十二：因信被稱為義、承受世界、得以堅固: 羅4:13-25

馬丁路德說：“倘若我們認識因信稱義的教義，我們就是處在最明亮的光芒，倘若不，我們就是身處于最深淵的黑暗”。縱然“因信稱義”這偉大的真理已在過去500年裡在基督教界公然的被聲明，但至今仍然有許多信徒對“唯獨信心”的教義毫不認知或存有疑點。更糟的是許多教師與牧師沒有在此給予精確的教導。事實上，我們單單因着信被稱為義，而這信臨到我們本是神的主權性與超自然的作為，裡頭毫無人的因素與功德。今天，有不少信徒仍舊沒在此根基定准，總覺得人的稱義（重生得救）仍有人的行為或某種順服表現的因素在裡頭，或就是認為有某些自然的因素能造成人對神產生信心，以此決定跟從祂（例如：亞伯拉罕能信，乃是因遇到了哥哥與父親喪亡的事，以至對人生絶望而向神回應）。倘若如此，那便無形中削弱聖靈在人心中的作為，不將神當得的榮耀歸給祂。事實上，信與行有聯結與區分關係。信心的確會帶來順服的行為。這縱然是會越來越明顯的顯露，但在信的當兒，行為是未見的。信的實質本身是見不到行為的，因為信是在人的內裡發生的事，是聖靈看不見的作為臨到人的生命裡的事。當一個人將生命的主權交給耶穌的當兒，那根本沒有任何明顯的行為或順服的表現在其中，唯獨聖靈單單賜人信心，使人以信回應神。那麼，雅各書所宣稱的“信心必帶來行為”的真理又如何解釋呢？那是在信心結出果子之後所生發出來的行為，也能說是真信後逐步顯然的表現。今天，教會講台有很多的教導是沒有將信心與行為劃分之下大力強調行為的必要性與需要性。許多牧者們專誇獎那些品行端正的會友（例如：會做人、為教會付出、奉獻上有見證、在職場中有好見證、聽從教會帶領人的勸導、等）。縱然這些好行為的表現都是真信之人必會達成的結果，但行為並非神稱讚的因素。神所稱讚的乃是發自這些行為的信心。亞伯拉罕得神的稱讚是因他的信，而他的行為（順服）的表現只是證實他的信。在主耶穌稱讚撒該的話當中也顯出主看重他的信心《路19:1-10》。主並非指出他的好行為為稱讚的因素，乃是說：“今天救恩到了這家，因為他也是亞伯拉罕的子孫”（換句話：他也是如同亞伯拉罕，因信稱義之人）。《希11:39》說到人因信心得神稱許（改述）。所以，我們會曉得行為毫無稱義的要素，唯有是證實信心存在的因素。況且，行為也有很多模糊不清的層面。有的是虛假的行為（例如：為人而不為神而做）；或是某人信心還未到達某些善行的程度（例如：有的人確實是信，但因信心幼嫩而未能捨去某些地上的利益）；再就是也有個人從神領受的某些託付或指示，所以在行為的表現上與眾不同。但話說回來，我們也絶不能以此為體貼老我的藉口。倘若人自欺，或是在信心走退後路，神總不喜悅。所以，雅各書是在此原因之下向人要求信心的明證，用意有兩個：一，向那根本沒得救之人說明其事實，好叫他們不繼續自欺，以至真實的悔改；二，向那得救的人發出指責，講說他們虧欠了恩典，以至能覺悟而轉向神。

Martin Luther said, “If we recognize the doctrine of justification by faith, we are in the brightest light, if not, we are the in the darkness of the abyss”. Although this great truth of “justification by faith” has been publicly proclaimed in the Christian world for the past 500 years, there’re still many believers who are ignorant or have doubts towards the doctrine of “only by faith”. The situation is worsened when many teachers and pastor do not give an accurate teaching in this area. Actually, we are purely justified by faith, and it is intrinsically God’s sovereign and supernatural work for this faith to come upon us, there’s no human element nor works in this. Today, many believers are not rooted in this foundation, still thinking that there’re human works or display of submission when it comes to justification (born again and salvation); or there are some natural elements that cause man to have faith towards God, and thus resolve into following Him (Eg: Abraham believed because he encountered the death of his brother and father, thus he lost all hope in his life and responded to God). If so, unknowingly, this is akin to weakening the works of Holy Spirit in the hearts of men, and not giving all glory rightfully God’s back to Him. In fact, there are both connecting and distinctive relationships between faith and works. Indeed, faith brings acts of submission. Although it will be more and more obvious, the acts are not seen when one has faith. The nature of faith is devoid of acts, for it is something that happens within - a matter of the invisible work of Holy Spirit upon a man’s life. When a person surrenders his sovereignty to Jesus, there is no obvious acts or manifestation of submission in it, only the faith given through the Holy Spirit that enables one to respond to God. How then can we explain the truth of “faith will surely bring deeds” as proclaimed in book of James? That is the deeds brought through the fruits of faith, in another word, it is something gradually realized and seen after one has truly believed. Today, the teachings of the pulpits of many churches have not distinguished faith and deeds, and strongly emphasize how essential and needful deeds are. Many shepherds specifically praise the church-goers with good conducts (Eg: appropriateness, sacrifice for the church, there’re testimonies in the offering and workplaces, submitting to the advices of the church leaders etc). Although such good conducts are the outcomes that will be attained by those who truly believe, they are not the factors that earn God’s praises. It is the faith that gives rise to such deeds that are commendable by God. It is for Abraham’s faith that God commended him, and the display of his work (submission) only proved his faith. In the words of compliment Lord Jesus gave to Zacchaeus, we also see that the Lord valued his faith <Lk 19:1-10>. Lord did not give credits to his good deeds, instead, he said, “today salvation has come to this because, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham” (in another word, he was like Abraham, one who was justified by faith). <Heb 11:39> mentioned that the people were commended by God for their faith (rephrase). Therefore, we ought to know that, deeds are not the requirement for justification but proof of the existence of faith. Also, there’re many grey zones in deeds. Some are false deeds (Eg: do for men not God); or certain people’s faith has not reached the stage to carry out the good deed (Eg: some people truly believe, but they are young in faith and thus cannot forsake certain earthly gains); there’re some who are entrusted and instructed by God in certain areas, thus they are different in their deeds. But all in all, we definitely cannot take this as an excuse to dwell in our old self, for God does not delight in man deceiving themselves and walk backward in their faith. Therefore, it’s under this context that the book of James asks men to have the proof of faith, reasons being: Firstly, to put forth the truth to those who’re unsaved, so that they cannot continue to deceive themselves and be brought to true repentance; Secondly, rebuking those who’re saved, telling them that they have fallen short of the grace, so that they will be awakened and turned to God.