第78章 蒙悦纳的认罪
§1
第78章 蒙悦纳的认罪
§2
Chap. 78—Acceptable Confession
§3
“遮掩自己罪过的，必不亨通；承认离弃罪过的，必蒙怜恤”（箴28:13）。{5T635.1}[1]
§4
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”?{5T 635.1}[1]
§5
蒙上帝怜恤的条件是简单，公平而合理的。上帝没有要我们作什么艰难的事，才赦免我们的罪。我们也不需要长途跋涉，刻苦修行，以求得天上上帝的悦纳，或补偿我们的过犯。凡“承认离弃罪过的，必蒙怜恤。”这是赐给堕落人类的一个宝贵应许，鼓励人信赖爱的上帝并寻求祂国里的永生。{5T635.2}[2]
§6
The conditions of obtaining mercy of God are simple and just and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order that we may have the forgiveness of sin. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression; but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy. This is a precious promise, given to fallen man to encourage him to trust in the God of love and to seek for eternal life in His kingdom.?{5T 635.2}[2]
§7
我们读到上帝的先知但以理是一个大蒙上天眷爱的人。他在巴比伦的宫廷中居高位，在繁荣兴盛和考验磨难中都同样侍奉并尊荣了上帝，可是他自我降卑，承认自己的罪和他本国人的罪。他内心深感忧伤地承认：“主啊，大而可畏的上帝，向爱主、守主诫命的人守约施慈爱。我们犯罪作孽，行恶叛逆，偏离祢的诫命典章，没有听从祢仆人众先知奉祢名向我们君王、首领、列祖，和国中一切百姓所说的话。主啊，祢是公义的，我们是脸上蒙羞的；因我们犹大人和耶路撒冷的居民，并以色列众人，或在近处，或在远处，被祢赶到各国的人，都得罪了祢，正如今日一样”（但9:4-7）。{5T635.3}[3]
§8
We read that Daniel, the prophet of God, was a man “greatly beloved” of heaven. He held a high position in the?courts of Babylon and served and honored God alike in prosperity and trial, and yet he humbled himself and confessed his sin and the sin of his people. With deep sorrow of heart he acknowledged: “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments: neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets, which spake in Thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee.”?{5T 635.3}[3]
§9
但以理并没有试图在上帝面前为自己或他本国的人开脱；而是以谦卑痛悔的心充分承认了他们的罪恶过犯，证明上帝对一个无视祂的要求且不愿由祂的恳劝受益的民族所行的是公义的。{5T636.1}[4]
§10
Daniel did not seek to excuse himself or his people before God; but in humility and contrition of soul he confessed the full extent and demerit of their transgressions, and vindicated God’s dealings as just toward a nation that had set at nought His requirements and would not profit by His entreaties.?{5T 636.1}[4]
§11
今日极需这种真诚、衷心的悔改和认罪。凡没有在上帝面前自卑认罪的人，就是还没有履行蒙悦纳的第一个条件。如果我们没有经历过那“没有后悔的懊悔”（林后7:10），真正带着谦卑的心和忧伤的灵承认自己的罪，憎恶自己的罪孽，就是还没有真正地求赦罪。既没有求，也就得不到上帝的平安。我们先时所犯的罪没有蒙赦免的唯一原因，就是我们不愿谦卑自己骄傲的心，遵守真理之道的条件。关于这件事，已有明确的指示。不论是当众还是私下的认罪，都要真诚而坦率。罪人认罪不可出于勉强，避重就轻，敷衍了事。也不可强迫未曾认识到罪的可憎性质的人认罪。只有那交融着眼泪与忧伤，出于内心认罪，才能达到怜悯无限的上帝那里。诗人说：“耶和华靠近伤心的人，拯救灵性痛悔的人”（诗34:18）。{5T636.2}[5]
§12
There is great need today of just such sincere, heartfelt repentance and confession. Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. If we have not experienced that repentance which is not to be repented of, and have not confessed our sin with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit, abhorring our iniquity, we have never sought truly for the forgiveness of sin; and if we have never sought we have never found the peace of God. The only reason why we may not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our proud hearts and comply with the conditions of the word of truth. There is explicit instruction given concerning this matter. Confession of sin, whether public or private, should be heartfelt?and freely expressed. It is not to be urged from the sinner. It is not to be made in a flippant and careless way or forced from those who have no realizing sense of the abhorrent character of sin. The confession that is mingled with tears and sorrow, that is the outpouring of the inmost soul, finds its way to the God of infinite pity. Says the psalmist: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”?{5T 636.2}[5]
§13
