提要
論到宗教,這實在是一個懷疑的時代,並且也的確該如此。如今比從前有更多宗教和哲學出現;他們都各自有話要說。懷疑主義是有其必要的──所謂懷疑是說:「我不相信,我不確定,但是我很開放。你讓我相信吧!(說服我)」懷疑主義所持的理由是,大凡宗教哲學分析到最後,都不過是「人的話」。因此,我們為什麼要受制於凡人心思裡想出來的東西呢?聽起來是不是有點自大﹖但如果是秉持著探求真理的心,這種態度並不為過。既是和我靈魂的結局有關,我當然眼睛要放亮點。我希望做正確的抉擇。
這便是我們為什麼需要聽「上帝的話」的原因。但是當我們聽到時,怎麼知道這就是真的呢?我們知道,如果說到上帝道成肉身,住在我們中間,「充充滿滿地有恩典有真理」,那就是上帝的話了。上帝不僅給我們寫成的話,祂也賜給我們活的道──耶穌基督,上帝的兒子;祂曾住在我們中間,死了又埋葬了,第三天從死裡復活,向許多親眼看見的證人顯現,又在許多見證人面前昇天,並賜下將會再來的應許。而,最能取信於懷疑者的一點是,耶穌確實在歷史上做過這些事情。祂談論上帝,宣告自己為上帝之子(祂和上帝相等,本為一體),且為我們的罪而死(藉此滿足了上帝的義怒)。然後祂復活,向我們顯出復活生命的道路和性質。
我們信靠耶穌,上帝的道就能運行在我們心中,因祂耶穌基督,上帝獨生子,就是那長存的道。
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Overview
When it comes to religion, we live in a skeptical age, and rightly so. There are more religious systems and philosophies in our world than ever before, all demanding a hearing. There is need for skepticism — a skeptic is someone who says, "I'm not convinced, I'm not sure, but I'm open. Convince me." The main reason for skepticism, of course, is that religious philosophies are, in the final analysis, "the word of men." And why should we commit ourselves to something that ultimately is nothing other than the machination and construction of some mortal mind? Does that sound arrogant? It is not so in the context of eternal truth. When it comes to the destiny of my eternal soul, I want to be smart. I want to make the right choice.
That is why we need to hear "the word of God." But how will we know it when we hear it? We'll know it if it speaks of God made flesh and dwelling among us, "full of grace and truth." God not only gave us the written word, He gave us the living Word — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who lived among us, died and was buried, was resurrected the third day, appeared to many eyewitnesses, and ascended to Heaven before witnesses with the promise of His return. And, most importantly to the skeptic, Jesus did all this in history. He spoke of God, presented Himself as God's Son (making Him equal with God), and died for our sin (thereby satisfying God's wrath). Then He rose again to show us the way to, and the nature of, resurrected life.
We believe in Him. We trust Him. That is why His word "is at work" in us: all because of the Word — Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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