Jesus often made mention of mission statements, or life-ministry statements. He said: The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). If he died for everyone, then everyone is either saved or Christ’s crosswork did not actually save anyone but merely made people savable. Elsewhere Jesus said the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He came and delivered Himself up to ransom (to purchase, to buy, to possess) a certain group of people. Thus, Christ’s intention was to actually save sinners, not to make all men savable. The intent of the atonement defines the extent. His intent was to save, to redeem, to atone, to ransom. By this intent to save, Christ actually saved them.
Jesus often made mention of mission statements, or life-ministry statements. He said: The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). If he died for everyone, then everyone is either saved or Christ’s crosswork did not actually save anyone but merely made people savable. Elsewhere Jesus said the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He came and delivered Himself up to ransom (to purchase, to buy, to possess) a certain group of people. Thus, Christ’s intention was to actually save sinners, not to make all men savable. The intent of the atonement defines the extent. His intent was to save, to redeem, to atone, to ransom. By this intent to save, Christ actually saved them.
3. 因為聖經啟示所作的見證
3. Because of the
TESTIMONY OF BIBLICAL REVELATION
聖經說耶穌是為祂的新婦而死，祂為教會捨己，要使教會成為聖潔（弗五25-26）。在其他地方，耶穌說祂來是要作多人的贖價（可十45）。先知以賽亞說，耶和華的僕人會擔當許多人的罪孽，使他們稱義（賽五十三11）。誠然，受苦的僕人是「擔當多人的罪，又為罪犯代求」（賽五十三12）。聖經的教導宣稱耶穌來是只為祂的選民受苦，為他們死，且代表他們而活。
The Word of God says that Jesus died for His Bride and gave Himself up for her to make her holy (Eph 5:25-26). Elsewhere Jesus said that He came to give Himself as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The prophet Isaiah said that the Servant of Jehovah would justify the many (Isa 53:11). Indeed, this Suffering Servant also “bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors” (isa 53:12). The teaching of the Bible claims that Jesus came to suffer and die for only His elect people and live on their behalf.
The Word of God says that Jesus died for His Bride and gave Himself up for her to make her holy (Eph 5:25-26). Elsewhere Jesus said that He came to give Himself as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The prophet Isaiah said that the Servant of Jehovah would justify the many (Isa 53:11). Indeed, this Suffering Servant also “bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors” (isa 53:12). The teaching of the Bible claims that Jesus came to suffer and die for only His elect people and live on their behalf.
4. 因為基督贖罪的確實性
4. Because of the
ACTUALITY OF CHRIST’S ATONEMENT
耶穌在十字架上實際完成了什麼呢？耶穌真的拯救了人，還是耶穌為他們死，只是讓人有得救的可能？贖罪究竟成就了什麼？聖經所描述、主耶穌在十字架上所成就的，都強調耶穌藉著為百姓死在十字架上，就完美地拯救了他們。祂「使那無罪的替我們成為有罪的」（林後五21；《新譯本》）。基督「為我們成了咒詛，就贖出我們脫離律法的咒詛」（加三13）。「基督愛我，為我捨己」（加二20）。藉著祂的寶血，我們得蒙救贖（弗一7）。基督「塗抹了在律例上所寫攻擊我們、有礙於我們的字據，把它撤去，釘在十字架上」（西二14）。這些經文清楚地確認耶穌實際上為屬祂的人贖了罪，確實地拯救了他們，並且永恆地確保了他們的救恩。
What did Jesus actually accomplish at the cross? Did Jesus really save people or did Jesus make people savable by dying for them? What did the atonement achieve? The many words that comprise the theological range that describes what Jesus did on the cross all underscore that Jesus perfectly saved people by dying for them. He was made sin on our behalf (2 Cor 5:21). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law having become a Curse for us (Gal 3:13). Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me (Gal 2:20). In Him we have redemption through His blood (Eph 1:7). Christ took the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Col 2:14). These verses clearly affirm that Jesus actually atoned, indeed, in definitely saved, moreover, he everlastingly procured salvation for His own.
