提要
在一些人眼裡,施洗約翰一定是個相當驕傲的人──你看過多少牧師稱呼報名受洗的人為「毒蛇的種類」?他的作風與典型追求晉升的傳道人大相逕庭。事實上,當眾人(那是極多的一群人)要來接受約翰的洗禮,他似乎很詫異他們竟會來受洗──「誰指示你們逃避將來的忿怒?」他也一點都不怯於指責他們將國家的宗教遺產當作護身符──「不要自己心裡說:『有亞伯拉罕為我們的祖宗。』我告訴你們,上帝能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起子孫來。」想想看,一個傳道人估量你的價值不過等於一塊石頭!約翰對許多人而言,一定是個傳刺耳信息的討厭人物。
施洗約翰所傳信息的重點是:「悔改使罪得赦。」請注意,並不是「認罪使罪得赦」。認罪毫無疑問的是得救過程中的要素,但認罪只是消極的行動;認了罪又如何?再認罪?真正積極且具有創造性的行動是悔改。
以下就是積極且具有創造性的悔改行動:「有兩件一裳的就分給那沒有的,有食物的也當這樣行……。」對稅吏他說:「除了例定的數目,不要多取。」對羅馬兵丁他說:「不要強暴待人,也不要訛詐人,自己有錢糧就當知足。」這些都是說明人悔改的果子。
悔改的意思是從罪中轉回來,選擇走一條與罪相反的道路。不錯,我們必須認罪──那是第一步。但接下來是一項艱難、甚至是一生之久的挑戰,即選擇新的方向、新的價值觀──每一天都如此行,直到見主面的日子。
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Overview
John the Baptist must have seemed a rather arrogant fellow to some – how may preachers do you know who address candidates for baptism as a “brood of vipers”? He was so opposite the typical evangelist/prophet with their promotional schemes and follow-up plans. In fact, when people (multitudes of them) showed up for his baptismal ministry, he seemed surprised that they’d come at all – “who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” Nor was he above knocking religious and national heritage, “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I tell you that out of theses stones God can raise up children for Abraham as our father’. For I tell you that out of these assessing your worth as roughly equivalent to a stone! He seemed to many to be an obnoxious man with an offensive message.
The whole point of John’s baptism was, “repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. Notice it wasn’t “confession” for the forgiveness of sins. Without question, confession is vital to the redemptive process, but confession is relatively passive; once you’ve confessed, then what? Confess again? And again? Repentance, on the other hand, is active. What’s more, it’s creative.
For example, how’s this for active and creative: “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same…” To tax collectors, he says, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to.” To occupying soldiers, he says, “Don’t extort money… don’t accuse people falsely… be content with your pay.” This is the fruit worthy or repentance.
Repentance mans turning away from a sinful choice and choosing or walking in the opposite direction. Yes, we must confess our sin – that’s step number one. But then comes the arduous and sometimes life-long challenge of choosing the new direction and the new values 0 every day until the day we enter His presence.
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Prayer
Lord God, we thank You for the privilege of confessing our sins and for Your promise of forgiveness. Help us to repent so that the “Fruit” – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, will show to you and others that we are repentant people. |