【双语灵修】恩典的新约THE NEW COVENANT OF GRACE

希伯来书 8:6-13

如今耶稣所得的职任是更美的，正如他做更美之约的中保。这约原是凭更美之应许立的。 那前约若没有瑕疵，就无处寻求后约了。 所以主指责他的百姓说：“日子将到，

我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约， 不像我拉着他们祖宗的手，领他们出埃及的时候，与他们所立的约。因为他们不恒心守我的约，我也不理他们。这是主说的。”

主又说：“那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上；我要做他们的神，他们要做我的子民。 他们不用各人教导自己的乡邻和自己的弟兄说：‘你该认识主’，因为他们从最小的到至大的，都必认识我。 我要宽恕他们的不义，不再记念他们的罪愆。” 既说新约，就以前约为旧了；但那渐旧渐衰的，就必快归无有了。

1月18日

星期日

恩典的新约

“我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约……我要宽恕他们的不义，不再记念他们的罪愆。” - 来 8:8, 12

我仍然能记起自己第一次真正理解神恩典的时刻。过去的我早已习惯“努力争取”他人的青睐和认可，这种心态甚至延伸到了寻求神的认可上。那是一种再熟悉不过的模式：表现得好，就能得到奖赏；要是失败，便要背负愧疚与后果。但恩典绝不是这样。它并不取决于我们的表现，而单单在于神的应许—这应许已经藉着耶稣得到了印证。

《希伯来书》的作者将旧约与新约进行了对比：旧约建立在律法与礼仪之上，新约的恩典则建立在耶稣的牺牲之上。旧约要求人为罪不断献上祭物，然而耶稣通过将自己一次且永远地献上为祭，使我们得以亲近神，得着祂的爱与宽恕。

新约意味着我们不再需要惧怕神的审判。我们蒙召进入与祂的亲密关系，这种关系的核心不在于我们的顺服，而在于神完全的爱。无论我们犯下怎样的过错，祂的恩典始终更为浩大。这便是救赎的好消息，就是因耶稣而来的新约。

当我们沉思这一切，让我们欣然拥抱恩典所带来的自由吧。我们不再受到旧规矩的束缚，反倒可以活在盼望和平安之中，因为我们深知，神已经为我们预备了道路，使我们能全然得着祂的爱与宽恕。

祷告

耶稣啊，感谢你成就这恩典的新约。求你帮助我们全然领受你的爱，活在你赐下的自由之中。阿们。

Hebrews 8:6-13

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18

THE NEW COVENANT OF GRACE

“I will make a new covenant with the people. . . . I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” —Hebrews 8:8, 12

I can still remember the first time I really understood the gift of God’s grace. I had been used to the idea of “earning” favor and approval from people, and that extended into seeking approval from God. It was a familiar pattern: Perform well, and you will be rewarded. Fail, and you are left with guilt and consequences.

But grace is not like that. It depends not on our performance but on God’s promises—sealed through Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews contrasts the old covenant, which was based on laws and rituals, with the new covenant of grace established by the sacrifice of Jesus. The old covenant required continuous sacrifices for sin, but Jesus, through his sacrifice of himself once for all, made it possible for us to draw near to God, being loved and forgiven.

The new covenant means that we no longer need to fear God’s judgment. We are invited into an intimate relationship with God, marked not by our obedience but by God’s perfect love. No matter what our mistakes are, God’s grace is always greater. This is the good news of salvation—the new covenant in Jesus.

As we reflect on all this, let’s embrace the freedom that comes with grace. No longer bound by old rules, we can live in hope and peace, knowing God has made a way for us to be fully loved and forgiven.

Jesus, thank you for establishing the new covenant of grace. Help us fully to embrace your love and to live in the freedom you have given us. Amen.