019 第十九課      重生：廣義與狹義

Lecture 19             REGENERATION: ITS BROAD AND NARROW MEANING

 

 

1.  從廣義來說，重生是得救的意思。

Regeneration in the broad sense means “salvation.” 

 

A.得救不只是從罪的刑罰釋放；是從罪本身和罪的後果釋放。得救不只是赦免。

Salvation means not only freedom from penalty of sin, but more properly from sin itself and its consequences. Salvation = more than pardon.

我們被稱義，法律上的地位是以耶穌基督為根據。稱義和我們主觀的改變不一樣。

Legal status of justification rests on Christ alone, and has no relation to subjective change.

得救 = 主觀，內在的改變。

Salvation = subjective transformation.

人得救若沒有道德上的改變，對上帝的聖潔是侮辱。

To omit ethical change = an affront to God’s holiness.

上帝不容忍祂僕人生命中的罪。

God does not tolerate sin in His servants.

救恩 = 潔淨，不只是補罪（贖罪）。

Salvation = purification as well as expiation. 

                                 

林前1:30

但你們得在基督耶穌裡, 是本乎上帝, 上帝又使他成為我們的智慧,公義聖潔, 救贖.

I Cor. 1:30

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. 

--基督是我們的聖潔（成聖）。Christ = our sanctification.

--基督的死，擊敗罪的權勢。Christ’s death -> destruction of sin. 

 

B.  經文。Scriptural usage.

 i.    羅馬書 12:2                           

不要效法這世界. 只要心意更新而變化, 叫你們察驗何為上帝善良純全可喜悅的旨意Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.   

-- anakainosis -- anakainoo-- anakainizo

 

弗4:24                            

並且穿上新人. 這新人是照著上帝 (的形像)造的, 有真裡的仁義, 和聖潔。

Eph. 4:24

and put on the new self, which in {the likeness of} God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

                           

西3:10                           

穿上了新人. 這新人在知識上漸漸更新, 正如造他主的形像。

Col. 3:10

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--

-- Neos anthropos

-- Kainos anthropos

Also in Eph. 4:24, Col. 3:10: ktizo

                                     

林後5:17                           

若有人在基督裡, 他就是新造的人。舊事已過, 都變成新的了。                                   

II Cor. 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, {he is} a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

-- Kaine ktisis

新創造，同時是再創造。新的創造是照第一次創造的模樣。

New creation which is a re-creation.  New creation patterned after first creation.

                                        

林後4:6                           

那吩咐光從黑暗裡照出來的上帝, 已經照在我們心裡, 叫我們得上帝榮耀的光，顯

在耶穌基督的面上。

II Cor. 4:6

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

--有光光照。（像創世記1章。）創造和救贖，都托出上帝的主權。

-- Light shines (in Genesis 1 creation: analogous here). 

-- Same sovereignty in creation comes to fore in redemption. 

 

ii.提多書 3:5

祂便救了我們, 並不是因我們自己所行的義, 乃是照祂的憐憫藉著重生的洗, 和聖靈的更新。

Titus 3:5

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

-- Paliggenisias  

                             

太19:28                                    

耶穌說, 我實在告訴你們, 你們這跟從我的人, 到復興的時候, 人子坐他榮耀的寶座上,你們也要坐在十二寶座上, 審判以色列十二個支派.

Matthew 19:28

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

--這個字只有這兩處出現。

-- Only other place this word is used in the New Testament.

--在太19﹕28的意思是宇宙的更新，萬物的終結。

-- In Matthew 19:28, what is in view is cosmic renewal, consummation of all things. 

 

iii.約翰福音 3:3-5

3 耶穌回答說, 我實實在在的告訴你, 人若不重生, 就不能見上帝的國。                                            

4 尼哥底母說, 人已經老了, 如何能重生呢. 豈能再進母腹生出來麼？

5耶穌說, 我實實在在的告訴你, 人若不是從水和靈生的就不能進上帝的國。                                    

John 3:3-5

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

                                 

約3:8                                 

風隨著意思吹, 你聽見風的響聲, 卻不曉得從那裡來, 往那裡去。凡從 (聖)靈生的, 也是如此。          

John 3:8

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

-- 約翰3章重生（再生）的原則是﹕從肉體生的是肉體，從靈生的是靈。

-- In John 3 – principle of re-birth – that which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of spirit is spirit. 

--在人不可能；上帝能。

-- Impossible for man / possible for God:

--人不可能作成的，只有透過上帝親自介入，才能成就。

-- Divine intervention only can accomplish what is impossible by man. 

