提要
今日鑰節的上下文應從三章一節看起,一直到四章七節。所討論的主題是律法和信心的角色。以及它們與公義之間的關係。請記住,保羅的讀者是外邦人。
我在加拉太書的簡介中已提過,加拉太教會中有兩大派系都在破壞保羅的工作:律法主義者(極端的猶太分子)和自由派人士(諾斯底主義)。不過保羅大部分的反擊是針對律法主義。
保羅的語氣很強烈,他感到不解,加拉太的基督徒怎麼會被律法主義者所迷惑。他們開始相信,他們必須受割禮、遵守律法,才能被上帝接納。保羅於是問他們一個很基本的問題:「你們受了聖靈是因行律法呢?是因聽信福音呢?……你們既靠聖靈入門,如今還靠肉身成全嗎?」(2、3節)然後保羅就越過頒佈律法的摩西,遠溯至「信心之父」亞伯拉罕。他的重點很清楚也很有力:「那以信為本的人,就是亞伯拉罕的子孫」(7節),甚至包括外邦人,因為上帝對亞伯拉罕的應許是:「萬國都必因你得福」(8節)。
保羅稱律法是「咒詛」,並非因為律法不好,而是因為律法太好了,以致沒有人能達到它的標準,因此,人人都在公義的律法之下成了被咒詛的,而不是被祝福的。
在此困境中,要達到公義的唯一方法是,除非有人代替我們承擔律法的咒詛。這樣的事真的發生了──在基督身上(13~14節)。所以我們,相信耶穌,咒詛就變成了祝福。不只祝福,我們還因信基督而得贖。我們信,律法所求的公義就成了我們的公義──這一切都因信耶穌。
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Overview
The key verse occurs in a context that stretches from chapter three, verse one to chapter four, verse seven. The discussion is about the role of law and faith as they relate to righteousness. And remember, Paul's readers are Gentiles.
As I said in the introduction, there were two competing factions in the Galatian churches, both undermining Paul's work: the legalists (Judaizers) and the libertines (Gnostics). Most of Paul's counterattack, however, is against the legalists.
He comes on strong, wondering how the Galatian Christians could have been "bewitched" (v.l) by the legalists. They were actually beginning to believe they had to be circumcised and obey the ceremonial law in order to be accepted by God. Paul asks them a fundamental question: "Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?... After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (v.2,3). He then goes back beyond the lawgiver (Moses) to Abraham, "the man of faith". The point he makes is clear and powerful, "those who believe are children of Abraham" (v.7); and this does include the Gentiles because God's promise to Abraham was, "All nations will be blessed through you"(v.8).
He calls the law "a curse". Not because it's bad, but because it's good — so good, in fact, that no one can measure up, and all are thereby "cursed", not blessed, by its uprightness.
The only way to righteousness is if someone takes the curse of the law upon Himself in our place. That has happened, in Christ (v.13,14). So we put our faith in Him, and the curse becomes a blessing. More than blessed, we are redeemed by belief in Christ. We believe, and the righteousness demanded by the law ours — all because of faith in Jesus.
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Prayer
Lord God, we recognize that we have all sinned and come short of Your Glory. But we thank You with all our hearts for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus, who measured up to Your perfect standard. Thank You for the grace to ask You for forgiveness of sin and for the gift of faith to believe it's done. |