What did Jesus actually accomplish at the cross? Did Jesus really save people or did Jesus make people savable by dying for them? What did the atonement achieve? The many words that comprise the theological range that describes what Jesus did on the cross all underscore that Jesus perfectly saved people by dying for them. He was made sin on our behalf (2 Cor 5:21). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law having become a Curse for us (Gal 3:13). Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me (Gal 2:20). In Him we have redemption through His blood (Eph 1:7). Christ took the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Col 2:14). These verses clearly affirm that Jesus actually atoned, indeed, in definitely saved, moreover, he everlastingly procured salvation for His own.
5. 因為永恆審判的事實
5. Because of the
REALITY OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
在骷髏山發生了一件超自然又神秘的事，其深無法測度，其壯麗也無可言喻，就是神而人的基督代替罪人，承擔了天父上帝無限而神聖的怒氣。荊棘冠冕上的刺無法救贖或拯救罪人。鞭打和嘲笑也沒有拯救悖逆者。拯救罪人的，是天父公義和聖潔的怒氣（這是罪人原本當受的）被傾倒在那無罪的替代者，也就是主耶穌身上，這完全是靠著上帝的恩典。上帝永遠的、神聖的怒氣，因為基督替代性的死，就得著了滿足、獲得了平息。主耶穌不是為一切的活人擔當了這個怒氣，而是只為祂的百姓承擔了永恆的刑罰。所有不曾悔改和相信的人，會擔當他們自己的刑罰，他們會公義而正當地接受在地獄永遠的懲罰。因為基督已經代替他們承受了上帝的咒詛，基督就必然只是為屬祂的人而死，否則所有世人的刑罰就會已經被償付了，因此就不會有人還留在地獄裡。聖經徹底地將「普救論」（universalism）斥為異端，這是可咒可詛的假福音。我們理當因上帝主權的、確定無疑的、拯救的愛而讚美祂。
Something supernaturally mysterious took place at Calvary. It is unfathomably deep and ineffably sublime, namely, that the God-Man would bear the infinite & holy wrath of God the Father in the stead of sinners. The nails and crown of thorns didn’t redeem or save sinners. The whips and mockings didn’t save rebels. What saves sinners is that the Father’s righteous and holy wrath was poured out not on the sinner who deserves it but on the sinless Substitute, the Lord Jesus, by grace, in their stead. This everlasting, divine wrath of God was satisfied and appeased by virtue of Christ’s substitutionary death. Jesus did not bear this for every person alive. Jesus bore the eternal punishment only for His people. All those who do not repent and believe will bear their own penalty that they justly and rightly deserve in everlasting punishments in hell. Because Christ took the divine curse for them, He must have died only for His own otherwise everyone’s penalty would be paid and there would be none in hell (but the Bible thoroughly charges ‘universalism’ as heresy and as a damning gospel. Praise God for His sovereign, securing & saving love!
Something supernaturally mysterious took place at Calvary. It is unfathomably deep and ineffably sublime, namely, that the God-Man would bear the infinite & holy wrath of God the Father in the stead of sinners. The nails and crown of thorns didn’t redeem or save sinners. The whips and mockings didn’t save rebels. What saves sinners is that the Father’s righteous and holy wrath was poured out not on the sinner who deserves it but on the sinless Substitute, the Lord Jesus, by grace, in their stead. This everlasting, divine wrath of God was satisfied and appeased by virtue of Christ’s substitutionary death. Jesus did not bear this for every person alive. Jesus bore the eternal punishment only for His people. All those who do not repent and believe will bear their own penalty that they justly and rightly deserve in everlasting punishments in hell. Because Christ took the divine curse for them, He must have died only for His own otherwise everyone’s penalty would be paid and there would be none in hell (but the Bible thoroughly charges ‘universalism’ as heresy and as a damning gospel. Praise God for His sovereign, securing & saving love!