 

太 19:24-26,28

24 我又告訴你們, 駱駝穿過鍼的眼, 比財主進上帝的國還容易呢。

25 門徒聽見這話, 就希奇得很, 說, 這樣誰能得救呢？

26 耶穌看著他們說, 在人這是不能的. 在上帝凡事都能。                                  

28 耶穌說, 我實在告訴你們, 你們這跟從我的人, 到復興的時候, 人子坐他榮耀的寶座上, 你們也要坐在十二寶座上, 審判以色列十二個支派。

Matthew 19:24-26, 28

24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard {this,} they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

26 And looking at {them} Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

-- 進上帝的國不是特權的問題﹕是否亞伯拉罕的後裔，法利賽人，是否已受洗。

-- Entering the kingdom of God is not a matter of external privilege – being descendant of Abraham, being a Pharisee, being baptized. 

-- 進上帝的國是在乎上帝所作的工作﹕

-- Rather, entering the kingdom of God is what God does. 

-- 割禮，洗禮所突出的就是這項真理。是尼哥底母從舊約應該知道的。

-- This is the truth driven home to us at circumcision and baptism.  Nicodemus should have known all that from the Old Testament. 


慕理解釋約翰一書數段經文。

I John passages exegeted by John Murray:

聖靈在我們生命作的徹底改造，是可看得見的。

Radical transformation is visible. 

重生的廣義。 A broad concept of regeneration.  

           

iv. Old Testament equivalent of regeneration: also a broad concept.

舊約裏，相等與重生的觀念﹕也是廣義的。

結 11:18-20                                 

18 他們必到那裡, 也必從其中除掉一切可憎可厭的物。                                

19 我要使他們有合一的心, 也要將新靈放在他們裡面；又從他們肉體中除掉石心,  

      賜給他們肉心,                                 

20 使他們順從我的律例, 謹守遵行我的典章. 他們要作我的子民我要作他們的上  

      帝。

Ezekiel 11:18-20

18 “When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it.

19 “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.” 

 

結 36:25-28

25 我必用清水灑在你們身上, 你們就潔淨了。我要潔淨你們，使你們脫離一切的污 

     穢, 棄掉一 切的偶像。

26 我也要賜給你們一個新心, 將新靈放在你們裡面。我又從你們的肉體中除 掉石心,

     賜給你們肉心。

27 我必將我的靈放在你們裡面, 使你們順從我的律例,謹守遵行我的典章。

28 你們必住在我所賜給你們列祖之地. 你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。

Ezekiel 36:25-28

25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

28 “You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.”

--結11章﹕重生的結果，就是獲得新的心。

-- Ezekiel 11: Regeneration in terms of a new heart.

--結36章﹕新的靈；潔淨，灑水。

-- Ezekiel 36: new Spirit; cleansing, spinrkling.

--結11﹕18，20﹕中間是19節；順從上帝的律例。

-- Ezekiel 11:18, 20: on both sides of 11:19 – that they may walk in statutes. 

-- 結11章 = 約翰3章的背景。

-- This passage = background for John 3. 

--肉體與靈的對照明顯。

-- Difference between flesh and spirit can be seen.

 

結論﹕重生是廣義的觀念，與得救相同。

Conclusion: Regeneration is broad concept, equivalent to salvation. 

 

後來的改革宗神學（17世紀）將重生的意義限制在救贖過程的開始。

Later (17 cent.) Reformed theology limited the term to the beginning of the process.

 

賀治﹕廣義的重生。

Hodge’s chapter – beginning – broad concept. 

狹義的重生﹕新的生命原則的注入。

Conversio habitualis – narrower – infusion of a new habit

廣義的重生﹕心的更新。

Conversio actualis – broader act – renovation of heart

 

加爾文﹕狹義﹕光照；廣義﹕重生。

Calvin used illumination (narrower) and regeneration (broader). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2。不論狹義與廣義，重生是指人裏面主觀的改變。

Regeneration in both the broad and the narrow sense means the subjective transformation within men and women.

 

A.重生不是人主觀的回應（悔改，信心）。

Regeneration is not the subjective response of repentance and faith. 

 

B.重生不是聖靈客觀的，道德的勸導。不是聖靈的見證。

Regeneration is not objective moral suasion.  It is not the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

 

C.重生不是主觀的光照。不只指聖靈在人思想層面作的工作。

Regeneration is not subjective illumination.  It is not limited to the noetic aspect.

 

D.重生乃是在人裏面，聖靈（主觀的）改變整個人。

Regeneration is the subjective transformation of the whole man. 

 

 

 

閱讀：

 

慕理，《再思救贖奇恩》。第二部分，第三章：『重生』。

網上閱讀此書：www.godoor.com/book/library/html/theology/zsjsqe/content.html。