【双语灵修】罪的代价THE WAGES OF SIN

罗马书 3:9-18

这却怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？决不是的！因我们已经证明：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。 就如经上所记：“没有义人，连一个也没有。 没有明白的，没有寻求神的。 都是偏离正路，一同变为无用；没有行善的，连一个也没有。 他们的喉咙是敞开的坟墓，他们用舌头弄诡诈，嘴唇里有虺蛇的毒气， 满口是咒骂苦毒。 杀人流血，他们的脚飞跑； 所经过的路，便行残害暴虐的事； 平安的路，他们未曾知道。 他们眼中不怕神。”

10月3日

罪的代价

因为罪的工价乃是死；惟有 神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生。(罗马书6:23)

罪是许多人避而不谈的话题，也有人对此轻描淡写。例如拉斯维加斯常被称为“罪恶之城”，而那些美味却不健康的食物则常被形容为“罪恶的美味”或“放纵的享受”。可悲的是，一个不愿认真思考罪的世界，终将自食其果。

但罪究竟是什么？罪可以理解为如同硬币一样具有两面性。罪的一面是违背神的诫命——这些诫命记载在圣经中，比如十诫及其他经文。罪的另一面则是未能活出神对我们生命的美好旨意。耶稣曾总结说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的神，又要爱人如己”（参马可福音12:30-31），这就是我们的人生目的。违背神的命令，以及未能爱神爱人，就构成了罪的两面。有时，这被称为“作为之罪”与“不作为之罪”。

但罪真的如此严重吗？毕竟有人会说，我们不过是凡人罢了。然而，圣经说得很清楚：“世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀”（罗马书 3:23），而且“罪的工价乃是死”。

但圣经也带给我们好消息！虽然“罪的工价乃是死”，但“神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生”！

祷告

神啊，我们承认每天在“所做之事”，以及“未做之事”上都得罪了你。求你因耶稣的缘故赦免我们。阿们。

Romans 3:9-18

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

THE WAGES OF SIN

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23

Sin is a topic that many people tend to avoid. Others make light of it. Las Vegas, for example, is sometimes called “Sin City,” and foods that are tasty but not healthy are often called sinfully delicious or decadent. Sadly, a world that chooses not to reflect seriously on sin does so at its own peril.

But what is sin? Sin can be described as having two sides, like a coin. One side of sin involves breaking the commands of God. God’s commands are in the Bible—for example, the Ten Commandments and various other passages. The other side of sin involves not living up to God’s good purpose for our lives. Jesus summarized our purpose when he said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (see Mark 12:30-31). Acting contrary to God’s commands and failing to love God and others are the two sides of sin. Sometimes these are called sins of commission and sins of omission.

But is sin really that serious? After all, we are only human, some would say. But the Bible is clear. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death.”

But the Bible brings good news as well! While “the wages of sin is death,” “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”!

Lord God, we confess that every day we sin against you in the things we do, and in the things we fail to do. Please forgive us, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.