分类： 《新城要理问答》

问题39：我们应该以什么态度祷告？
答：带着爱、恒心和感恩；谦卑顺服神的旨意，知道因着基督的缘故，祂总是垂听我们的祷告。
儿童版：带着爱、恒心和感恩。

Question 39: With What Attitude Should We Pray?
Answer: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.
For Kids: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness.

歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《腓立比书》4 章6 节：

　　应当一无挂虑，只要凡事藉着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。

注解

约翰·班扬

　　在开始祷告之前，先问你的灵魂这些问题：我的灵魂啊，你隐藏在这个地方做什么？你不是要在祷告中与主说话吗？祂在吗？祂会听你吗？祂有怜悯吗？祂会帮你吗？你的事微不足道吗？它无关乎你灵魂的福祉吗？你要怎么说，祂才怜悯你呢？最后一项准备工作是，要思想你不过是尘土，而祂是伟大的神，是我们主耶稣基督的父神，祂以光明为衣裳；你是一个肮脏的罪人，而祂是圣洁的神；你不过是只可怜的爬虫，而祂是全能的造物主。在你所有的祷告中，不要忘记感谢主的怜悯。当你祷告时，宁可有心无口，也不要有口无心。祷告会让人不再犯罪，罪也会引诱人停止祷告。

默想

安泰博

　　假冒为善的祷告，这是一个自相矛盾的词。假冒为善与祷告，这两者无法并存。我们所说一切关于祷告的事，都与假冒为善是根本沾不上边的。主在福音书中这样教导我们，祂论到法利赛人、文士在群众面前的祷告，对他们来说，祷告只是一种表演。如果你已经开始了一段时间的祷告，你就知道你其实不需观众也能作秀。我们自己就是祷告的观众，自我欣赏祷告中的措辞。于是，我们的祷告就不再是与神的交通，而成为了骄傲的展示。

　　但真实的祷告是爱的表达、毅力的体现，表达我们的感激之情。

　　祷告为何是爱的表达？因为我们在祷告中，与圣父、圣子、圣灵交通。我们在圣灵的引导下，借着圣子的名向天父祷告。我们在祷告中享受他们的同在、认识他们，并与他们交通。所以，祷告若没有爱，怎能称为与神交通呢？

　　祷告也应该是坚持不懈、坚定不移的，是反复不断的，好像持续叩门一样。坚持不懈的祷告是必须的，因为我们必须战胜肉体，我们的肉体是与圣灵相争的。让我告诉你，当我们祷告时，有时我们心思不定，无法专心；当我们祷告时，有时经历到的是脆弱、软弱与疲惫。有时我祷告到一半时睡着了，所以我们需要坚忍不懈。我们还要将属神的事物带入到我们的生命中，而将属世之物赶出去，将肉体再次钉在十字架上，这样我们就会更深地经历与主的交通。

　　祷告还应该是感恩和感谢的表达。让我们数算神的祝福，标记神的护理，为祂介入我们的生命而欢庆。以至我们不但接受了基督，也接受了所有在基督里的每件事物，并以各种方式经历到它们，尽管有时不是我们所预期的。但所有神的介入都是祝福，是将神的慈爱给我们，于我们都是有益的，而我们祷告应当表达我们的感激之情，这样我们才能更好地通过祷告认识神的良善和慈爱。

　　如司布真所说，即使我们不能追寻神做工的痕迹，但我们仍可以信靠神的心意，因为我们知道神是良善的，我们也感谢祂的良善。神的爱在我们的祷告与坚忍中愈发激励我们，并且使我们再一次爱基督我们的救主、神我们的天父与圣灵我们的保惠师。

祷告

　　慈爱的父，我们奉祢爱子的名来到祢面前。求祢给我们祷告的恒心，即使在我们没有立即看到答案的时候。让我们相信，祢会把最好的东西给我们，会拦阻我们寻求那些会伤害我们的东西。祢的道路高过我们的道路，我们将所求的交托于祢良善的恩手之中。阿们。

Scripture

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Commentary

JOHN BUNYAN

Before you enter into prayer, ask thy soul these questions: To what end, O my soul, art thou retired into this place? Art thou not come to discourse the Lord in prayer? Is he present; will he hear thee? Is he merciful; will he help thee? Is thy business slight; is it not concerning the welfare of thy soul? What words wilt thou use to move him to compassion? To make thy preparation complete, consider that thou art but dust and ashes, and he the great God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that clothes himself with light as with a garment; that thou art a vile sinner, he a holy God; that thou art but a poor crawling worm, he the omnipotent Creator. In all your prayers forget not to thank the Lord for his mercies. When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words, than thy words without a heart. Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.