6. 因為人的本性是無能的
6. Because of the
INABILITY OF MAN’S NATURE
有些人教導說耶穌是為所有世人而死的，但是基督在十字架上的工作果效，只能適用在那些將他們得救的信心放在基督身上的人；因此，十字架的工作的特權和好處之所以能拯救人，乃是因為這些人的信心。但是聖經宣告說，所有的人都是罪人，因此生來是「死在過犯罪惡中」的（弗二1、5）。已死的罪人無法信靠基督。他們辦不到。他們沒有能力這麼作。人無法來到上帝面前，因為他全身充滿罪惡，他的本性、他的本體、他的言語、他的行動完全被敗壞的毒素所充滿遍布。因此，說基督為所有世人而死，但是拯救的好處只賜給那些信靠基督的人，就預設了未重生的人實際上可以做這件事。但是這是完全不可能的，是明顯無法完成的。因此，因為人是死在過犯罪惡中、是沒有能力相信的，基督就只為祂的百姓而死，而聖靈也將生命賜給基督為他們而死的人的靈魂。
There are those who teach that Jesus died for all but the benefits of Christ’s crosswork only apply to those who place their saving faith in Christ and, then, the privileges and benefits of the cross save them -- by virtue of their faith. But, there is a great biblical problem with this. The Bible declares that all men are sinners and thus are born ‘dead in sin’ (Eph 2:1, 5). Dead sinners don’t put their faith in Christ. They can’t. They are not able to do so. Man is so unable to come to God because He is wholly full of sin and entirely pervaded with the poison of corruption in his nature, his being, his words, and his actions. Thus, for someone to say that Christ died for all but the saving benefits are given to those who put their faith in Christ assumes that an unregenerate man could in fact do such a thing. But this is entirely impossible and emphatically something that could never be done. Thus, because of man’s deadness in sin and inability to believe, Christ died only for His people and the Spirit gives life to the dead souls for whom Christ died.
There are those who teach that Jesus died for all but the benefits of Christ’s crosswork only apply to those who place their saving faith in Christ and, then, the privileges and benefits of the cross save them -- by virtue of their faith. But, there is a great biblical problem with this. The Bible declares that all men are sinners and thus are born ‘dead in sin’ (Eph 2:1, 5). Dead sinners don’t put their faith in Christ. They can’t. They are not able to do so. Man is so unable to come to God because He is wholly full of sin and entirely pervaded with the poison of corruption in his nature, his being, his words, and his actions. Thus, for someone to say that Christ died for all but the saving benefits are given to those who put their faith in Christ assumes that an unregenerate man could in fact do such a thing. But this is entirely impossible and emphatically something that could never be done. Thus, because of man’s deadness in sin and inability to believe, Christ died only for His people and the Spirit gives life to the dead souls for whom Christ died.
7. 因為聖靈的主權
7. Because of the
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
聖經說賜人生命的是聖靈，拯救人的是上帝。人不是靠自己信基督來拯救自己。人無法藉著信心使十字架的工作適用在自己身上，相反，是上帝的靈滿有恩典地、主權地、不可抗拒地、具體地將新生命賜給父神所揀選的人。聖靈沒有把生命賜給所有世人，聖靈也沒有把生命賜給那些先選擇祂的人。相反，把瞬間的、超自然的、永恆的生命分賜給死在過犯罪惡中的人的，是聖靈，即三一真神的第三位。這些死在過犯罪惡中的人是父神賜給聖子的，即聖子所買贖的人。
The Bible says that it is the Spirit who gives life. God saves. Man does not save himself by believing upon Christ. Man cannot cause the crosswork benefits to be applied to himself through his faith. Rather, God the Spirit mercifully, sovereignly, irresistibly, and particularly grants new life (the new birth) to those whom the Father has chosen. The Spirit does not give life to everyone. Nor does the Spirit give life to those who first chose Him. Rather, it is the Spirit, the blessed and glorious third member of the Triune God-head, who imparts instantaneous, supernatural, everlasting life into the souls of the dead sinners that the Father gave the Son and for whom the Son purchased.
The Bible says that it is the Spirit who gives life. God saves. Man does not save himself by believing upon Christ. Man cannot cause the crosswork benefits to be applied to himself through his faith. Rather, God the Spirit mercifully, sovereignly, irresistibly, and particularly grants new life (the new birth) to those whom the Father has chosen. The Spirit does not give life to everyone. Nor does the Spirit give life to those who first chose Him. Rather, it is the Spirit, the blessed and glorious third member of the Triune God-head, who imparts instantaneous, supernatural, everlasting life into the souls of the dead sinners that the Father gave the Son and for whom the Son purchased.