有太多人的认罪就象法老在受到上帝的刑罚时做的一样。他承认自己的罪为的是免得多受惩罚，及至灾难一停，却仍旧反抗天上的主。巴兰的认罪也具有类似的性质。他因见天使持刀立在路中而大吃一惊，便承认了自己的罪，免得丧命。在他的认罪中并没有真正的悔罪，没有痛悔，没有宗旨上的改变，没有对罪恶的痛恨，也没有任何价值或效力。加略人犹大卖了他的主以后，也曾回到祭司那里，大声呼喊说：“我卖了无辜之人的血，是有罪了”（太27:4）。但他的认罪不具有这种愿将自己交与上帝怜悯的性质。他的认罪是被可怕的定罪感和要受审判的恐惧从他有罪的心里逼出来的。那要临到他身上的结果使他承认了自己的大罪。在他内心中并没有深切的、令人心碎的忧伤，痛悔自己曾把上帝的儿子交给人去戏弄，鞭打，钉死在十字架上；痛悔自己曾把以色列的圣者卖在恶人和肆无忌惮的人手里。他的认罪只不过是一颗自私黑暗的心所引起的。{5T637.1}[6]
§14
There are too many confessions like that of Pharaoh when he was suffering the judgments of God. He acknowledged his sin in order to escape further punishment, but returned to his defiance of heaven as soon as the plagues were stayed. Balaam’s confession was of a similar character. Terrified by the angel standing in his pathway with drawn sword, he acknowledged his guilt, lest he should lose his life. There was no genuine repentance for sin, no contrition, no conversion of purpose, no abhorrence of evil, and no worth or virtue in his confession. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, returned to the priests, exclaiming: “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” But his confession was not of such a character as would commend him to the mercy of God. It was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a fearful looking for of judgment. The consequences that were to result to him drew forth this acknowledgment of his great sin. There was no deep, heartbreaking grief in his soul that he had delivered the Son of God to be mocked, scourged, and crucified; that he had betrayed the Holy One of Israel into the hands of wicked and unscrupulous men. His confession was only prompted by a selfish and darkened heart.?{5T 637.1}[6]
§15
亚当和夏娃吃了禁果以后，满心羞愧惶恐。他们最先想到的，只是怎样推托自己的罪，逃避所害怕的死刑。当耶和华追问他们的罪时，亚当回答说：“祢所赐给我，与我同居的女人，她把那树上的果子给我，我就吃了。”他把罪责一部分推给上帝，一部分推给妻子。女人则归咎于蛇说：“那蛇引诱我，我就吃了”（创3:12,13）。她推诿自己罪责的话中所暗示的问题是：你为什么创造那蛇呢？你为什么允许它进入伊甸园里呢？这样，她就把他们堕落的责任推到上帝身上。自以为义的精神起源于说谎之人的父，表现在亚当的一切子孙身上。这种认罪不是出于圣灵的感动，是得不到上帝悦纳的。人真正悔改，就会承担自己的罪责，毫不含糊掩饰地承认出来。他必如可怜的税吏那样，连举目望天也不敢，捶着胸呼求：“上帝啊，开恩可怜我这个罪人。”这样认罪的人，必得称义，因为耶稣要用自己的血为悔改的人代求。{5T637.2}[7]
§16
After Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit, they were filled with a sense of shame and terror. At first their only thought was how to excuse their sin before God and escape the dreaded sentence of death. When the Lord?inquired concerning their sin, Adam replied, laying the guilt partly upon God and partly upon his companion: “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” The woman put the blame upon the serpent, saying: “‘The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.’ Why did You make the serpent? Why did You suffer him to come into Eden?” These were the questions implied in her excuse for her sin, thus charging God with the responsibility of their fall. The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Confessions of this order are not inspired by the divine Spirit and will not be acceptable before God. True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. Like the poor publican, not lifting up so much as his eyes unto heaven, he will smite upon his breast, and cry, “God be merciful to me a sinner;” and those who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified; for Jesus will plead His blood in behalf of the repentant soul.?{5T 637.2}[7]
§17
人在造自己的主面前俯伏认罪，并藉一位被钉而又复活之救主的功劳恳求赦免，是毫不降格的。你既已藉着犯罪和背叛而伤害了祂，在祂面前承认你的错误乃是高尚的。这使你在世人和天使面前得到提升；因为“自卑的，必升为高”（路18:14）。但是凡在堕落的人面前屈膝，公开承认自己心中隐秘的想法和想象的人，乃是在藉着降低自己的人格，降格自己心灵每一种高尚的本能来羞辱自己。他在向一个因醉酒荒淫而败坏的神甫说明自己一生的罪恶时，就降低了自己品格的标准，结果就被玷污了。上帝在他的思想中被降格为有罪人类的样式，因为他把神甫当作上帝的代表。罪恶越来越多，污秽了世界，使之配受最终的毁灭，多是因这种有辱人格的向堕落的人认罪引起的。{5T638.1}[8]