Devotional

THABITI ANYABWILE

Hypocritical prayer is an oxymoron; hypocrisy and prayer just don’t go together. Anything that we properly call prayer should be divorced from hypocrisy. The Lord teaches us this in the Gospels when he talks about those who pray for an audience; for them prayer is a show. And if you’ve been praying any length of time, you know that you don’t need an audience for your prayers to be a show. Sometimes we’re watching ourselves pray. We’re admiring the eloquence of our appeal. We like the turn of phrase. So our prayer can go from being an act of communion with God to a demonstration of pride.

But real prayer is an expression of love. Real prayer is an expression of perseverance. It’s an expression of gratefulness.

Why love? Because in prayer we’re communing with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We’re praying to the Father in the name of the Son through the Spirit. And in the act of prayer, we’re meant to enjoy them and to get to know them and to commune with them. How can prayer be communion without love?

In prayer there should also be perseverance, steadfastness, press- ing in, continuously knocking at the door. This perseverance is necessary to prevail against our flesh. Our flesh wars against the spirit. And, boy, I tell you, when we pray, don’t we sometimes experience a wandering, distracting mind? When we pray, don’t we sometimes experience our frailty, our weakness, our fatigue? I’ve fallen asleep praying just as our Lord’s apostles did in the garden of Gethsemane. So we need perseverance, and we need that pressing into the things of God, that pushing out the distractions of the world, that crucifying of the flesh, again, that we might have this fuller communion with the Lord.

Finally, prayer ought to be an expression of gratitude. Let us count the blessings of the Lord. Let us mark his providences. Let us observe the divine interruptions that have broken into our lives, such that we might receive not only Christ but everything in Christ, and receive and experience it in surprising ways, in opportune times, in times later than we had hoped for or expected. The divine interruptions of God, which are blessings and distributions of his kindness to us, ought to cultivate gratitude in us. Our prayers ought to express that gratitude so that we’re conscious of the kindness and goodness of the Lord.

Even when we can’t trace God’s hand, as the saying goes, we can trust his heart because we know God is good, and we’re grateful for his goodness. That spurs us on in our prayer and perseverance, and it turns us again in love toward Christ our Savior, God our Father, and the Spirit our Comforter.

Prayer

Loving Father, we come to you in the name of your beloved Son. Give us perseverance in prayer, even when we do not immediately see answers. Let us believe that you will not keep back any good thing from us, and trust that you will withhold those things we seek that would harm us. Your ways are higher than our ways, and we entrust our requests to your sovereign kindness. Amen.

问题38：什么是祷告？
答：祷告就是用赞美、祈求、认罪和感恩向神倾心吐意。
儿童版：祷告就是向神倾心吐意。

Question 38: What is Prayer?
Answer: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving.
For Kids: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God.

歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《诗篇》62 篇8 节：

你们众民当时时倚靠祂，
在祂面前倾心吐意。
神是我们的避难所。

注解

亚伯拉罕·布斯

　　你灵魂的敌人是顽固、狡猾、强有力的，而你灵命的基础是不稳固的，你需要一直记住这一点，以时刻保持清醒。为了谨慎行事，警醒祷告是更可取也是很有必要的，免得你入了迷惑。你应当永远记住自己是软弱的和不足的，这些都会在我们的行为上体现出来。只要你还在地上活着，你本性中的败坏就是永远伴随着你的敌人，它强烈地倾向于每一个来自外界的新的诱惑，所以你要「保守你的心，胜过保守一切。」省察，竭力地省察它所有的想象、动机和倾向。在你执行你内心的任何意图之前，先思考这个意图从哪里来，又倾向于哪里。因为「心中自是的，便是愚昧人」，这是人心最高形式的欺骗。他不知道自己很危险，也不关心自己最大的福祉。活着，并且要活在施恩的宝座前，别离开，直到危险远离；为此，每一个神的孩子都应尽可能多地带着谦卑与热忱来到施恩宝座前屈膝恳求。可以肯定的是，我们越看到对手的强大和自己处境的危险，我们就越应该在迫切的祈祷中操练自己。基督徒啊，当世界、肉体和魔鬼都在毫不留情、不知疲倦地与你为敌时，你还能冷静，无动于衷吗？还会傻傻的，漠不关心吗？

