福音的重要信息:凭信而行
希伯来书十一章4至7节
4亚伯因着信,献祭与神,比该隐所献的更美,因此便得了称义的见证,就是神指他礼物作的见证。他虽然死了,却因这信,仍旧说话。
5以诺因着信,被接去,不至于见死,人也找不着他,因为神已经把他接去了;只是他被接去以先,已经得了神喜悦他的明证。
6人非有信,就不能得神的喜悦;因为到神面前来的人必须信有神,且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。
7挪亚因着信,既蒙神指示他未见的事,动了敬畏的心,预备了一只方舟,使他全家得救。因此就定了那世代的罪,自己也承受了那从信而来的义。
信息分享
亚伯必然是从父亲亚当口中,认识到如何向神献祭;因此,他给神献上了一只羔羊──那是预表到神的羔羊基督。亚伯透过对神的敬拜和服从,显明了他的信心。
第4节被译作「献」的那个字,原文直译是「带到」的意思。亚伯把羔羊带到神的面前,宰杀牠来赎自己的罪。但他的弟弟该隐却并非这样作。该隐把祭物带到神面前,说:「看,我把我亲手种出来的东西献给你。」但神不接受他的献祭,因为他没有照神的心意献祭。神所喜悦的祭,是人凭着信心,完全顺服地献上的祭。
接着的以诺,他的信心见于每天与神同行。他每天信靠神的带领而活。他身边的人一定见到他每天与神同行。
许多在周日上教会的人,平日的生活却完全违背他们所声称的信心。我们必须像以诺一样,在每天的生活中顺服和信靠神。
这里提到的第三个人是挪亚,他是以行动来表明他的信心。他并非在开始下雨的时候,才动手建造方舟;而是因为听从神的吩咐而开始行动。
而且,他还不断劝告身边的人要悔改。最终,他因着对神的信心而得救,其他人却因拒绝相信而遭洪水毁灭。
亚伯按照神的心意来敬拜;以诺按照神的心意而行;挪亚按照神的吩咐而作工。他们三人均相信神的说话,并遵照而行。我们又如何呢?我们是否按照神的心意来敬拜、生活和作工呢?我们是否按照神的心意而行?凭信而行,这就是真实的信心。
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL FAITH IN ACTION
Hebrews 11:4-7
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Message
'Taking God at His word and acting accordingly.' That is a good definition of faith. Here in these verses that definition is illustrated remarkably.
Abel must have heard his father Adam speaks of God's way to bring an offering. He brought a lamb which in God's sight was a substitute pointing forward to Christ, the Lamb of God. Abel expressed his faith in his worship and obedience.
The word 'offered' in verse 4 really means 'carried'. Abel carried into the presence of God the lamb which was to die in his place. His brother Cain did not. He was saying with his offering, 'See what I have done.' God will not accept that. God wants personal faith expressed in perfect obedience.
Next is Enoch whose faith was seen in his daily walk with God. Everyday he trusted God to lead him. The men and women living around him must have seen it in his daily life, seven days a week.
There are those who attend church on Sundays but their lives during the week deny their once-a-week profession of faith. Our faith must be seen in our daily obedience to and trust in God as Enoch's.
The third man mentioned here, Noah, showed his faith by his work. He did not build the ark because it was beginning to rain, something he could see. He built it because of his obedient response to the word of God.
He warned the people around him, again because he believed God but they refused to accept the warning and perished in the flood.
Abel worshipped in God's way. Enoch walked in God's way. Noah worked in God's way. All took God at His word and acted accordingly. What is our response? In our worship, our walk and our work? Are we doing what God has asked? Believe His word and act accordingly. That is faith in action.

