八福
得蒙饒恕！
經文
以弗所書四17-32
17所以我說，且在主裡確實的說，你們行事不要再像外邦人存虛妄的心行事。
18他們心地昏昧，與神所賜的生命隔絕了，都因自己無知，心裡剛硬；
19良心既然喪盡，就放縱私欲，貪行種種的污穢。
20你們學了基督，卻不是這樣。
21如果你們聽過他的道，領了他的教，學了他的真理，
22就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私欲的迷惑漸漸變壞的；
23又要將你們的心志改換一新，
24並且穿上新人；這新人是照著神的形像造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。
25所以你們要棄絕謊言，各人與鄰舍說實話，因為我們是互相為肢體。
26生氣卻不要犯罪；不可含怒到日落，
27也不可給魔鬼留地步。
28從前偷竊的，不要再偷；總要勞力，親手作正經事，就可有餘分給那缺少的人。
29污穢的言語一句不可出口，隻要隨事說造就人的好話，叫聽見的人得益處。
30不要叫神的聖靈擔憂；你們原是受了他的印記，等候得贖的日子來到。
31一切苦毒、惱恨、忿怒、嚷鬧、毀謗，並一切的惡毒（或作：陰毒），都當從你們中間除掉；
32並要以恩慈相待，存憐憫的心，彼此饒恕，正如神在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。
信息分享
今天，我們得再討論一個題目──我們是否必須先饒恕那些得罪我們的人才能得救？昨天我們提到這與我們靠著恩典和信心得救的教導互相矛盾。那麼，聖經為什麼好像在鼓勵我們饒恕別人，使自己也因此得蒙饒恕呢？我認為牠的意義是，我們饒恕別人，便能察覺自己已蒙饒恕的恩典。
我認識很多基督徒，他們雖然已經蒙神饒恕，但卻從來都不能夠肯定這點。我相信你也認識這樣的人。其中一個主要原因是，他們從沒有採取任何行動除去心裡對別人的怨恨。他們不能感受被饒恕，問題不是出於神，而是在乎他們自己。神已根據他們個人的悔罪饒恕了他們，但這饒恕卻不能到達他們屬靈生命的中心，除去他們的罪疚感，因為他們對別人仍然懷著不饒恕的態度。
魯益斯（C.S.Lewis）說過關於感恩的話。他說除非我們為某些東西感謝，否則我們沒有真正接受那東西。說一聲「謝謝」，並真的心存感恩，便能敞開心懷，踏實的感受自己對那事物的贊賞。感恩的時候，我們心靈的深處正在流動，容讓那些發生在我們身上的奇妙事情進入我們的內心。憐恤和饒恕也是這樣，當我們憐恤和饒恕別人的時候，我們不隻是在表達牠，也是在經歷牠。
「當我們向人表達憐恤的時候，我們自己正在經歷牠」
進深研究
路十七1-4，二十三34；可十一25；西三13
1.我們應該經常地饒恕別人嗎？
2.耶穌怎樣成為我們的榜樣？
祈禱
天父，我知道我內心深處有您注入的憐恤和饒恕，因此當我向人表達憐恤和饒恕時，我知道牠們應該發自我的心底，我感謝您。阿們。
The Beatitudes
Forgiven!
Bible reading:
Ephesians 4:17-32
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned
21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 "In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Message
We must spend another day considering whether or not it is a condition of our salvation that we first forgive those who have sinned against us. We said yesterday that to believe this contradicts the teaching that we are saved by grace, through faith. What, then, is Scripture getting at when it seems to encourage us to forgive in order that we might be forgiven? I think it refers to the matter of realised forgiveness.
I know many Christians, as I am sure you do, who, although they have been forgiven by God, are never really sure of it. And one of the major reasons for this is that they have never taken the steps to get rid of the resentment they hold in their hearts toward others. The problem they experience in not feeling forgiven is not God's fault, but their own. He has forgiven them on the basis of their own personal repentance, but His forgiveness is unable to reach the centre of their spirit and dissolve their feelings of guilt because they harbour an unforgiving attitude toward others.
C.S. Lewis said something similar in relation to praise. He explained that we do not really receive something unless we give thanks for it. The very action of saying "thank you", and meaning it, opens up the spirit to a true sense of appreciation. In giving thanks, something moves inside the centre of our spirits and allows the wonder of what has been done for us to invade us. It is the same with mercy and forgiveness. When we adopt these attitudes toward others, we not only express mercy and forgiveness - we experience it.
"When we express mercy we experience it"
Prayer
O Father, I see that You have fashioned me in my inner being for mercy and forgiveness, and when I demonstrate it, I allow it to invade me to my deepest depths. I am so grateful. Amen.
Further study
Luke 17:1-4; 23:34
Mark 11:25
Colossians 3:13
1. How often should we forgive?
2. How did Jesus set as an example?
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