默想

约翰·派博

　　祷告是顺着圣灵而行，是凭着信心行事为人的方式。换句话说，这是基督徒生命的呼吸。一整天吸气进去，呼气出来，这是你生活的方式。

　　所以我要以要理问答中的四个元素向你说明，告诉你我如何使用祷告来面对生命中的所有挑战。我向你保证，在你生命中的任何时刻、面对任何情景，只要你感受到我现在需要帮助，你就可以用这四个元素来祷告。

　　我用这次对要理问答的影片拍摄为例。几分钟以前，我不确定我能不能做到，我能不能记住我要说的，我会不会不停地拍打自己的脚结果破坏了音效。然后我在那个时刻，向神承认我的需要。我说：「主啊，我是个罪人，我不配得你的帮助，但我需要祢的帮助。没有祢，我不能做任何事情。」这就是认罪的部分。

　　认罪后我接着祈求，「主啊，请帮助我，我需要好记性，我需要好的表达能力，我需要好的精神，我需要更谦卑，我需要看镜头，我需要这一切。我想帮助我的听众，但我自己没有办法做到这一切，请帮助我。」我呼求帮助，这就是祈求。

　　然后，我抓住与我所祈求的有关的应许，这些应许值得赞美和信靠。比如神说：「我会帮助你，我会加添你力量，我会用我胜利的右手托住你。」（赛41:10）我抓住这些大能、爱、怜悯的应许；我信靠这些应许，并且赞美神：「主，唯有祢能够帮助我，我相信祢会帮助我，感谢祢愿意帮助我！」这就是赞美。

　　然后我把我的拍摄过程都交托给祂，相信祂。拍完影片之后我会感谢祂。这就是感恩。
这就是要理问答中关于祷告的四个关键词。

　　我建议你在人生中持续不断向主坦承你的所需：「我需要祢，我做不到应该要做的事。」

　　呼喊并请求：「帮助我！」

　　相信和赞美神的应许，因为祂有恩典，有能力，有智慧。

　　当神帮助了你，就像这段视频拍完了。匍匐在地对主说：谢谢！

　　这就是基督徒生命属灵呼吸的旋律。

祷告

　　我们伟大的避难所，谢谢祢叫我们祷告。祢离我们并不远，祢就在我们身边，当我们祷告时，祢垂听我们的祈祷。求祢让我们不住地向祢倾心吐意。让我们的祷告没有诡诈，让我们带着真实的自己来到祢的施恩宝座前。阿们。

Scripture

PSALM 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Commentary

ABRAHAM BOOTH

As the enemies of your soul are inveterate, subtle, and powerful, and your spiritual frames inconstant, it is highly necessary you should live under a continual remembrance of those awakening considerations. What more advisable, what so necessary for you, as to walk circumspectly; to watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation? A sense of your own weakness and insufficiency, should ever abide on your mind and appear in your conduct. As the corruption of nature is an enemy that is always near you, and always in you, while on earth; and as it is very strongly disposed to second every temptation from without; you should “keep your heart with all diligence.” Watch, diligently watch, over all its imaginations, motions, and tendencies. Consider whence they arise and to what they incline, before you execute any of the purposes formed in it. For such is the superlative deceitfulness of the human heart, “that he who trusteth in it is a fool,” ignorant of his danger, and unmindful of his best interests. This consideration should cause every child of God to bend the suppliant knee, with the utmost frequency, humility, and fervour: to live, as it were, at the throne of grace; nor depart thence till far from the reach of danger. Certain it is, that the more we see of the strength of our adversaries and of the danger we are in from them, the more shall we exercise ourselves in fervent prayer. Can you, O Christian, be cool and indifferent, be dull and careless, when the world, the flesh, and the devil are your implacable and unwearied opposers?

Devotional

JOHN PIPER

Prayer is the way you walk by the Spirit. Prayer is the way you walk by faith. In other words, it’s the breath of the Christian life all day long. Just breathe in, breathe out. It’s the way you live.

Let me illustrate for you with four elements from the catechism: confession, petition, praise, and thanks. I’m commending to you that any time you face any situation when you feel I need help here, you do it by prayer using these four elements.

Suppose I have to speak in front of a group, and I am nervous (you can pick your particular challenge). As the moment approaches, I wonder, “Am I going to be able to do this? Will I remember what I have to say? Will I make a fool of myself?” And at that moment I confess my need to God. I say, “Lord, I’m a sinner. I don’t deserve your help, but I need your help. I can’t do anything without you.” That’s the confession step of prayer.