§18
It is no degradation for man to bow down before his Maker and confess his sins, and plead for forgiveness through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. It is noble to acknowledge your wrong before Him whom you have wounded by transgression and rebellion. It lifts you up before men and angels; for “he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” But he who kneels before fallen man and opens in confession the secret thoughts and imaginations of his heart is dishonoring himself by debasing his manhood and degrading every noble instinct of his soul. In unfolding the sins of his life to a priest corrupted with wine and licentiousness his standard of character is lowered, and he is defiled in consequence. God is degraded in his thought to the likeness of sinful humanity, for the priest stands as a representative of God. It is this degrading confession of man to fallen man?that accounts for much of the increasing evil which is defiling the world and fitting it for final destruction.?{5T 638.1}[8]
§19
使徒说：“你们要彼此认罪，互相代求，使你们可以得医治”（雅5:16）。这节经文一直被解释为支持到神甫那里求赦免的行为；但它不是这样用的。要向上帝承认你的罪，唯有祂才能赦免你的罪，和你们彼此的过错。你若是得罪了朋友或邻舍，就要承认你的错误，而他的义务就是白白地饶恕你。然后你要向上帝求赦免，因为你所伤害的弟兄乃是上帝的产业，你既伤害了他，就得罪了他的创造主和救赎主。这事根本不是要带到神甫面前的，而要带到那位唯一的中保，我们的大祭司面前，祂“也曾凡事受过试探与我们一样，只是祂没有犯罪”，而且祂“体恤我们的软弱”（来4:15），能洗净我们一切的罪污。{5T639.1}[9]
§20
Says the apostle: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” This scripture has been interpreted to sustain the practice of going to the priest for absolution; but it has no such application. Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God because the brother whom you wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned against his Creator and Redeemer. The case is not brought before the priest at all, but before the only true mediator, our great High Priest, who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” and who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” and is able to cleanse from every stain of iniquity.?{5T 639.1}[9]
§21
当大卫犯罪得罪了乌利亚和他的妻子时，他在上帝面前恳求赦免。他说：“我向祢犯罪，惟独得罪了祢；在祢眼前行了这恶”（诗51:4）。一切错待别人的事，都由受伤害的人达到上帝。所以大卫就不从祭司求赦免，而是从人类的创造主求赦免。他祈求说：“上帝啊，求祢按祢的慈爱怜恤我！按祢丰盛的慈悲涂抹我的过犯”（诗51:1）。{5T639.2}[10]
§22
When David sinned against Uriah and his wife, he pleaded before God for forgiveness. He declares: “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.” All wrong done to others reaches back from the injured one to God. Therefore David seeks for pardon, not from a priest, but from the Creator of man. He prays: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”?{5T 639.2}[10]
§23
真正的认罪总是具体的性质和具体的内容。有些性质的罪必须带到上帝面前。有些罪必须向受损害的个人承认。或具有普遍性，应该在会众面前承认的。但无论如何，认罪的时候，必须明确承认你所犯的罪。{5T639.3}[11]
§24
True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as only to be brought before God, they may be wrongs that should be confessed before individuals who have suffered injury through them, or they may be of a general kind that should be made known in the congregation of the people. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty.?{5T 639.3}[11]
§25
当以色列人受亚扪人压迫时，选民在上帝面前所作的一个恳求例证了真认罪的明确性：“以色列人哀求耶和华说：‘我们得罪了祢；因为离弃了我们上帝，去事奉诸巴力。’耶和华对以色列人说：‘我岂没有救过你们脱离埃及人、亚摩利人、亚扪人，和非利士人吗？……你们竟离弃我，事奉别神！所以我不再救你们了。你们去哀求所选择的神；你们遭遇急难的时候，让它救你们吧！’以色列人对耶和华说：‘我们犯罪了，任凭祢随意待我们吧！只求你今日拯救我们’”（士10:10-11,13-15）。然后他们就开始采取与他们的认罪和祷告一致的行动。“以色列人就除掉他们中间的外邦神，事奉耶和华”。主的伟大爱心“因以色列人受的苦难，就心中担忧”（16节）。{5T640.1}[12]
§26
