提要
「因為上帝救眾人的恩典，已經顯明出來。教訓我們除去不敬虔的心和世俗的情慾，在今日自守、公義敬虔度日。等候所盼望的福，並等候至大的上帝和我們救主耶穌基督的榮耀顯現。祂為我們捨了自己，要贖我們脫離一切罪惡，又潔淨我們，特作自己的子民，熱心為善」（2：11~14）。
在這一段裡，有幾個主要的字，如：「恩典……救恩……盼望……救贖……潔淨……為善」。「恩典」這個字告訴我們，上帝已經為人做了一些事，是人不配得的──祂藉著耶穌的寶血「拯救」了我們。當天使在伯利恆城外，向牧羊人高唱宣佈好消息時，這一救恩先「向所有的人顯現」，接著它在各各他的十字架上、富人的空墓中，及耶穌復活升天的橄欖山上，再三「顯現」。這一「顯現」的最大目的就是要拯救世人脫離罪惡。基督臨世就是要從「罪的工價」中「買回」人類──凡信靠耶穌的人，死亡都必須向他讓步。
救贖就是要「潔淨」人，作基督「自己」的子民，「熱心向善」。瘂 保羅稱之為「福氣與榮耀」的「盼望」是指將來還會有再一次的「顯現」：基督要再來要接祂自己的百姓，並建立王座，直到永遠。「基督再來」就是教會最大的盼望。
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Overview
The key verse appears in the context of a paragraph which says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "NO" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good" (vv.11-14 NIV).
There are several key words in the paragraph: words like "grace... salvation... hope... redeem... purify... good." The word "grace" tells us that God has done something for man which is completely unwarranted — He has offered us "salvation" in Christ. This offer first "appeared to all men" when an angelic announcement was sung over the shepherd's fields outside of Bethlehem. It "appeared" again on a wooden cross at Golgotha, and again in a rich man's empty tomb and again on the Mount of olives as the risen Christ ascended before many witnesses to the Father. The whole purpose of this "appearing" was to "redeem" man from sin. Christ came to "buy back" mankind from the "wages of sin" — certain death gave way to certain life for all who put their trust in Him.
Redemption meant the "purifying" of "a people" for Christ's "very own", a people "eager to do what is good". The "hope", which Paul calls "blessed and glorious" is that there will be one more "appearance": the return of Christ to receive His own and to establish His throne forever. This return is the great hope of the Church, the "Parousia" that has always been the bottom-line motivation for historic Christianity.
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Prayer
We thank You, Father, for Your grace which has broken our once hard hearts of pride and has caused them to cry out with thanksgiving and praise. Your grace has truly taught us to say "no" to all ungodliness and empowers us day by day to live upright and godly lives. |