And then I turn my confession to petition. “Lord, please help me. I need memory. I need articulation. I need the right spirit. I need humility. I need to look the people in the eye. I need all these things. I want to be helpful to my listeners. But I don’t have it in me to be all that they need. Help me.” That’s the petition step of prayer. A cry for help.

And then I need to reach out and take hold of something about God that will be worthy of my praise and worthy of my trust. Like God says, “I’ll strengthen you. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you up with my victorious right hand” (see Isa. 41:10). I take hold of that promise, that power, that love, that mercy, and I hold onto it. And I trust him and praise him. “You, oh Lord, can help me. I trust you to help me. I praise you for being the kind of God who is willing and able to help me!” That’s the trust and praise step of prayer.

Then I give my talk, trusting him. And when I am done, no matter what, I thank him. Since I trusted him for his help, I believe that he is going to use my effort, no matter how well I think I did. “Thank you, Lord!” That is the thanks step of prayer.

There they are—four key words from the catechism.

First, continually confess your need to the Lord. “I need you.”

Second, cry out in petition. “Help me.”

Third, lay hold of God’s promises with trust and praise for his
ability to fulfill them.

And then when he helps you, go on your face and say, “Thank you.”

That’s the rhythm and the breath of the Christian life.

Prayer

Our Great Refuge, thank you for calling us to prayer. You are not far away; you are near, and you hear us when we pray. Let us pour out our hearts to you without ceasing. Let us pray without guile, bringing our true selves before your throne of grace. Amen.

问题37：圣灵怎样帮助我们？
答：圣灵使我们知罪，安慰我们，引导我们，赐给我们属灵的恩赐和顺服神的愿望；祂使我们能够祷告，并理解神的话语。
儿童版：圣灵使我们知罪，祂使我们能够祷告，并明白神的话语。

Question 37: How Does the Holy Spirit Help Us?
Answer: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.
For Kids: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.

歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《以弗所书》6 章17 节至18 节：

　　并戴上救恩的头盔，拿着圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道。靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此警醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。

注解

约翰·欧文

　　圣灵住在我们里面，为我们指引方向。从根本和习惯上来说，祂教导我们，给我们灵里的看见和亮光，祂光照我们，使我们出黑暗入奇妙光明，看清和知道自己的道路，并且晓得神的事……祂给予我们新的亮光和理解，因此，我们也能够「分辨、明白和领受属灵的事。」……圣灵浇灌在我们身上，力量和光明就来了；使我们能够领受祂施恩启示我们的一切，并且有能力行出来……内住的圣灵会扶持我们。我们的心极容易在试炼面前败下阵来。事实上，只要遭遇一个小小的试炼，我们的肉体和心肠，和一切在我们里面的都立刻会失败……圣灵扶持、担当我们的软弱，帮助我们努力前行。

默想

里奥·舒斯特

　　我总是震撼于耶稣所说的：「离了我，你们就不能做什么。」（约15:5）这提醒使我们自卑，同时也激励我们，自始至终，并非部分，而是全部借着赐予我们圣灵，从生命的起初到最后，耶稣赐给我们的过于我们的所需。圣灵赐给我们生命，充满我们的生命，把我们指向那位真正的生命之主。祂赐给我们生命，不单是因为我们属灵上缺乏，而是因为我们死在了罪中。属灵生命的起点是圣灵重生了我们，祂将我们的石心变为肉心，赐给我们新生命，祂使神的话语在我们身上成为真实，也使我们听了福音之后得以接受基督。这提醒我们，成为基督徒不是成为一个更好的人，而是唯独靠着神的恩典，唯独借着信心成为一个新造的人。

　　祂不只赐给我们生命，祂使我们的生命变得更丰富。当我们成为基督徒，天父使我们成为祂名下的儿女，并且给予我们祂的灵，作为祂儿女的凭证。祂与我们同住，充满我们。祂像保惠师一样指引我们，支持我们，使我们知罪，在基督里增添我们力量，引导我们应当如何生活；圣灵会帮助我们祷告，甚至当我们软弱不祷告时为我们祷告。在这一切上，祂使我们越来越有基督的形像，使我们能行神预定要我们所行的善。祂赐给我们特定属灵的恩赐，建造基督的身体，使我们能爱主，服侍并顺服神。

　　所以，祂赐给我们生命，祂充满我们的生命。祂指示我们谁才是真正的生命之主。耶稣说：「圣灵要荣耀我，因为祂要将受于我的告诉你们。」（约16:14）圣灵是基督的灵，祂不吸引人注意祂自己，而是荣耀耶稣，并且赐给我们恩典做一样的事，使祂——生命的本体——成为我们的生命和爱。因此，是阿拉法也是俄梅嘎，是起始也是末了的那一位，赐给我们祂的灵，供应我们一切的所需，从起初直到末了。祂赐给我们生命，充满我们的生命，并且指出谁才是生命的本身。

祷告

　　圣灵神，使我们行在祢的道中，照亮我们心中隐秘的罪，在我们力所不能及的事上成全我们。求祢让我们做祢所喜悦的事。为我们代求，开我们的眼，让我们正确认识真理的道。阿们。

Scripture

EPHESIANS 6:17–18

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Commentary

JOHN OWEN

The Holy Spirit dwelling in us gives guidance and direction. Fundamentally, habitually, he enlightens our minds, give us eyes, understandings, shines into us, translates us from darkness into marvelous light, whereby we are able to see our way, to know our paths, and to discern the things of God. . . . He gives a new light and understanding, whereby, in general, we are enabled to “discern, comprehend, and receive spiritual things.” . . . Strength comes as well as light, by the pouring out of the Spirit on us; strength for the receiving and practice of all his gracious discoveries to us. . . . From this indwelling of the Spirit we have supportment. Our hearts are very ready to sink and fail under our trials; indeed, a little thing will cause us so to do: flesh, and heart, and all that is within us, are soon ready to fail. . . . The Spirit helpeth, bears up that infirmity which is ready to make us go double.

Devotional

LEO SCHUSTER

I’ve always been struck by Jesus’s words: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” They are a humbling and refreshing reminder that our need, from first to last, isn’t partial, but total. By giving us the Holy Spirit, Christ has given us all we need and more, from first to last. The Holy Spirit gives us life. He fills our life and points us to the One who is life. He gives us life in that our starting point is not simply that we’re spiritually needy, but that we are dead in sin. Our spiritual life begins when the Holy Spirit regenerates us, giving us new life. When he turns our heart of stone into a heart of flesh, he makes the truth of God’s Word real to us, and we freely embrace Christ as he’s offered to us in the gospel. This reminds us that being a Christian isn’t about being a better person but about being a new person, by God’s grace alone, through faith alone.

Not only does he give us life, but he also fills our life. When we become Christians, God the Father adopts us as his children and gives to us his Spirit of adoption. He comes to live in us and fill us, and in doing so he guides us as a counselor would—supporting, convicting us of our sin, strengthening us in Christ, encouraging us in the way we should live, helping us to pray, and even praying for us when we’re too weak to do so ourselves. In all this, he grows us in Christlikeness, enabling us to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do. And he gives us specific gifts to use to contribute to the building up of the body of Christ, and to love, serve, and obey God.

So he gives us life. He fills our life. And finally, he points us to the One who is life. Jesus said, “[The Spirit] will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. He doesn’t draw attention to himself but glorifies Jesus and gives us the grace to do the same, making him who is life our life and love. So the One who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, has given us his Spirit to supply all we need from first to last. He gives us life, fills our life, and points us to the One who is life.

Prayer

God the Spirit, have your way in us. Shine your light on the secret sins of our hearts. Equip us for tasks that are too large for us. Make us glad in what delights you. Intercede for us and open our eyes to rightly understand the Word of truth. Amen.

问题36：关于圣灵，我们相信什么？
答：祂是神，与父和子永远同在，并且神将祂不可撤销地赐给一切相信的人。
儿童版：祂是神，与父和子永远同在。

Question 36: What Do We Believe About the Holy Spirit?
Answer: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
For Kids: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son.

歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《约翰福音》14 章16 节至17 节：

　　我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫祂永远与你们同在，就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的。因为不见祂，也不认识祂；你们却认识祂，因祂常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。

注解

奥古斯丁

　　当我们的主向祂的门徒吹一口气，说：「你们受圣灵」时，祂当然希望人们明白，圣灵不仅是父的灵，也是父独生子的灵。因为这同一个灵确实是父和子的灵，父、子、圣灵是三位一体的创造主，而非受造物。

默想

萨姆·斯托姆斯

　　基督徒把神当作父很容易。将神想象为子，对许多人来说也不是问题。这些名称我们都很容易接受，因为我们在地上的生活和关系中不可避免地要与父子们打交道。但作为圣灵的神往往却是另一回事。戈登·菲（Gordon Fee）说到他的一个学生讲过这样一段话，「父神对我来说非常好明白，子神我也很能理解，但圣灵却是灰蒙蒙的一团。」

　　这与我们实际从圣经上读到的是如此不同。圣经里所描写的圣灵不是在神的位格中排列第三，而是与父和子同等，一样存到永远，与他们共享三一真神的荣耀与尊贵。圣灵不是一种非位格性的力量，也不是一种超凡抽象的能量。圣灵在任何意义上都是有位格的。祂有头脑能够思考（参见赛11:2 ；罗8:27）；祂能够体验深情和感觉（参见罗8:26，15:30）；圣灵有意志，会做选择，目的是让神的百姓得着最大的益处，也最荣耀子。（参见徒16:7 ；林前2:11）

　　当圣经描写圣灵因我们犯罪而忧伤（参见弗4:30），我们就看到了祂更具位格性的一面。圣灵不亚于父和子，祂与有圣灵内住的人之间，是一种充满活力的亲密关系（参见林后13:14）。圣灵会说话（参见可13:11 ；启2:7），会作见证（参见约15:26，16:13），会安慰人（参见徒9:31），会使人刚强（参见弗3:16），会指教我们，尤其是在我们灵性软弱的情况下（参见路12:12）。圣灵的位格性还体现在人可以对祂撒谎（参见徒5:3）, 亵慢祂（参见来10:29），甚至亵渎祂（参见太12:31-32）。

　　不过，最重要的，圣灵是「基督的灵」（罗8:9）。圣灵居住在我们里面，我们是主的圣殿（参见弗2:21-22）。祂的主要职责是将我们的注意力转向基督的位格，并唤醒我们对这位救主由衷的爱和忠诚（参见约14:26，16:12-15）。圣灵最喜悦的莫过于像聚光灯一样站在我们身后（当然祂是住在我们里面的），使我们的心思和意念聚焦于基督的美，以及在基督里向我们显明的神。

　　当我们在祷告中默想圣灵的位格和祂的工作，并为祂在我们生命中大能的运行而献上感恩的时候，可别忘了思考陶然士（Thomas Torrance）的话，他提醒我们：「圣灵不仅是神，还是从神而来，祂不是某种远处的作用力或来自神的某种恩赐，因为神在圣灵里亲自直接作用于我们，神赐给我们祂的圣灵，其实就是赐下祂自己。」

祷告

　　帮助我们的神，感谢祢差遣祢的灵住在我们里面。祂惩戒、管教我们，也坚固、安慰我们。求祢让我们靠着祂的大能来过信心的生活，而不是出于我们自己的能力；使我们满有从圣灵而来的喜乐，走顺服的道路。阿们。

Scripture

JOHN 14:16–17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Commentary

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

Wherefore, when our Lord breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” He certainly wished it to be understood that the Holy Ghost was not only the Spirit of the Father, but of the only begotten Son Himself. For the same Spirit is, indeed, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, making with them the trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit, not a creature, but the Creator.

Devotional

SAM STORMS

Rarely does a Christian struggle to think of God as Father. And to envision God as Son is not a problem for many. These personal names come easily to us because our lives and relationships are inescapably intertwined with fathers and sons here on earth. But God as Holy Spirit is often a different matter. Gordon Fee tells of one of his students who remarked, “God the Father makes perfectly good sense to me, and God the Son I can quite understand; but the Holy Spirit is a gray, oblong blur.”

How different this is from what we actually read in Scripture. There we see that the Spirit is not third in rank in the Godhead but is coequal and coeternal with the Father and Son, sharing with them all the glory and honor due unto our triune God. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power or an ethereal, abstract energy. The Spirit is personal in every sense of the term. He has a mind and thinks (Isa. 11:2; Rom. 8:27). He is capable of experiencing deep affections and feelings (Rom. 8:26; 15:30). The Spirit has a will and makes choices regarding what is best for God’s people and what will most glorify the Son (Acts 16:7; 1 Cor. 2:11).

We see even more of the Spirit’s personality when he is described as being grieved when we sin (Eph. 4:30). The Spirit, no less so than the Father and the Son, enters into a vibrant and intimate relationship with all whom he indwells (2 Cor. 13:14). The Spirit talks (Mark 13:11; Rev. 2:7), testifies (John 15:26; 16:13) encourages (Acts 9:31), strengthens (Eph. 3:16), and teaches us, especially in times of spiritual emergency (Luke 12:12). That the Spirit is personal is seen in that he can be lied to (Acts 5:3), insulted (Heb. 10:29), and even blasphemed (Matt. 12:31–32).

Above all else, though, the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Christ” (Rom. 8:9). His primary role in us, the temple of God in whom he dwells (Eph. 2:21–22), is other-directed or other-oriented as he ministers to direct our attention to the person of Christ and to awaken in us heartfelt affection for and devotion to the Savior (John 14:26; 16:12–15). The Holy Spirit delights above all else in serving as a spotlight, standing behind us (although certainly dwelling within us) to focus our thoughts and meditation on the beauty of Christ and all that God is for us in and through him.

As we prayerfully meditate on the person and work of the Spirit and give thanks for his powerful presence in our lives, we would do well to consider the words of Thomas Torrance, who reminds us that “the Spirit is not just something divine or something akin to God emanating from him, not some sort of action at a distance or some kind of gift detachable from himself, for in the Holy Spirit God acts directly upon us himself, and in giving us his Holy Spirit God gives us nothing less than himself.”

Prayer

God Our Help, we thank you for sending your Spirit to live in us. Thank you that he chastens and disciplines, strengthens and comforts us. Let us live the life of faith in his power, not our own. Let us walk the path of obedience, filled with his joy. Amen.

问题35：既然我们是单单靠着恩典、凭着信心得救，那么这种信心是从何而来呢？
答：我们从基督那里领受的一切恩赐，都是通过圣灵得到的，包括信心本身。
儿童版：从圣灵而来。

Question 35: Since We Are Redeemed by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, Where Does This Faith Come From?
Answer: All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.
For Kids: From the Holy Spirit.

歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《提多书》3 章4 节至6 节：

　　但到了神我们救主的恩慈和祂向人所施的慈爱显明的时候，祂便救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照祂的怜悯，藉着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。圣灵就是神藉着耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的。

注解

薛华

　　我们必须认识到，基督教是世界上最简单的宗教，因为只有它相信，父神、基督耶稣和圣灵做一切的工。神是造物主，我们得以存在和其他事物得以存在与我们毫无关系。我们可以塑造其他事物，但不能改变事物存在的事实。我们没有为自己的救恩做任何事，因为基督都做了，我们就不必做任何事。在所有其他宗教里，人都必须做点什么……但在基督教，我们什么都不必做，神已经做完了：祂造了我们，祂差遣祂的儿子；祂儿子死了，又因子是无限的，因此祂担当了我们所有的罪。我们不需要承担自己的罪，甚至也不需要配得上基督的救恩，因为祂主动做了这一切。所以在某种程度上，这是世界上最简单的宗教。

默想

米卡·埃德蒙森

　　「信心是怎么来的？」这个问题涉及信徒如何接受信仰，并因此得着基督赎买的救恩。最好是在我们回顾自己人生的时候问：「我，一个堕落的罪人，怎么就爱上耶稣，并相信了祂的福音呢？要知道，还有那么多人没有信呢。」

　　要了解这个问题的重要性，你必须明白，「十字架的道理，在那灭亡的人为愚拙」（林前1:18）。如果没有神施恩介入，就算我们能够从理性上认识福音中的事实，我们也还是会把它当作愚拙而拒绝接受。但要理问答提醒我们，神确实介入了。圣灵赐新生命给罪人，不然我们就会「死在过犯罪恶之中」（弗2:1）。当福音被传讲，圣灵就使我们生发出信心，让我们能够拥抱复活掌权的基督，正如祂在福音里所启示的那样。就连信心（使我们能以听从福音）都是神的恩典。这个惊人的事实对于我们如何看待救恩、基督徒生活和敬拜都有着巨大的影响。

　　首先，它证实我们的救恩是真正的恩典。没有人能自夸说，自己得救是因为充分利用了所临到的救恩。我们得救当然不是因为我们里面有足够的道德和灵性意识，使我们能相信福音，也不是因为我们被教导得多么好（虽然这很重要）。不，我们得救仅仅是因为复活的基督出于祂的怜悯给了我们属灵的看见，使我们得以相信福音。耶稣用祂的圣灵犁耕了我们心灵的石头地，以至当福音的种子撒下去之后，能够结出信心和悔改的果子。如果我们相信福音，我们就应该赞美神，因为是祂赐下恩典，使我们能够相信福音，唯有祂使我们变得不再一样。因此，基督徒的生活必须以感恩和谦卑为标记。就自身而言，我们并不比非基督徒更好。唯一的不同是，有个非常奇妙的东西（更确切地说，某人）进入了我们的生命，祂改变了我们的一切。

　　最后，知道我们的信心是神的恩赐，将改变我们对公开敬拜，特别是传福音的看法。借着福音的宣告，复活的基督向人彰显了祂拯救的大能，祂也借此使人们得永生。永远的生命并不是从基督再来的时刻开始的。借着福音，神救赎的大能，圣灵今天就已经将永生赐给了我们。当我们坐在教堂的长椅上听福音的时候，我们不只是在听一场宗教讲座。全世界最伟大的力量正在将新生命带给罪人。天堂降落在人间，荣耀的神的国临到了现在的世界。公开敬拜是神救赎行动的中心，直等到基督再来，全世界都要看见祂。在那以先，我们是用信心的眼睛看见祂。每周，我们奉祂的名聚会，一起敬拜祂，聆听祂的话语。并且，借着圣灵，我们都在逐渐地改变，直到最终进入永恒。

祷告

　　圣灵，当我们死在过犯罪恶之中不能寻见祢的时候，是祢找到了我们，是祢给予我们信心。若不是祢将我们的石心变为肉心，没有人会相信祢的重生之恩。求祢让我们在祢的怜悯中放下一切的自夸。阿们。

Scripture

TITUS 3:4–6

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteous- ness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Commentary

FRANCIS SCHAEFFER

We must realize that Christianity is the easiest religion in the world, because it is the only religion in which God the Father and Christ and the Holy Spirit do everything. God is the Creator; we have nothing to do with our existence, or the existence of other things. We can shape other things, but we cannot change the fact of existence. We do nothing for our salvation because Christ did it all. We do not have to do anything. In every other religion we have to do something . . . but with Christianity we do not do anything; God has done it all: He has created us and He has sent His Son; His Son died and because the Son is infinite, therefore he bears our total guilt. We do not need to bear our guilt, nor do we even have to merit the merit of Christ. He does it all. So in one way it is the easiest religion in the world.

Devotional

MIKA EDMONDSON

This question deals with how believers come to faith and so receive the salvation purchased by Christ. It’s a question best asked in retrospect, as we look back over our lives and ask, “How did I, a fallen sinner, come to love Jesus and believe his gospel where so many others have not?”

In order to understand the magnitude of this, you have to under- stand that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18). Although we can intellectually comprehend the facts of the gospel, apart from the gracious intervention of God, we would reject it as folly. But the catechism reminds us that God does intervene. The Holy Spirit gives new life to sinners who were otherwise “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). As the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts so that we embrace the risen and reigning Christ as he presents himself through the gospel. Even faith (our obedient response to the gospel) is a gracious gift of God. This amazing truth has huge implications for how we view our salvation, the Christian life, and worship.

First, it confirms that our salvation is truly all of grace. None of us can boast that we’re saved because we made the most of the salvation offered to us. We certainly aren’t saved because we had enough moral and spiritual sense in and of ourselves to believe the gospel or because we were catechized so well (although that is important). No, we are saved only because, in his divine compassion, the risen Christ gave us the spiritual sight to believe the gospel. By his Holy Spirit, Jesus tilled the rocky soil of our hearts so that as the seed of the gospel was sown, it would bring forth the fruit of faith and repentance. If we believe the gospel, we should praise God for giving us the grace to believe it, for he is the only One who made the difference for us. Therefore, the Christian life must be marked by gratitude and humility. In and of ourselves, we are no better than our non-Christian neighbors. The only difference is that something (or, rather, someone) absolutely wonderful has come into our lives and changed everything.

Finally, knowing that our faith is a gift of God changes how we view public worship, particularly the preaching of the gospel. Through gospel proclamation, the risen Christ presents himself in saving power and transforms people for eternity. Eternal life does not begin when Christ returns; eternal life begins today as the Holy Spirit brings that life to us through the gospel, the power of God unto salvation. As we sit in our pews hearing the gospel, we are not just listening to a religious lecture. The greatest power in all the world is at work bringing new life to sinners. Heaven is coming to earth, a glorious “not yet” is breaking into the “here and now.” Public worship is the center of God’s redemptive action until Christ’s return when the world will behold him. Until that time, we behold him by faith, week by week, as we gather together in his name to worship him and hear his Word. And by the Holy Spirit, we are progressively being transformed in a way that will last for eternity.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, you sought us when we could not seek you because we were dead in our trespasses and sins. You are the giver of our faith; none of us would believe apart from your regenerating grace, by which you make hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. Let us put aside all boasting in light of your undeserved mercy. Amen.