提要
所謂蒙了救贖，不只是被買回、釋放、更新再造，從今以後，我們更是屬於這位救贖主的。祂付出代價，使我們得歸於祂，祂還要細細雕琢我們，好成為祂的藝術精品。基督能這樣塑造我們，全基於祂在加略山上做成的贖罪恩功。而我們蒙了更新再造，也有一個新的使命，就是要行善。更美妙的是，上述整個過程：基督的救贖，在基督裡成為新人，有新的使命，這一切的一切，全知全能的上帝老早就定在至高無上的計畫裡了。上帝主動的關懷與恩典，瀰漫在我們這個封閉的宇宙體系之內，我們只要信靠順服就對了，而且應該即知即行，因為終有一天，無論聖賢或罪人，都必須到祂面前交帳。 而且得進天國的人，各個在上帝面前交帳之後，也都沒有什麼可誇的。到時得救的群眾，只有一個共同的反應，就是俯伏在上帝面前，同聲說「我們的主，我們的上帝，您是配得榮耀、尊貴、權柄的；因為您創造了萬物，並且萬物是因您的旨意被創造而有的。」（啟4：11）
切記，我們「得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是上帝所賜的；也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇」（弗2：8，9），因此我們該信賴救贖主，而不是自己。我們也該行在祂聖愛的慈光中，但這愛不是我們賺來的，這愛是來自上帝的禮物，我們只是平白領受而已。
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Overview
Redemption means not only that we have been bought back, set free, and made new — it also means that we belong to the Redeemer. He paid the price, so we're His. We are the product of God's plan, His workmanship. And the means of "working" us into shape was the atonement provided by Christ on Calvary. We're new creations with a new purpose: "good works." What's more, the whole process — redemption by Christ, new creation in Christ, new purpose in Christ — is something an omniscient (all-knowing) God included in His sovereign plan ("God prepared beforehand"). God's initiative and grace flood the closed system we call "the universe" — all we have to do is trust and obey. And it's wise to do it now. There is coming a day when everyone, saint and sinner alike, will be called to account.
When the account is settled, there will be no one in Heaven boasting about his own or someone else's good works. Rather, all the redeemed host will have one common response: they will prostrate themselves before the throne of God and say something like, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being" (Rev. 4:11).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph.2:8,9). We put our trust in our Redeemer, not in ourselves. We walk in the sunshine of His love — not because we have earned it, but merely because we have accepted it. It is a gift from God.
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