在基督里复和
歌罗西书一章19至23节
19因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛在他里面居住。
20既然借着他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平,便借着他叫万有─无论是地上的、天上的─都与自己和好了。
21你们从前与神隔绝,因着恶行,心里与他为敌。
22但如今他借着基督的肉身受死,叫你们与自己和好,都成了圣洁,没有瑕疵,无可责备,把你们引到自己面前。
23只要你们在所信的道上恒心,根基稳固,坚定不移,不至被引动失去(原文是离开)福音的盼望。这福音就是你们所听过的,也是传与普天下万人听的(原文是凡受造的),我保罗也作了这福音的执事。
信息分享
有些人把第20节的那句话:「便借着他叫万有……都与自己和好了」,解释为自古至今的所有人都可以得救。然而,我们不可以单用一节经文来建构一套教义。我们必须参考其他经文对有关主题的教导。圣经之中有很多别的经文都指出,不相信基督的人是无法得救的。
基督的受死,意味着所有人都有机会得救;然而,神从不勉强任何人去接受救恩。只有满足神所定下的条件,神才会赐下祂的救恩。神愿意与人复和,但人本身也要主动与神复和。
第22节是保罗非常重视的个人信仰实践。神的旨意是要我们成为圣洁和没有瑕疵地进到祂的面前。
我们的责任,是要不断信靠基督、持定信仰和紧守福音的立场。
第23节的「只要」这两个字,令不少人感到困扰。它是指到我们最初相信基督的决志。我们必须在日后的生活中,透过活出基督是我们救主的事实,来证明我们是真正的决志。我们的得救确据,不在于我们抓紧基督,乃在于祂抓紧我们。
我们要记着,信靠基督不是仅此一次的经验,却是每天的经历。我们要借着神的话语和祷告生活,来坚固我们的信仰。我们是否重视读经和祷告到一个地步,连一天也不会遗漏?
RECONCILED IN CHRIST
Colossians 1:19-23
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Message
Some people have tried to make the words in verse 20 'to reconcile all things to himself' to mean that everyone, every person who has ever I lived will be saved some day. We shouldn't build a teaching on only one verse. We must compare it with other verses on the same subject. Many other places in the Bible tell us that without faith no-one will ever be saved.
The death of Christ means that the opportunity of salvation is available to all but God will never force it on to anyone against that person's will. Salvation only extends to those who fulfill the conditions God has laid down. Man must be as willing to be reconciled as God is willing to reconcile him.
In verse 22 is the personal application which Paul never misses. God's plan for us is that we might be presented as holy and blameless in his presence.
It is our responsibility to continue in a relationship of faith with Christ, keeping a firm belief in and a strong stand for the gospel.
Many are troubled by that word 'if' in verse 23. It refers to the reality of our first acceptance of Christ. That reality, the fact that we really meant what we said, is proved when we continue daily looking to Christ as our Savior. It is not by our hanging on to him, but by his holding us that our salvation is guaranteed.
Remember, faith in Christ is a daily experience. Our faith is fed by the Word of God and by our prayer life. Are Bible reading and praying so important to us that we plan never to miss out on them even for one day?

