519 英翻中 雅各書 第六章                          FALSE FAITH               虚假的信心                      06/03/2026

十字架是基督教的核心象征，源自罗马帝国的死刑刑具，因耶稣基督为救赎人类被钉其上而赋予了全新的生命、慈爱与希望含义。它被广泛用于教堂建筑、艺术、服饰及标志中，天主教多用带有耶稣身体的“十架苦像”，而新教则倾向于“空十字架”，象征复活。

CHAPTER SIX                                 FALSE FAITH                                  James 2:14–26

第六章                                                虚假的信心                                       雅各书 2:14-26

11/6/21  萬清不要加油加醋。        11/7/21  10:40 AM 開始

Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life. The sinner is saved by faith (Eph. 2:8–9), and the believer must walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), and whatever we do apart from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).

信心是基督徒生活中的重要教义。罪人因信得救（以弗所書 2:8-9），信徒必须照信心而行事為人（哥林多后書 5:7）。没有信心，就不可能取悦上帝（希伯来书 11:6），我们没有依信心所做的一切都是罪（罗马书 14:23）。

 

Someone has said that faith is not “believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.” When you read Hebrews 11, you meet men and women who acted on God’s Word, no matter what price they had to pay. Faith is not some kind of nebulous feeling that we work up; faith is confidence that God’s Word is true and conviction that acting on that Word will bring His blessing.

有人说信心不是“不顾证据而相信，而是不計后果地順服上帝的道”。当你阅读希伯来书 11 章时，你会遇到不計代价，都按照上帝旨意行事為人的男人和女人。信心不是我们努力要達成某种職事的模糊感觉；信心是相信上帝的道是真理，并且坚信按照祂的话语行事為人会带来祂的祝福。

 

In this paragraph, James discussed the relationship between faith and works. This is an important discussion, for if we are wrong in this matter, we jeopardize our eternal salvation. What kind of faith really saves a person? Is it necessary to perform good works in order to be saved? How can a person tell whether or not he is exercising true saving faith? James answered these questions by explaining to us that there are three kinds of faith, only one of which is true saving faith.           要特注意!!!

在这段中，雅各讨论了信心与行为之间的关系。这是很重要的讨论，因为如果在这件事上我们错了，就会危及我们永恒的救恩。什么样的信心才能真正使人得救？ 要得救就必须行善吗？  人如何判断他是否在运用真正得救的信心？ 雅各向我们解释了三類信心，其中只有一种是真正得救的信心，藉由而回答了这些问题。

 

Dead Faith (2:14–17)

死的信心（2:14-17）

 

Even in the early church there were those who claimed they had saving faith, yet did not possess salvation. Wherever there is the true, you will find the counterfeit. Jesus warned, “Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). 

即使在早期教会中，也有人自称有得救的信心，却没有得救。哪里有真货，哪里就有假货。耶稣警告说：“凡对我说‘主啊，主啊’的，都不能进天国；惟有那遵行我天父旨意的人才能”（马太福音 7:21）。

 

People with dead faith substitute words for deeds. They know the correct vocabulary for prayer and testimony, and can even quote the right verses from the Bible, but their walk does not measure up to their talk. They think that their words are as good as works, and they are wrong.

有死信心的人用言语代替行为。他们知道祷告和见证的正确词汇，甚至可以引用圣经中正确的经文，但他们的行为与他们的谈话不相称。他们认为自己的言和行都一樣，这是错误的。

 

James gave a simple illustration. A poor believer came into a fellowship, without proper clothing and in need of food. The person with dead faith noticed the visitor and saw his needs, but he did not do anything to meet the needs. All he did was say a few pious words! “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed” (James 2:16 niv). But the visitor went away just as hungry and naked as he came in!

雅各举了简单的例子。一位可怜的信徒加入了团契，没有合适的衣服，需要食物。信心是死的信徒注意到這人，看到了他的需要，但他没有做任何事情来满足他的需要。他所做的只是说几句虔诚的话！ “去吧，祝福你顺利；有保持温暖和充足的食物”（雅各书 2:16 新國際版）。但是客人走的时候就像他进到團契的时候一样，又饿又赤裸！

 

Food and clothing are basic needs of every human being, whether he is saved or unsaved. “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim. 6:8). “Therefore take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or, ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ … for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matt. 6:31–32). Jacob included these basic needs in his prayer to God: “If God will be with me … and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on” (Gen. 28:20).