When Israel was oppressed by the Ammonites, the chosen people made a plea before God that illustrates the definite character of true confession: “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against Thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? ... Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray Thee, this day.” Then they began to act in harmony with their confessions and prayers. “They put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord.” And the Lord’s great heart of love was grieved,?was grieved?for the misery of Israel.”?{5T 640.1}[12]
§27
认罪若无诚恳懊悔改过之心，就不会得上帝的悦纳。生活中必须有明确的改变；一切冒犯上帝的事必须抛弃。这才是真心为罪忧伤的结果。保罗论到悔改的事说：“你看，你们依着上帝的意思忧愁，从此就生出何等的殷勤、自诉、自恨、恐惧、想念、热心、责罚，在这一切事上你们都表明自己是洁净的”（林后7:11）。{5T640.2}[13]
§28
Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin. Says Paul, speaking of the work of repentance: “Ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”?{5T 640.2}[13]
§29
在撒母耳的时代，以色列人远离了上帝。他们受了罪的恶报，因为他们对上帝失了信心，丧失了辨识力，看不出上帝有治国的权能与智慧，不信服祂有保卫他们并维护祂圣工的能力。他们背离了掌管宇宙的大主宰，反而渴望像当时四周的异邦一样，受人君的治理。后来他们确实地认罪说：“我们求立王的事，正是罪上加罪了”（撒上12:19），这才得到安康。他们那已经被定的罪必须承认。他们的忘恩负义压迫着他们的心并使他们与上帝分离。{5T640.3}[14]
§30
In the days of Samuel the Israelites wandered from God. They were suffering the consequences of sin, for they had lost their faith in God, lost their discernment of His power and wisdom to rule the nation, lost their confidence in His ability to defend and vindicate His cause. They turned from the great Ruler of the universe and desired to be governed as?were the nations around them. Before they found peace they made this definite confession: “We have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.” The very sin of which they were convicted had to be confessed. Their ingratitude oppressed their souls and severed them from God.?{5T 640.3}[14]
§31
当罪恶麻木了人的道德观念时，犯罪的人就认识不到自己品格的缺欠和罪行的重大。如果他不顺服圣灵感服人心的能力，就偏颇不见自己的罪。他的认罪不是出于真心的。每次认罪的时候，总是文过饰非，声称若非环境所致，他就决不会做出这种或那种受人指责的事。但圣经中真正谦卑悔改的榜样，都表显出一种不原谅罪恶，不自以为义的认罪态度。{5T641.1}[15]
§32
When sin has deadened the moral perceptions, the wrong-doer does not discern the defects of his character nor realize the enormity of the evil he has committed; and unless he yields to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin. His confessions are not sincere and in earnest. To every acknowledgment of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse of his course, declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances, he would not have done this or that for which he is reproved. But the examples in God’s word of genuine repentance and humiliation reveal a spirit of confession in which there is no excuse for sin or attempt at self-justification.?{5T 641.1}[15]
§33
保罗并不想包庇自己。他从最黑暗的一面描述了自己的罪，并不想减轻自己的罪责。他说：“既从祭司长得了权柄，我就把许多圣徒囚在监里，他们被杀，我也出名定案。在各会堂，我屡次用刑，强逼他们说亵渎的话，又分外恼恨他们，甚至逼他们直到外邦的城邑”（徒26:10,11）。他毫不犹豫地宣称：“基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人，这话是可信的，是十分可佩服的，在罪人中我是个罪魁”（提前1:15）。{5T641.2}[16]
§34
Paul did not seek to shield himself; he paints his sin in its darkest hue, not attempting to lessen his guilt. He says: “Many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” He does not hesitate to declare that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”?{5T 641.2}[16]
§35
因真正悔改而谦卑伤心的人，对于上帝的慈爱和髑髅地的牺牲必有所认识。他会象一个儿子向亲爱的父亲认罪那样，真诚痛悔地将自己一切的罪带到上帝面前。圣经说：“我们若认自己的罪，上帝是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义”（约壹1:9）。{5T641.3}[17]
§36
The humble and broken heart, subdued by genuine repentance, will appreciate something of the love of God and the cost of Calvary; and as a son confesses to a loving father, so will the truly penitent bring all his sins before God. And it is written: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”?{5T 641.3}[17]