我们有得救的确据吗?
约翰壹书五章7至13节
7并且有圣灵作见证,因为圣灵就是真理。
8作见证的原来有三:就是圣灵、水与血,这三样也都归于一。
9我们既领受人的见证,神的见证更该领受了(注:“该领受”原文作“大”),因神的见证是为他儿子作的。
10信神儿子的,就有这见证在他心里;不信神的,就是将神当作说谎的,因不信神为他儿子作的见证。
11这见证就是神赐给我们永生,这永生也是在他儿子里面。
12人有了神的儿子就有生命;没有神的儿子就没有生命。
13我将这些话写给你们信奉神儿子之名的人,要叫你们知道自己有永生。
信息分享
我们怎能克胜疑惑呢?我们能否绝对肯定,我们的罪已蒙赦免、我们是神的儿女、我们正走向天堂?是否应该说「我盼望我的罪得蒙赦免、我盼望我是神的儿女,以及如果我继续为主作工,也许可以上天堂」会更恰当呢?有些人确是教导这种真理的。
然而,慈爱的神已经在祂的话语中给了我们这个问题的答案。整本新约虽然都有这方面的清楚教导,但有一卷书却似乎是特别为了回答这些问题而作,那就是我们今天查考的约翰壹书。请再读第13节。这封书信是写给信徒的──换言之,他们已获得救恩。作者直言他写这卷书,是为了让他们知道自己有永生──这就是得救的确据。「相信」之后,便会「知道」。
确据可以定义为信心、肯定、一个严肃的承诺或保证、誓言某件事的真确。一位圣经教师曾经写道:「信徒可以坚定不移地相信,他因着相信基督,如今已得着救恩,这救恩是永远属他的。」
能够坚定地表示「我知道我是神的儿女;我知道我所信的是谁;我深信祂能保守我、我的灵魂和我委身于祂的生命」,实在是好得无比。
若没有确据,便会损害我们为基督作的见证、妨碍我们所作的服侍,且窒碍我们的灵命成长。因此,我们要紧记:相信基督就得着救恩,相信神的话便得到确据。
CAN WE BE SURE?
1 John 5:7-13
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Message
How can we overcome those doubts? Can we be absolutely sure that our sins are forgiven and that we are children of God, on our way to Heaven? Wouldn’t it be better to say “I just hope my sins are forgiven. I hope I am a child of God”? Or “If I keep working for Christ, I hope I will get to heaven.”? There are some groups that teach the truth in that way.
But God has lovingly made provision for us in this matter in His Word. While it is taught plainly throughout the New Testament, one epistle seems to have been written to answer these questions. It is the first epistle of John from which our reading came today. Read again verse 13. It was written to those who believe, which means salvation. It was written so that you might know - that is assurance. Knowing is the result of believing.
Assurance can be defined as confidence, certainty, a solemn promise or guarantee, a positive declaration that a thing is true. A Bible teacher wrote, “It is a believer’s immovable conviction that because he/she has received Christ, he/she is in possession now of a salvation which he/she will eternally keep.”
It is wonderful to be able to say, “I know I am a child of God. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep me, my soul, and my life which I have committed to Him.”
Lack of assurance can mean our testimony for Christ will be spoiled. Our service for Christ could come to a half and our spiritual growth stunted. Remember: believing in Christ means salvation, believing God’s word means assurance.