8. 因為這正是「贖罪」的本意
8. Because of the VERY
MEANING OF ‘ATONEMENT’
聖經「贖罪」的用詞，其意義包含了流血犧牲、代替、平息怒氣的涵義。它的意思是某件東西（必須是無罪的）在罪人的地位上，代替他們死。它的意思是罪惡因為刑罰已經被償付、已經被傾倒在另一個事物上而被遮蓋了。耶穌為祂的百姓而死、替他們贖罪的意思，就是祂必須捨去肉體的生命，只有這樣才能為上帝百姓的生命贖罪。基督實際上為祂的百姓贖罪必須是個人性的，否則流血獻祭、代替品、平息上帝怒氣就是給所有世人的。但是基督替代性的獻祭，乃是完全代贖了上帝百姓所有的罪。
The biblical meaning of the word ‘atonement’ carries with it the connotation of blood sacrifice, substitute, appeasing of anger and the pacifying of wrath. It means that something (an innocent one) died in the place of guilty ones. It means that the sins are covered because the penalty has been paid and poured out on another. For Jesus to die and atone for His people, it means that the life of the flesh had to be given and this is what made atonement for the souls of God’s people. This must intimate that Christ actually atoned for His people or else the blood sacrifice, the substitute, the appeasing of divine anger would have actually pacified the wrath of God for everyone. But the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ atoned in full for all the sins of all God’s people alone.
The biblical meaning of the word ‘atonement’ carries with it the connotation of blood sacrifice, substitute, appeasing of anger and the pacifying of wrath. It means that something (an innocent one) died in the place of guilty ones. It means that the sins are covered because the penalty has been paid and poured out on another. For Jesus to die and atone for His people, it means that the life of the flesh had to be given and this is what made atonement for the souls of God’s people. This must intimate that Christ actually atoned for His people or else the blood sacrifice, the substitute, the appeasing of divine anger would have actually pacified the wrath of God for everyone. But the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ atoned in full for all the sins of all God’s people alone.
9. 因為耶穌基督當得的榮耀
9. Because of GLORY DUE
CHRIST JESUS
神聖救主的十字架也同時完成了其他的事。倘若耶穌在骷髏地沒有實際上確保並完成祂百姓的救恩，那麼十字架的工作就不過是「白費工夫」（a good try）。因此這必須靠罪人信靠基督，才能完成整件事。但是相反，基督自己才配得接受所有的榮耀、尊貴和讚美，因為上帝的羔羊，即使在天上，也因祂「曾被殺，用祂自己的血從各族、各方、各民、各國中買了人來，叫他們歸於上帝」（啟五9）。因此，基督既然死了，真正地拯救了人，完全赦免了人，永恆地平息了上帝的怒氣，為祂的選民贖了所有的罪，就為讚美這位神而人者創造出無限的理由，因為祂為百姓所完成的是奇妙大愛的工作。上帝的愛，基督的憐憫，基督的神性，基督的挽回祭，聖靈的重生，上帝的恩典完美地調和在一起，創造出一首當之無愧的、對耶穌基督的永恆歡樂頌歌，祂是主，是為祂的百姓一次將自己獻上的被殺的羔羊（來七27）。The cross of the divine
Savior accomplished something else as well. If Jesus did not actually procure
and perfect salvation for His people at Calvary then the crosswork is nothing
more than a ‘good try.’ Since then it remains up to sinners to put their faith
in Christ and then finish the deal. But rather, Christ Himself is worthy to
receive all glory and honor and praise for the Lamb of God, even in heaven, is
praised for His being slain and purchasing for God with His blood men from
every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9). Thus, the very fact
that Christ died and really saved, perfectly pardoned, everlastingly placated
God’s fury, and expiated all the sins of His elect produces infinite reasons to
praise the God-Man for His wonderful work of love for His people. The love of
God, the mercy of Christ, the divinity of Christ, the propitiation of Christ,
the regeneration of the Spirit, and the grace of God perfectly harmonize
together to produce a well-deserved and everlastingly-happy song of praise to
Jesus Christ, the Lord, who is the Lamb slain when He offered up Himself for
His people (Heb 7:27).