食物和衣服是每人生活的基本需求，无论他是否得救。 “我们有衣有食，就可以知足了”（提摩太前书 6:8）。 “所以不要想着说，'我们吃什么？' 或，'我们喝什么？' 或，'我们穿什么衣服？'……因为你们的天父知道你们需要这一切”（马太福音 6：31-32）。雅各(Jacob)在他向上帝祈祷时，将这些基本需求包括在内：“上帝若与我同在……肯定赐给我食物吃，衣服穿”（创世记 28:20）。

 

As believers, we have an obligation to help meet the needs of people, no matter who they may be. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40).

作为信徒，我们有义务帮助满足別人的需求，无论他们是谁。 “既然有机会，就当向众人行善，向信徒一家的人更当如此”（加拉太書6:10）。 “你们既然对我这些弟兄中最小的一个做了，就是对我做的”（马太福音 25:40）。

 

To help a person in need is an expression of love, and faith works by love (Gal. 5:6). The apostle John emphasized this aspect of good works. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth” (1 John 3:17–18 niv). The priest and Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan each had religious training, but neither of them paused to assist the dying man at the side of the road (Luke 10:25–37). Each of them would defend his faith, yet neither demonstrated that faith in loving works.

帮助有需要的人是爱的表現，而信心因爱而生（加拉太书 5:6）。使徒约翰强调了善行的这一方面。 “人若有擁有物质财富，见弟兄有需要，却不怜悯他，上帝的爱怎能在他心里呢？ 亲爱的孩子们，让我们不要把爱只放言语或舌头上，而是應用行动和真理實踐它”（约翰一书 3：17-18 新國際版）。好撒玛利亚人的比喻中的祭司和利未人都受过宗教训练，但他们都没有停下来帮助路边垂死的被強盜打傷的人（路加福音 10：25-37）。他们都会捍卫自己的信仰，但都並没有沒有付出，对热爱捍卫自己信仰的信心。

 

The question in James 2:14 should read, “Can that kind of faith save him?” What kind? The kind of faith that is never seen in practical works. The answer is no! Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. That kind of faith is dead faith. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). The great theologian John Calvin wrote, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.” The word alone in James 2:17 simply means “by itself.” True saving faith can never be by itself: it always brings life, and life produces good works.

雅各书 2 章 14 节的问题应该是如此：“这样的信心能救他吗？”哪一种？ 那种在实际工作中从未见过的信心。答案是，不！ 任何不能带来改变的生活和善行的信心的宣告都是虚假的。这种信心是死的信心。 “就是这样，信心若不能發生功效，就是死的，是單獨的”（雅各书 2:17）。伟大的神学家约翰 . 加尔文写道：“唯有信心才能称义，但能称义的信心永远不会单独存在。”雅各书 2 章 17 节中的“单独”一词的意思是“凭着自己”。真正得救的信心永远不可能单独存在：它总是带来生命，而生命产生善行。

 

The person with dead faith has only an intellectual experience. In his mind, he knows the doctrines of salvation, but he has never submitted himself to God and trusted Christ for salvation. He knows the right words, but he does not back up his words with his works. Faith in Christ brings life (John 3:16), and where there is life there must be growth and fruit. Three times in this paragraph, James warned us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26).

死信心的人只有智慧上的经验。在他的心里，他知道救恩的道理，但他从来没有顺服上帝，信靠基督得救。他知道正确的上帝的话，但他没有用他的話和職事來活出上帝的话。在基督裡的信心带来生命（约翰福音 3:16），哪​​里有生命，哪里就有成长和果子。在这一段中，雅各三次警告我们，“信心没有行为是死的”（雅各书 2:17, 20, 26）。

 

Beware of a mere intellectual faith. No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same any more than he can come into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). Dead faith is not saving faith. Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life.

谨防纯粹的知识信仰。没有人可以凭着信心来到基督面前并保持原样，就像他接触 220 伏电线并保持原样一样。 “有了子的就有生命；没有神儿子的，就没有生命”（约翰一书 5：12）。死的信心不是得救的信心。死的信心是虚假的信心，它使人陷入对永生的错误信心。

 

Demonic Faith (2:18–19)

恶魔的信仰（2:18-19）

 

James wanted to shock his complacent readers, so he used demons as his illustration. In recent years the church has rediscovered the reality and activity of demons. When our Lord was ministering on earth, He often cast out demons, and He gave that power to His disciples. Paul often confronted demonic forces in his ministry, and in Ephesians 6:10–20, he admonished the early Christians to claim God’s protection and defeat the spiritual forces of wickedness.

