有名无实的信徒
希伯来书六章1至10节
1所以,我们应当离开基督道理的开端,竭力进到完全的地步,不必再立根基,就如那懊悔死行,信靠神、
2各样洗礼、按手之礼、死人复活,以及永远审判各等教训。
3神若许我们,我们必如此行。
4论到那些已经蒙了光照、尝过天恩的滋味、又于圣灵有分,
5并尝过神善道的滋味、觉悟来世权能的人,
6若是离弃道理,就不能叫他们从新懊悔了。因为他们把神的儿子重钉十字架,明明的羞辱他。
7就如一块田地,吃过屡次下的雨水,生长菜蔬,合乎耕种的人用,就从神得福;
8若长荆棘和蒺藜,必被废弃,近于咒诅,结局就是焚烧。
9亲爱的弟兄们,我们虽是这样说,却深信你们的行为强过这些,而且近乎得救。
10因为神并非不公义,竟忘记你们所做的工和你们为他名所显的爱心,就是先前伺候圣徒,如今还是伺候。
信息分享
许多人曲解了这段经文的原意,将自己的意思强加在经文之中。它接续上一章经文,对读者提出了一个非常严厉的警告。每个信徒都应成长;我们若不肯成长,就只会成为属灵的婴孩,不能进到神为我们预备的完全境地。
第4至8节究竟该怎样解释?留意经文指出的客观事实:
那些人已蒙了光照,即已认识福音。
他们已尝过中的滋味,不过,却没有把全部消化。
他们一直与蒙受祝福的人在一起。
最后他们却离弃真道。
上述所勾画的一切,都会在一个未曾真正重生的人身上发生。从表面来看,他们与一般的基督徒无异,他们甚至会有基督徒的表现;可是,神却知道他们不是祂的儿女,因为他们从没借着耶稣基督来到神的面前,他们仍然是失丧的。他们如果在日后背离基督,他们的光景将比从前更坏,因为他们弃绝了惟一的得救之途。
然而,作者却不认为他的收信者会因这段话而受到打击,因为他在第9 节说:「亲爱的弟兄们,我们虽是这样说,却深信你们的行为强过这些」。换言之,作者深信他的收信者已经重生;他们如今只需无惧任何困难,坚持信仰到底就行了。
这番劝勉同样适用在我们身上。我们既然接受了基督的呼召,与祂起步同行,就当继续与祂每天携手前进,直到抵达目标。
祷告:
「主啊,求你助我每天与你把臂而行。」
PROFESSING BUT NOT POSSESSING
Hebrews 6:1-10
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Message
So many people have taken this passage and made it mean something that was not intended by the writer. It is a very strong warning and continues the thought of the previous chapter. Each Christian is urged to go on with Christ. If we do not go on with Christ we remain spiritual babies. We fail to fulfil one of God's greatest purposes in saving us.
But what do verses 4 to 8 really mean? Who are these verses talking about? Notice the things that are said about these people.
1. They had been enlightened-that is, informed of the gospel.
2. They had tasted, but not eaten.
3. They had been with those who were blessed.
4. Then they had fallen away.
All these things can be true of a person who has not really been born again. They may look like Christians, they may even act like Christians, but God knows they are not his children. If they never came through to Christ, they are lost. If later they turned their backs on Christ, they would be worse off than ever because they had turned away from their only hope of salvation.
But so that the Christians who read this letter would not be discouraged, the writer said in verse 9 'beloved, we are sure of better things about you'. In other words, they had been truly born again. Now they should continue in their faith no matter how difficult the way.
That word is for us too. Having begun with Christ, our greatest aim should be to go on with him day by day.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
'Lord help me to press on with you today!'

