问题33：信基督的人需要通过自己的行为或其他途径来寻求拯救吗？
答：不，他们不应该这样做，因为得救所需的一切都在基督里。借着善行来寻求救恩，就等于否认基督是唯一的救赎主和救主。
儿童版：不，因为得救所需的一切都在基督里。

Question 33: Should Those Who Have Faith in Christ Seek Their Salvation Through Their Own Works, or Anywhere Else?
Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.
For Kids: No, everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ.


歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《加拉太书》2 章16 节：

　　既知道人称义不是因行律法，乃是因信耶稣基督，连我们也信了基督耶稣，使我们因信基督称义，不因行律法称义，因为凡有血气的，没有一人因行律法称义。

注解

约翰·加尔文

　　我们坚持认为，无论一个人做什么样的工，祂在神面前得称为义都单单是基于神无偿的怜悯；神不看人自己的功劳，而是将基督的义加在人身上，仿佛这义是这个人自己的一般。神在基督里无偿地接纳祂，这就是我们所说的因信称义，也就是一个人失去了所有对自己功劳的信心，转而相信祂得以被神接纳，是单单基于祂里面从基督而来的义。几乎在每个时代，这一点都令当时的世界误入歧途：人虽有一定的缺点，但借着善工，仍可在某种程度上配得神的恩惠……不！神使我们与祂和好不是基于我们的功劳，而单单是因着基督才无偿地接纳我们做祂的孩子，我们就不再是忿怒之子了。如果神看我们的行为，祂就找不到爱我们的理由。所以祂必须除去我们的罪，将唯一可以通过祂审查的基督的顺服加在我们身上，并因着基督的美德称我们为义。这是圣经中明确的、一致的教义，就如保罗所说：「有律法和先知为证」（罗3:21）。

默想

提摩太·凯勒

　　你若把信心和行为混为一谈，你这样说：「我信耶稣为我所成就的大工，但还要再添加些什么，不然我就没有得救。」那么，其实你所要表达的是，真正有效的、真正关键的、真正拯救你的，不是耶稣所成就的工，而是你加上去的那些，那你就成了自己的救主。

　　这个比喻可以帮助我们理解：A 先生和B 先生是好朋友，A 先生问B 先生愿不愿意帮祂做个柜子，因为B 先生是个好木匠。因此B 先生心想，我要做个好的、完美的柜子。因此祂很努力做工，不断修饰细节，抛光到极致完美。然后祂带A先生到工作室来看，A 先生拿起砂纸说：「这里我想再帮忙打磨一下。」B 先生说，「不可以，这已经完工了，这是完美的。你加上什么都是一种破坏。」
耶稣基督的工也是这样，祂死的时候说：「成了！」没有什么可以添加了，已经是完美了。你添加什么都是在毁坏，祂已经做好了，但如果你还要加上其他的，你加的这个东西，就变成了你得救的基础。这样，你就成了自己的救主。

　　新教改革宗人士基于圣经，强烈反对在信心中掺杂行为；他们认为称义、成圣和救赎必须唯独借着信心。这些教义我不必再提。对我个人来讲，若不是唯独靠着信心我就无法生活。靠自己，没有盼望，除非我每天起来，心中有坚如磐石般的确据。

「我心所望别无根基，
唯主宝血并主公义。
除此之外虚空无凭，
我独靠主耶稣圣名。」

　　这就是我唯一的盼望。

祷告

　　独一的神，求祢不要让我们信靠善工或让我们觉得善工是我们得救的根基。让我们以全心信靠来荣耀祢的恩典，祢是我们救恩的创始成终者，让我们将生命系于祢恩典的应许之上。阿们。

Scripture

GALATIANS 2:16

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Commentary

JOHN CALVIN

We maintain that of whatever kind a man’s work may be, he is regarded as righteous before God simply on the ground of gratuitous mercy; because God, without any respect to works, freely adopts him in Christ, by imputing the righteousness of Christ to him as if it were his own. This we call the righteousness of faith, that is when a man, empty and drained of all confidence in works, feels convinced that the only ground of his acceptance with God is a righteousness which is wanting in himself, and is borrowed from Christ. The point on which the world goes astray (for this error has prevailed in almost every age), is in imagining that man, however partially defective he may be, still in some degree merits the favour of God by works. . . . God reconciles us to himself, from regard not to our works but to Christ alone, and by gratuitous adoption makes us his own children instead of children of wrath. So long as God regards our works, he finds no reason why he ought to love us. Wherefore it is necessary that he should bury our sins, impute to us the obedience of Christ which alone can stand his scrutiny, and adopt us as righteous through his merits. This is the clear and uniform doctrine of Scripture, “witnessed,” as Paul says, “by the law and the prophets” (Rom. 3:21).

Devotional

TIMOTHY KELLER

If you mix faith and works, if you say, “Yes, I have to have faith in what Jesus has done for me, but I also have to add this or this or this, or I’m not saved,” then you’re saying that what actually saves you is not what Jesus has done, but what you add. It makes you your own savior.

This illustration might help. Mr. A asked Mr. B to make him a wooden cabinet because Mr. B was a great cabinetmaker. Mr. B and Mr. A were friends, and therefore Mr. B said, “Well, I better make this really good . . . perfect.” So he worked and worked and worked on the cabinet till he got it to the place where it had been buffed and polished to perfection. He brought Mr. A into the workshop to see it, and Mr. A picked up a piece of sandpaper and said, “Let me just add one little stroke.” Mr. B said, “No! It is finished. It’s perfect. And there’s no way to add to it without subtracting from it.”

It’s the same with Jesus Christ’s work. Because when Jesus died, he said, “It is finished.” There is nothing else to add to it. It’s perfect. And if you add to it, you subtract from it. If you say, “He did this but I have to add this,” anything you add becomes the real basis of your salvation and makes you your own savior.

The Protestant Reformers made strong biblical arguments that you cannot mix faith and works, that justification and righteousness and salvation must be through faith alone. I won’t make any more of those arguments; I’ll just say this: Personally, I couldn’t live if that wasn’t the case. I don’t have any hope unless I can get up every day and stand on the bedrock knowledge that

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

That’s my only hope.

Prayer

One and Only God, keep us from trusting in good works or living in such a way that we imply they are the grounds of our salvation. Let us glorify your grace by leaning our whole weight upon it, staking our lives on the promise that you are the beginning and the end of our salvation. Amen.