雅各想震惊自满的读者，所以他用恶魔作为他的例证。近年来，教会重新发现了恶魔的出现和活动。当我们的主在地上服事时，祂经常赶鬼，也把这种能力赐给祂的门徒。保罗在他的事工中经常面对恶魔的势力，在以弗所书 6章10至20節中，他告诫早期的基督徒要寻求上帝的保护，打败邪恶的属灵势力。

 

It comes as a shock to people that demons have faith! What do they believe? For one thing, they believe in the existence of God; they are neither atheists nor agnostics. They also believe in the deity of Christ. Whenever they met Christ when He was on earth, they bore witness to His sonship (Mark 3:11–12). They believe in the existence of a place of punishment (Luke 8:31), and they also recognize Jesus Christ as the Judge (Mark 5:1–13). They submit to the power of His Word.

恶魔有信仰，让人震惊！他们相信什么？ 首先，牠们相信上帝的存在；牠们既不是无神论者，也不是不可知论者。牠们也相信基督的神性。每当惡魔在地上遇见基督时，牠们就见证了祂是上帝的儿子（马可福音 3：11-12）。牠们相信有惩罚的地方存在（路加福音 8:31），牠们也承认耶稣基督是审判者（马可福音 5:1-13）。牠们顺服祂话语的能力。

 

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord!” (Deut. 6:4) This was the daily affirmation of faith of the godly Jew. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19 niv). The man with dead faith was touched only in his intellect, but the demons are touched also in their emotions. They believe and tremble.

“听，以色列啊！主我们的上帝是独一的主！” （申命记 6:4）这是敬虔的犹太人每天对信仰的肯定。 “你相信只有一位上帝。好的！连恶魔也相信，并且戰栗”（雅各书 2:19 新國際版）。信心是死的信徒只被他的智力所觸摸，但恶魔也被牠们的情感所感动。牠们相信而战兢。

 

But it is not a saving experience to believe and tremble. A person can be enlightened in his mind and even stirred in his heart and be lost forever. True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized: a changed life. “Show me thy faith without thy works,” challenged James, “and I will show thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

因相信而战兢并不是得救的经历。 人可以在他的心志中醒悟，甚至在他的心中激荡，然后永远迷失。真正得救的信心包括更多的一些东西，可以看到和识别的一些东西：生活的改变。 雅各挑战说，“将你沒有行为的信心显明给我看，我就向你顯明我帶有行为的信心”（雅各书 2:18）。

 

How could a person show his faith without works? Can a dead sinner perform good works? Impossible! When you trust Christ, you are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for Christ; you receive the life, then you reveal the life. Faith that is barren is not saving faith. The Greek word translated “dead” in James 2:20 carries the meaning of “barren or idle,” like money drawing no interest.

人怎能把没有行为的信心顯示出來呢？  死的罪人能行善吗？ 不可能的！当你信靠基督时，你就“在基督耶稣裡造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是上帝所預備叫我们行的”（以弗所 2:10）。成为基督徒涉及到信靠基督，并为基督而活；你接受生命，然后你顯示出生命。不結果子的信心不是得救的信心。雅各书 2 章 20 节翻译为“死”的希腊词带有“不結果子或無益的”的意思，就像金钱不生利息一样。

 

James has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can never save the sinner: dead faith (the intellect alone), and demonic faith (the intellect and the emotions). He closes this section by describing the only kind of faith that can save the sinner—dynamic faith.

雅各向我们介绍了两种永远无法拯救罪人的信心：死的信心（只有理智）和恶魔的信心（理智和情感）。他通过描述动态的信心，它是唯一可以拯救罪人的信心，来结束这一段。

 

Dynamic Faith (2:20–26)

充滿活力的信心（2:20-26）

 

Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, faith that results in a changed life. James described this true saving faith. To begin with, dynamic saving faith is based on the Word of God. We receive our spiritual rebirth through God’s Word (James 1:18). We receive the Word and this saves us (James 1:21). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). James used Abraham and Rahab as illustrations of dynamic saving faith, since both of them heard and received the message of God through His Word.

充滿活力的信心是实存的信心，有大能的信心，带来生活轉变的信心。雅各描述這充滿活力真正得救的信心。首先，充满活力得救信心是基于上帝的话语。我们通过上帝的话语，获得属灵的重生（雅各书 1:18）。接受祂的道，这拯救了我们（雅各书 1:21）。 “所以信是由听道来的，听道是从上帝的话来的”（罗马书 10:17）。雅各使用亚伯拉罕和喇合作为充满活力的得救信心的例证，因为他们都藉由，听到上帝的道，并接受了祂的信息。

 

Faith is only as good as its object. The man in the jungle bows before an idol of stone and trusts it to help him, but he receives no help. No matter how much faith a person may generate, if it is not directed at the right object, it will accomplish nothing. “I believe” may be the testimony of many sincere people, but the big question is, “In whom do you believe? What do you believe?” We are not saved by faith in faith; we are saved by faith in Christ as revealed in His Word.

信心的好坏完全取决于信心的目标。丛林中的人向石像鞠躬，并相信它会帮助他，但他没有得到。不管人能产生多大的信心，如果信心不是指向正确的目标，就不会成就任何事。 “我相信”可能是许多真诚的人的见证，但最大的问题是，“你相信谁？你相信什么？”我们不是在信心裡因信得救；我们是在基督裡，因信祂的信心而得救，正如祂的话所启示的。

 

Dynamic faith is based on God’s Word, and it involves the whole man. Dead faith touches only the intellect; demonic faith involves both the mind and the emotions; but dynamic faith involves the will. The whole person plays a part in true saving faith. The mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth; and the will acts upon the truth. The men and women of faith named in Hebrews 11 were people of action: God spoke and they obeyed. Again, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; faith is obeying in spite of consequence.”

充滿活力的信心是基于上帝的话语，涉及整个全人的信心。死的信心只触及理智；恶魔的信心只涉及思想和情緒；但充滿活力的信心涉及人的意志。全人都在為真正得救的信心有所作為。头脑明白真理；心渴望真理；心志按照真理行事。希伯来书 11 章中提到的見證人都是行动信心的人：上帝说话，他们顺服。再說，“信心是即使沒有证据也相信；信心就是不計后果地順服上帝。”

 

True saving faith leads to action. Dynamic faith is not intellectual contemplation or emotional consternation; it leads to obedience on the part of the will. And this obedience is not an isolated event: it continues throughout the whole life. It leads to works.

真正得救的信心会导致行动。充滿活力的信心不是依賴智力上的沉思或情緒上的惊恐；充滿活力的信心导致意志方面的順服。这种順服不是孤獨的事件：而是贯穿全人整個生命。它导致上帝的作為。

 

Many different kinds of works are named in the New Testament. “The works of the law” (Gal. 2:16) relate to the sinner’s attempt to please God by obeying the law of Moses. Of course, it is impossible for a sinner to be saved through the works of the law. “The works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19) are done by unsaved people who live for the things of the old nature. There are also “wicked works” (Col. 1:21) and “dead works” (Heb. 9:14). Where there is dynamic faith—saving faith—you will always find good works.

新约中有许多不同种类的事工命名。 例如，“行律法”（加拉太书 2:16）有關罪人试图通过遵守摩西的律法来取悦上帝。誠然，罪人是不可能藉由行律法得救。 “肉体的作为”（加拉太书 5:19）是由未得救的人，老我所做的事，他们为旧人的事而活。还有“恶行”（歌羅西1:21）和“死行”（来9:14）。哪里有充满活力的信心 --- 得救的信心，你总会在那裡找到好的作為。

 

James then illustrated his doctrine in the lives of two well-known Bible persons: Abraham and Rahab. You could not find two more different persons! Abraham was a Jew; Rahab was a Gentile. Abraham was a godly man, but Rahab was a sinful woman, a harlot. Abraham was the friend of God, while Rahab belonged to the enemies of God. What did they have in common? Both exercised saving faith in God.

然后，雅各以两位圣经著名的人物：亚伯拉罕和喇合的作為，闡明他的教义。你再也找不到两个不同他們的人！亚伯拉罕是犹太人；喇合是外邦人。亚伯拉罕是敬虔的人，但喇合是有罪的女人 --- 妓女。亚伯拉罕是上帝的朋友，喇合是上帝的不喜悅的人。他们有什么共同点？  两人都对顯示他們在上帝裡得救的信心。

 

You will want to read Genesis 15 and 22 to get the background facts for this illustration. God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees to lead him into Canaan and to make out of him the great nation of Israel. It was through Israel that God would bring the Savior into the world. Abraham’s salvation experience is recorded in Genesis 15. At night, God showed His servant the stars and gave him a promise, “So shall thy seed [descendants] be!” How did Abraham respond? “And he believed in the Lord, and He [the Lord] counted it to him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:5–6).

需要阅读创世记第 15 章和第 22 章，你可以更了解此插图的背景事实。上帝从迦勒底的吾珥城裡呼召亚伯拉罕，带领他进入迦南，并从他身上产生以色列的伟大民族。上帝通过以色列将救主带到世界上。亚伯拉罕的得救经历记载在创世记第 15 章。 某日晚上，上帝向亚伯拉罕显示众星，并应许他说，“你的兒女 [后裔] 将如眾星這麼多！”他如何回应？ “他信了主，祂［主］以此为他的义”（创世记 15:5-6）。

 

The word counted is a legal or financial term; it means “to put to one’s account.” As a sinner, Abraham’s spiritual bankbook was empty. He was bankrupt! But he trusted God, and God put righteous on Abraham’s account. Abraham did not work for this righteousness; he received it as a gift from God. He was declared righteous by faith. He was justified by faith (read Rom. 4).

“计算” 是法律或财务上的术语；意思是“记在某人帐上”。作为罪人，亚伯拉罕的属灵帳戶是空的。他破产了！ 但他信靠上帝，上帝就把亚伯拉罕放在祂的名义下称义。亚伯拉罕並没有为这义作了什麼；他收到是上帝作为的礼物。他因信上帝而称义。他因信称义（阅读   罗马书 4章）。

 

Justification is an important doctrine in the Bible. Justification is the act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous on the basis of Christ’s finished work on the cross. It is not a process; it is an act. It is not something the sinner does; it is something God does for the sinner when he trusts Christ. It is a once-for-all event. It never changes.

“称义” 是圣经中重要的教义。称义是上帝的作为，根据基督在十字架上完成的工作，祂宣布凡相信的罪人都为义。这不是过程；这是行为。这不是罪人能做一些事；当罪人相信基督时，这是上帝为他所作的。这是一劳永逸的作為。永远不会改变。

 

How can you tell if a person is justified by faith if this transaction takes place between the sinner and God privately? Abraham’s example answers that important question: the justified person has a changed life and obeys God’s will. His faith is demonstrated by his works.

如果这种變化是在罪人和上帝之间私下进行的，你如何判断人是否因信称义？亚伯拉罕的例子回答了这重要的问题：称义的人的生命发生了轉变，并且顺服了上帝的旨意。他的信心顯現在他的行為上。

 

 

James used another event in Abraham’s life, an event that took place many years after Abraham’s conversion. This event is the offering up of Isaac on the altar (Gen. 22). Abraham was not saved by obeying God’s difficult command. His obedience proved that he already was saved. “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:22 niv). There is a perfect relationship between faith and works. As someone has expressed it, “Abraham was not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.”

雅各使用了亚伯拉罕生平中的另一件事，这是发生在亚伯拉罕信靠主多年之后的事件。是在祭坛上他献以撒的事（创世記 22章）。亚伯拉罕并没有因順服上帝艰难的命令而得救。他的顺服证明他已经得救。 “你看他的信心和他的行为是互相效力的，他的信心因他所行的而得以完全”（雅各书 2:22 新國際版）。信心与行为之间有着完美的关系。正如有些人说，“亚伯拉罕不是因信心加上行为而得救，而是因信得救。”

 

How was Abraham “justified by works” (James 2:21) when he had already been “justified by faith” (see Rom. 4)? By faith, he was justified before God and his righteousness declared; by works he was justified before men and his righteousness demonstrated. It is true that no humans actually saw Abraham put his son on the altar, but the inspired record in Genesis 22 enables us to see the event and witness Abraham’s faith demonstrated by his works.

当亚伯拉罕已经“因信称义”（见  罗马书 4章）时，他又如何“因行为称义”（雅各书 2:21）？ 因信心，他在上帝面前称义，他的义被宣告；他又因行为在人面前称义，并彰显他的公义。的确，没有人真正看到亚伯拉罕将他的儿子放在祭坛上，但创世记 22 章中的屬灵记录使我们能够看到这一事件，并见证亚伯拉罕的行为所表明的信心。

 

D. L. Moody often said, “Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather.” He did not say that because he had been a successful shoe salesman; he said it because he was a dedicated Christian. Dynamic faith obeys God and proves itself in daily life and works. Alas, we still have church members today who fit the description given in Titus, “They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him” (Titus 1:16). Paul also wrote, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8).

偉大的宜科士慕迪常说，“每本圣经都应该装在鞋皮里。”他没有说因为他曾是成功的鞋业推销员；他只是说因为他是献身的基督徒。以充滿活力的信心顺服上帝，并在日常生活和工作中证明自己的這信心。唉，在今天教会會友中，仍有符合提多书上所描述的，“他们自称认识上帝，但在行事却和祂相背”（提多书 1:16）。保罗也写著說，“这话是可信的，我也願你把这些事切切實實的講明，使那些已信上帝的人，留心行善事”（提多书 3:8）。

 

His second illustration is Rahab, and the background for her is found in Joshua 2 and 6. Israel was about to invade their Promised Land and take the city of Jericho. Joshua sent spies into the city to get the lay of the land. There they met Rahab, a harlot, who protected them and affirmed that she believed in what God had said and what God was going to do. When the men departed, they promised to save her and her family when the city was taken, and this they did.

雅各的第二个例证是喇合，她的背景可以在约书亚记第 2 章和第 6 章中找到。以色列即将入侵应许他们的耶利哥城，并占领它。约书亚派探子进城去探查这城的情况。在那里，探子遇到妓女喇合，她保护他们，并向探子肯定，她相信上帝所说的话和上帝将要做的事。当探子们离开时，他们承诺在城市被占领後，拯救她和她的家人，他们做到了。

 

It is an exciting story. But in it is one of the Bible’s great examples of saving faith (see Heb. 11:31). Rahab heard the Word and knew that her city was condemned. This truth affected her and her fellow citizens so that their hearts melted within them (Josh. 2:11). Rahab responded with her mind and her emotions, but she also responded with her will: she did something about it. She risked her own life to protect the Jewish spies, and she further risked her life by sharing the good news of deliverance with the members of her family. The Hebrew word translated “harlot” in Joshua 2 can also have the wider meaning of “an innkeeper.” Rahab ran a guest house, so it was normal for the spies to go there. The Greek word “harlot” in James 2:25 definitely means an immoral person. This is also the meaning in Hebrews 11:31. Matthew 1:5 indicates she married into Israel and became an ancestress of our Lord. What grace! Rahab is one of the first soul-winners in the Bible, and you cannot help but compare her with the “bad Samaritan” in John 4.

这是非常动人心弦的故事。但它是圣经中得救信心的伟大例証（见  希伯来书 11:31）。喇合听了上帝的道，知道她住的城將被毀滅。这真理影响了她和她的同胞，以至于他们的心在真理里面融化（约书亚记 2:11）。喇合用她的思想和她的情感回应，但她也用她的意志回应：她为此做了一些事。她冒着生命危险保护犹太探子，并进一步冒着生命危险与家人分享获救的好消息。约书亚记第 2 章中翻译为“妓女”的希伯来语词，也可以有更广泛的“旅店老板”的意思。喇合经营旅馆，所以探子去那里是正常的。雅各书 2章25節中的希腊语“妓女”绝对是指不道德的人。这也是希伯来书 11章31節的意思。马太福音 1章5節表明她嫁给了以色列，成为我们主的祖先。何等的恩典！喇合是圣经中首先赢得灵魂的人，你不能将她与约翰福音第 4 章中的“坏撒玛利亚婦人”相提并论。

 

Rahab could have had dead faith, a mere intellectual experience. Or she could have had demonic faith, her mind enlightened and her emotions stirred. But she exercised dynamic faith: her mind knew the truth, her heart was stirred by the truth, and her will acted on the truth. She proved her faith by her works.

喇合本可以有死的信心，只是依賴智力上的经验。或者她可能有恶魔的信心，她的心智开明，情绪激动。但她操练了充满活力的信心：她的头脑知道真理，她的心被真理所感动，她的意志按照真理行事。她用自己的行為证實自己的信心。

 

When you realize the small amount of information Rahab had, you can see how truly marvelous her faith really was. Today we have the full revelation of God through His Word and His Son. We live on the other side of Calvary, and we have the Holy Spirit to convict and to teach us the Word. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). Her faith is an indictment against the unbelief of sinners today.

当你意识到喇合所拥有不多的信息时，你就会感覺到她的信心真的是多么奇妙。今日，我们通过上帝的话语和祂儿子获得了上帝的完整启示。我们住在髑髅地的另一边，我们有圣灵来定罪，并教导我们圣经。 “因为多给谁，便向他要的也多”（路加福音 12:48）。她的信心是对今天罪人不信的控诉。

 

James chapter 2 emphasized that the mature Christian practices the truth. He does not merely hold to ancient doctrines; he practices those doctrines in his everyday life. His faith is not the dead faith of the intellectuals or the demonic faith of the fallen spirits. It is the dynamic faith of men like Abraham and women like Rahab, faith that changes a life and goes to work for God.

雅各书第 2 章强调成熟的基督徒操練真理。他不只是守住古老的教义；他在日常生活中实践这些教义。他的信心不是知识分子的死信心，也不是堕落的天使魔鬼的信心。正是像亚伯拉罕这样的男人和像喇合这样的女人，充满活力的信心，这种信心改变了人的生活，并为上帝作工。

 

It is important that each professing Christian examine his own heart and life and make sure that he possesses true saving faith, dynamic faith. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5a). Satan is the great deceiver; one of his devices is imitation. If he can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith, he has that person in his power.

每位自称是基督徒的人，都要省察自己内心和生活，并确保自己拥有真正得救的信心 --- 充满活力的信心，這很重要。 “你们总要自己省察有信心没有；也要自己試驗”（哥林多後書 13:5節上半段）。撒旦是大骗子；牠的手段之一是模仿。如果牠能说服人，假冒的信心是真正的信心，那么，牠就以牠的权力掌握了那人。

 

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves as we examine our hearts:

以下是我们在查驗自己的心时，可以自捫心自问的一些问题

 

1. Was there a time when I honestly realized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and to God?

1. 我有没有时候诚实地體念到我是罪人，并向自己和上帝承认？

 

2. Was there a time when my heart stirred me to flee from the wrath to come? Have I ever

    seriously been alarmed over my sins?

2. 我有没有时候，在我的心情激动時，讓我逃离即将到来的愤怒？ 我是否曾为自己的罪

    而感到它的严重性？

 

3. Do I truly understand the gospel, that Christ died for my sins and arose again? Do I

    understand and confess that I cannot save myself?

3. 我真的明白聖經所記載的，基督为贖我的罪，捨命死了，又复活的福音吗？我明白并

    承认我不能自救吗？

 

4. Did I sincerely repent of my sins and turn from them? Or do I secretly love sin and want

    to enjoy it?

4. 我是否真心地悔改我的罪，并转离它们？  还是我偷偷喜欢罪，并想享受它？

 

5. Have I trusted Christ and Christ alone for my salvation? Do I enjoy a living relationship

    with Him through the Word and in the Spirit?

5. 为了我的救恩，我是否信靠基督，并且单单信靠基督？ 我是否藉由聖言和圣灵享受与

    祂的活泼关系？

 

6. Has there been a change in my life? Do I maintain good works, or are my works

occasional and weak? Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord? Can others tell that I

have been with Jesus?

6. 我的生活有改变吗？ 我保持常常行善，还是我偶尔行善和感到薄弱？我是否寻求

    在主的事工上的成长？ 有人能说出我曾跟过耶稣吗？

 

7. Do I have a desire to share Christ with others? Or am I ashamed of Him?

7. 我是否渴望与他人分享基督？还是我以它为羞耻？

 

8. Do I enjoy the fellowship of God’s people? Is worship a delight to me?

8. 我喜欢与上帝的子民相交吗？ 敬拜上帝，对我来说是喜乐吗？

 

9. Am I ready for the Lord’s return? Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?

9. 我准备好了迎接主的再来吗？还是当祂来找我时，我会感到羞愧？

 

To be sure, not every Christian has the same personal experience, and there are degrees of sanctification. But for the most part, the preceding spiritual inventory can assist a person in determining his true standing before God.

诚然，并非每位基督徒都有相同的个人经历，成圣的過程也各有不同。但在大多数情况下，前面所提的属灵問題清单可以帮助人确定他在上帝面前的真实地位。

 

“Search me, O Lord, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23–24).

“主啊，求你鉴察我，知道我的心思；试验我，知道我的意念。看在我里面有什么恶行沒有，引导我走永远的道路”（诗篇 139:23-24）。

 

 

謝謝上帝。