三十八、称义

70问:何谓称义?

答:称义是上帝对罪人所赐白白恩典的作为(罗3:22,24-25;4:5),包括赦免他们所有的罪、接纳他们、视他们为义人(林后5:19,21;罗3:22,24-25,27-28)。上帝将这恩典加在他们的身上(罗5:17-19;罗4:6-8),并不因为他们有所成就或有所作为(多3:5,7;弗1:7),而只是由于基督完全的顺服和充分的补偿,使他们可以单单凭着信心领受(徒10:43;加2:16;腓3:9)。

Question 70: What is justification?

Answer: Justification is an act of God’s free grace unto sinners, in which he pardons all their sins, accepts and accounts their persons righteous in his sight; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them, and received by faith alone.

三十七、选民在恩典中与基督的交通

69问:无形教会的成员所享有与基督的交契之恩是什么?

答:无形教会的成员所享有与基督的交契之恩,就是有份于基督的中保之功,得称为义(罗8:30)、得着名分(弗1:5)、得以成圣,以及今生已与基督联为一体的所有记号(林前1:30)。

Question 69: What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?

Answer: The communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their justification, adoption, sanctification, and: Whatever else, in this life, manifests their union with him.

三十六、有效的恩召

67问:何谓有效的恩召?

答:有效的恩召乃上帝大能与恩典的作为(约5:25;弗1:18-20;提后1:8-9),就是:1)祂的行动完全是出于自己对选民白白的奇恩妙爱,并非因为选民自己有什么吸引祂的地方(多3:4-5;弗2:4-5,7-9;罗9:11);2)祂在悦纳的日子,借着自己的圣言和圣灵,将他们邀到、引到耶稣基督面前(林后5:20,比较林后6:1-2;约6:44;帖后2:13-14);3)祂以救赎之光启迪他们的心思(徒26:18;林前2:10,12),更新并有力地扭转他们的意志(结11:19;36:26-27;约6:45),使他们已死在罪恶过犯中的人能够甘心乐意、自由自在回应祂的呼召,领受所赐、所传予他们的恩典(弗2:5;腓2:13;申30:6)。

Question 67: What is effectual calling?

Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he does, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to Answer: his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.

68问:是否只有选民能有效蒙召?

答:唯独所有的选民能蒙受有效的恩召(徒13:48);其他人虽或也经常触及上帝圣言外在的呼召(太22:14),以及圣灵某方面一般性的作为(太7:22;13:20-21;来6:4-6),但由于他们对所显于他们之恩典蓄意忽略、心存藐视,弃自己于不信之中,故无法真正归向耶稣基督(约12:38-40;徒28:25-27;约6:64-65;诗81:11-12)。

Question 68: Are the elect only effectually called?

Answer: All the elect, and they only, are effectually called; although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, and have some common operations of the Spirit; who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ.

三十五、选民与基督的合一

66问:什么是选民与基督的联合?

答:选民与基督的联合是出于上帝恩典的作为(弗1:22,2:6-8),使选民能借着有效之恩召(彼前5:10;林前1:9),在灵魂里以基督为元首、为丈夫,切切实实、密不可分、奥秘神奇地联合在一起(林前6:17;约10:28;弗5:23,30)。

Question 66: What is that union which the elect have with Christ?

Answer: The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God’s grace, whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband; which is done in their effectual calling.

三十四、无形教会及其特权

64问:何谓无形的教会?

答:所谓无形的教会,就是过去、现在、未来,所有在元首基督名下蒙选召,归为一体之人的统称(弗1:10,22-23;约10:16;11:52)。

Question 64: What is the invisible church?

Answer: The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head.

65问:无形教会之成员能借着基督享受什么特殊的恩惠?

答:无形教会之成员能借着基督享受与祂联合交契的恩典和荣耀(约17:21;弗2:5-6;约17:24)。

Question 65: What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?

Answer: The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory.