BA 12 Assurance from I John
BA 12 来自约翰一世的保证

Lesson Twelve
第十二课

Assurance From 1 John
来自约翰一世的保证

An anonymous author described Christians who are not sure of their salvation in these words: “Rather than being shouting Christians, they are doubting Christians. Rather than having a “know so” salvation, they have a “hope so” salvation.
一位匿名作者用这些话描述了那些不确定自己救恩的基督徒：“他们不是在喊基督徒，而是在怀疑基督徒。他们没有“知道”的救恩，而是“希望如此”的救恩。

One of the primary goals John had in mind as he wrote his first epistle was to help us “know” with certainty that we have eternal life. In 1 John 5:13, he said, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” The words “know,” “knows,” and “known” appear thirty-eight times in John's first letter.
约翰在写第一封书信时，他的主要目标之一是帮助我们“知道”我们有永生。在约翰一书5：13中，他说：“我把这些事写给你们信神儿子名的人，好叫你们知道自己有永生。“知道”、“知道”和“知道”这些词在约翰的第一封信中出现了三十八次。

The 1st Epistle of John Is Written to Committed Christians
约翰福音第一封书信是写给虔诚的基督徒的

In John's writings, the Greek word that is translated “believe” carries the idea of “obedience” and “commitment.” In his gospel, John writes, “He who believes (Greek, pisteúô) in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life” (John 3:36, NASV). The assurance that John gives us is not for people who give lip service to Jesus as the Son of God, yet make little or no effort to obey God's commands. In his Sermon on the Plain, Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). John's assurance is given to obedient-minded believers who have surrendered their will to God. In the eyes of God, the only true believer is a committed believer.
在约翰的著作中，翻译为“相信”的希腊词带有“顺服”和“承诺”的概念。约翰在他的福音书中写道：“相信（希腊语，pisteúô）圣子的，就有永生;但不顺服子的，必不见生命“（约翰福音3：36）。约翰给我们的保证不是给那些口头上服侍耶稣是神的儿子，却很少或根本没有努力遵守神命令的人。在平原上的宝训中，耶稣问道：“你为什么称呼我为'主啊，主啊'，却不照我说的去做呢？“（路加福音6：46）。约翰的保证是给那些已经将自己的意志交给上帝的顺服的信徒的。在神的眼中，唯一真正的信徒是虔诚的信徒。

Jesus Is “the Word of Life”
耶稣是“生命的道”

John begins his first epistle by declaring that Jesus is “the Word of Life” (1 John 1:1). He writes, “The life appeared; we have seen it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and has appeared to us” (1 John 1:2). Jesus is “eternal life” personified. As we have noted previously, “eternal life”is not so much unending life as it is the quality of life lived by Jesus. It is the kind of life we live now and forever when we walk with God.
约翰在他的第一封书信的开头宣称耶稣是“生命之道”（约翰一书1：1）。他写道：“生命出现了;我们已经看见了，就向你们宣告与父同在的永生，向我们显现“（约翰一书1：2）。耶稣是“永生”的化身。正如我们之前所指出的，“永生”与其说是永无止境的生命，不如说是耶稣所活出的生命品质。这就是我们现在和永远与神同行时所过的生活。

An unidentified writer has said that the term “eternal life” “defines the true measure of life as qualitative rather than quantitative. Length of years is not life, and to speak of ‘long’ or ‘short’ lives is false; one ought rather to speak of large and small lives, poor and rich lives, empty and full lives. Man's need is to add life to his years rather than years to his life.”
一位身份不明的作家说，“永生”一词“将生命的真正衡量标准定义为定性的而不是定量的。岁月长不是寿命，说“长”或“短”是错误的;人们应该谈论大大小小的生活，贫穷和富裕的生活，空虚和充实的生活。人的需要是给他的岁月增添生命，而不是给他的生命增添生命。

Jesus, “the Word of life,” is the source of life, and he came to give us “eternal life.”
耶稣，“生命的道”，是生命的源头，他来是要赐给我们“永生”。

The Basis of John's Assurance
约翰保证的基础

John is absolutely sure that committed Christians have eternal life. His certainty is based primarily on three things:
约翰绝对确信委身的基督徒有永生。他的确定性主要基于三件事：

First, John's certainty is based on personal observation. He knew that Jesus had a real flesh-and-blood body. He had followed him and lived with him for three years. He had touched him, eaten meals with him, and walked hundreds of miles with him over dusty roads. At the same time, John knew that Jesus was divine because he had watched him perform dozens of miracles with supernatural power and had heard him speak with divine wisdom. He knew that Jesus was both human and divine.
首先，约翰的确定性是基于个人观察。他知道耶稣有一个真正的血肉之躯。他跟着他，和他一起生活了三年。他摸过他，和他一起吃饭，和他一起走过尘土飞扬的道路数百英里。同时，约翰知道耶稣是神圣的，因为他看过他用超自然的力量行了几十个神迹，听过他用神的智慧说话。他知道耶稣既是人又是神。

Second, John knew that our salvation depends, not on what we do for Jesus, but on what Jesus has done for us. The blood of Jesus cleansed us of sin when we were born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3- 5; Acts 2:38), and the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us as we “walk in the light.” John says, “But if we walk in the light as he [God] is in the light, the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us of all sin” (1 John 1:7). In the original text, the word that is translated “purifies,” katharizô, is in the present tense which indicates ongoing action. The blood of Christ keeps us pure and clean so that we can have fellowship with God. Unless we deliberately choose to walk in darkness, no sin can attach itself to us like a leach in the swamp, to suck our spiritual blood, infect us, and ultimately destroy us. Whenever we sin and repent, the blood of Jesus simply wipes the sin away, leaving us as pure and clean as we were when Jesus washed our sins away in the waters of baptism (Acts 22:16).
第二，约翰知道我们的救恩不是取决于我们为耶稣做了什么，而是取决于耶稣为我们做了什么。当我们从水和圣灵重生时，耶稣的血洗净了我们的罪（约翰福音3：3-5;使徒行传2：38），当我们“行在光明中”时，耶稣的宝血继续洁净我们。约翰说，“我们若行在光明中，就像他（神）在光明中一样，他的儿子耶稣的血就洁净了我们一切的罪”（约翰一书1：7）。在原文中，翻译为“净化”的单词katharizô是现在时，表示正在进行的行动。基督的宝血使我们保持纯洁和洁净，这样我们就可以与神相交。除非我们刻意选择在黑暗中行走，否则任何罪都不能像沼泽中的浸出物一样附着在我们身上，吸食我们的属灵血液，感染我们，最终摧毁我们。每当我们犯罪和悔改时，耶稣的血只是抹去罪孽，使我们像耶稣在洗礼水中洗净我们的罪孽时一样纯洁洁净（使徒行传22：16）。

Third, John's certainty that we have eternal life is based on the love, grace, and mercy of God. John assures us that, “If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
第三，约翰确信我们有永生是基于神的爱、恩典和怜悯。约翰向我们保证，“我们若认罪，他（神）是信实公义的，必赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义”（约翰一书1：9）。

Confessing our sins is a part of walking in the light. When we walk in the light, we don't try to hide anything. We don't justify our sin or minimize its seriousness. We see ourselves as God sees us, and our sin looks as ugly to us as it does to God. The Greek word that is translated “confess” (homologeô) literally means “to say the same thing.” When we confess our sins, we agree with God's assessment of our transgression.
承认我们的罪是行在光明中的一部分。当我们在光明中行走时，我们不会试图隐藏任何东西。我们不为我们的罪辩护或贬低它的严重性。我们看待自己就像上帝看待我们一样，我们的罪在我们看来和在上帝看来一样丑陋。翻译为“confess”（homologeô）的希腊词字面意思是“说同样的话”。当我们承认自己的罪时，我们同意神对我们过犯的评估。

God does two things when we confess our sins: (1) First, he forgives them and completely erases them. The word translated “forgive” (aphiâmi) means “to release from legal and moral obligation.” When we confess our sins, God releases us from the consequences of sin. He treats us as if we had never sinned. (2) Second, God purifies us from all unrighteousness. He not only forgives our sin; he also transforms our character. God works through his Spirit to clean up our character flaws. He is preparing us for heaven.
当我们承认我们的罪时，上帝做了两件事：（1）首先，他赦免了它们并完全抹去它们。翻译为“宽恕”（aphiâmi）的单词的意思是“摆脱法律和道德义务”。当我们承认自己的罪时，神就把我们从罪的后果中释放出来。他对待我们，就好像我们从未犯罪一样。（2）第二，神洁净我们一切的不义。他不仅饶恕我们的罪;他也改变了我们的性格。神通过他的灵来清理我们的性格缺陷。他正在为我们准备进入天堂。

The “We Know” Passages in First John
约翰一书中“我们知道”的经文

Now, let us examine six of the “we know” passages in the first epistle of John. First, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” (1 John 2:3). True knowledge of God is more than intellectual. True knowledge of God is acquired through a close relationship with him and through obedience to his will. As we obey his commandments, we learn to think as he thinks.
现在，让我们来看约翰福音第一封书信中“我们知道”的六段经文。首先，“我们若遵行他的命令，就知道我们认识他”（约翰一书2：3）。对上帝的真正认识不仅仅是智力上的。对上帝的真正认识是通过与他的密切关系和顺服他的旨意而获得的。当我们遵守他的诫命时，我们学会像他一样思考。

Here, the Holy Spirit inspires John to strike a perfect balance between God's forgiveness and God's moral demands. Knowing God and obeying his commands are evidences that we have eternal life. God's commandments reflect his love and holiness, and we experience eternal life when we participate in his moral nature. Becoming like God is proof that we know him and that we have eternal life.
在这里，圣灵激励约翰在神的饶恕和神的道德要求之间取得完美的平衡。认识神并遵守他的命令是我们拥有永生的证据。上帝的诫命反映了他的爱和圣洁，当我们参与他的道德本性时，我们会经历永生。变得像神是证明我们认识他并且我们有永生的证据。

To balance the scales, John said, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sin” (1 John 2:1-2). Even if we slip up and sin, and repent, we should not worry. Jesus has our back.
为了平衡天平，约翰说：“我亲爱的孩子们，我写这封信给你们，是要你们不犯罪。但是，如果有人犯罪，我们有一位为我们辩护向天父说话——耶稣基督，义者。他是为我们的罪作赎罪祭“（约翰一书2：1-2）。即使我们犯了罪，悔改了，我们也不应该担心。耶稣支持我们。

Second, “If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him” (1 John 2:29).
第二，“你们若知道他是义的，就知道凡行义的都是从他生的”（约翰一书2：29）。

God is righteous. That is, he is morally pure and undefiled. He is holy, different, unlike the evil world. He always does what is right. That helps us understand what it means to be born into God's family. The new birth brings benefits, and it brings responsibilities.
神是公义的。也就是说，他在道德上是纯洁的，没有被玷污。他是圣洁的，与众不同的，不像邪恶的世界。他总是做正确的事。这有助于我们理解出生在上帝家庭意味着什么。新生带来好处，也带来责任。

John explains this later when he says, “No one who is born of God will continue in sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). The DNA in God's spiritual sperm is in us, and that DNA makes us like our Father in nature and character. John is not saying that we can achieve sinless perfection by our own effort, but he is saying that our lives should not be characterized by sin. Our lives should be characterized by doing what is right.
约翰后来解释说：“从神生的，没有一个会继续犯罪，因为神的后裔留在他里面;他不能继续犯罪，因为他是从神生的“（约翰一书3：9）。上帝属灵精子中的DNA在我们里面，而这种DNA使我们在性质和品格上像我们的父。约翰并不是说我们可以通过自己的努力达到无罪的完美，而是说我们的生活不应该以罪为特征。我们的生活应该以做正确的事为特征。

Robert Law, in his lecture on The Tests of Life, said, “To believe in Christ, and to believe in sin; to love God and to love sin; to live in Christ and to live in sin; is as unthinkable as that one should face north and south at the same time.”
罗伯特·劳（Robert Law）在《生命的考验》演讲中说：“相信基督，相信罪;爱神，爱罪;活在基督里，活在罪里;就像一个人同时面对北方和南方一样不可思议。

William Barclay comments, “John is not setting before us here a terrifying perfectionism, . . . but he is demanding life which is ever on the watch against sin, a life that ever fights the battle of goodness, a life that has never surrendered to sin, a life in which sin is not the permanent state but only the temporary aberration, a life in which sin is not the normal accepted way, but the abnormal moment of defeat. John is not saying that the man who abides in God cannot sin; but he is saying that the man who abides in God cannot continue to be a consistent and deliberate sinner.”
威廉·巴克莱评论说：“约翰并没有在这里向我们展示一种可怕的完美主义，......但是他要求的生命是永远警惕罪恶的，一个永远与善争战的生活，一个从未向罪屈服的生活，一个罪不是永久状态而只是暂时的畸变的生活，一个罪不是正常接受的方式的生活， 而是失败的异常时刻。约翰并不是说住在神里面的人不能犯罪;但他说，住在神里面的人不能继续成为一个一贯的、故意的罪人。

The DNA that we inherit from our Father lifts us up above sinful worldly standards and creates in us a desire to be holy as he is holy.
我们从天父那里继承的DNA使我们超越罪恶的世俗标准，并在我们里面创造了一种渴望，要成为圣洁，因为他是圣洁的。

Third, “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death” (1 John 3:14). Love is at the heart of God's nature. John says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).
第三，“我们知道我们已经从死亡走向生命，因为我们爱我们的兄弟。凡不爱的，必在死里“（约翰一书3：14）。爱是上帝本性的核心。约翰说：“亲爱的朋友们，让我们彼此相爱，因为爱是从神来的。凡有爱的人都是从神生的，认识神。不爱的就不认识神，因为神就是爱“（约翰一书4：7-8）。

God is the source of agape, value-ascribing love. We love our parents, our mates, our children, and our friends as a result of natural attraction, but we find it difficult to love people we don't like. Yet, God loved us while we were still his enemies, and he is calling us to be like him. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). Loving the unloveable–loving people who hate us, insult us and abuse us–is not natural. It is supernatural. It comes from God, not from human nature. It is a manifestation of the divine nature that we inherit from our Father. God is love, and we show that we are God's children by loving others with agape love.
上帝是爱的源泉，价值归属的爱。由于自然的吸引力，我们爱我们的父母，我们的伴侣，我们的孩子和我们的朋友，但我们发现很难爱我们不喜欢的人。然而，当我们还是他的敌人时，上帝就爱我们，他呼召我们像他一样。耶稣说，“你们要爱仇敌，为逼迫你们的人祷告，叫你们成为天父的儿子”（马太福音5：44-45）。爱那些不可爱的人——爱那些恨我们、侮辱我们、虐待我们的人——是不自然的。这是超自然的。它来自上帝，而不是来自人性。这是我们从天父那里继承的神性的体现。上帝就是爱，我们通过用爱来爱别人来表明我们是上帝的孩子。

Fourth, “This, then, is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our minds at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:18-20). There are times when we slip and fall, and our hearts condemn us even though we repent. It is assuring to know that God is greater than our hearts, because he knows everything. He not only knows our sins; he knows our repentance, our love for him, our desire to do what is right.
第四，“这就是我们如何知道我们属于真理，以及每当我们的心谴责我们时，我们如何在祂面前安息我们的思想。因为神比我们的心更大，他知道一切“（约翰一书3：18-20）。有时我们会滑倒和跌倒，即使我们悔改，我们的心也会谴责我们。知道上帝比我们的心更大是肯定的，因为他知道一切。他不仅知道我们的罪;他知道我们的悔改，我们对他的爱，我们渴望做正确的事。

The late Scottish educator, R. E. O. White writes: “God, knowing all things, does not–like our accusing hearts–take notice only of the inconsistencies and failures, the battles lost, the weak evasions of our duty, the faltering faith. He takes note equally of the struggle and the attempting, the prayers and penitence and shame, the ‘going out into the night and weeping bitterly.’” Even when our hearts condemn us, he forgives us when we repent. Someone has said, “The perfect knowledge of God is not our terror; it is our hope.” It is a source of blessed assurance.
已故的蘇格蘭教育家R. E. O. White寫道：「上帝知道一切，但不會像我們控責的心一樣，只注意到不一致和失敗，戰鬥失敗，我們對責任的軟弱逃避，信仰動搖。他同样注意到挣扎和尝试，祈祷，忏悔和羞耻，“到黑夜里痛苦地哭泣”。即使我们的心谴责我们，当我们悔改时，他也会饶恕我们。有人说：“对上帝的完美认识不是我们的恐惧;这是我们的希望。它是祝福保证的源泉。

Conclusion
结论

Fifth, we know what love is, because Jesus laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16). In the words of a favorite song, “He left the splendor of heaven knowing his destiny was the lonely hill of Golgotha, there to lay down his life for me. Even in death he remembered the thief hanging by his side. He spoke his love and compassion; then he took him to paradise. If that isn't love, the ocean is dry; there are no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly. If that isn't love, then heaven's a myth. There's no feeling like this, if that isn't love.”
第五，我们知道什么是爱，因为耶稣为我们舍命（约翰一书3：16）。用一首最喜欢的歌的话来说，“他离开了天堂的辉煌，知道他的命运是各各他孤独的山丘，在那里为我舍命。即使在死亡中，他也记得挂在他身边的小偷。他说出他的爱和同情;然后他把他带到了天堂。如果那不是爱，海洋是干涸的;天上没有星星，麻雀也飞不起来。如果那不是爱，那么天堂就是一个神话。没有这样的感觉，如果那不是爱。

The good news is, heaven is not a myth. Jesus is coming back to take us home with him. Let us “Continue in him so that when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed at his coming” (1 John 2:28). How can that be? Because, sixth, “We are the children of God, and . . . we know that when he [Jesus] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). That knowledge gives us blessed assurance.
好消息是，天堂不是神话。耶稣要回来带我们回家。让我们“继续在他里面，使他显现时，我们可以确信他的到来，不以羞愧”（约翰一书2：28）。这怎么可能？因为，第六，“我们是神的儿女，而且......我们知道，当他（耶稣）出现时，我们要像他一样，因为我们要看到他本来的样子“（约翰一书3：2）。这些知识给了我们祝福的保证。

TAKE EXAM
参加考试

-----------------------------------