立據基督
作者：以弗所 翻譯：鐘楨
近日，我讀了約翰·班揚的《天路歷程》。該書從17世紀出版至今，一直被譽為基督教書籍中的經典之作。我小時候曾經讀過該書的兒童繪本。那時候，我就讀的學校要求我們閱讀課外書籍，而那繪本就列在學校開出的書單上。時日久遠，當日所唸的內容到底是什麼，我實在已經記不得了。多年以後再讀，我為該書及其作者深深折服。書中對基督徒生活的寓言式描寫，讓一代又一代跟隨基督的讀者們，因著其中所蘊含的大智慧，而受益良多。我在整個閱讀的過程中，所獲甚豐；在此我想就本書的核心內容談談我的看法。
在我看來，全書的核心是有關於基督信仰的確據。也許有關確據的話題，在我們的日常對話中並不常見，但我們實際都很高興能夠擁有對周遭事物一切良好的確鑿證據。例如，當一個人在超市中購物時，自然而然會查看各種標籤，以確保產品仍在保鮮期內，而其質量也得到了相關認可。那麼身為一個基督徒，怎樣才能擁有已獲永生的確據呢？
這個問題在約翰·班揚剛剛信主的那幾年裡，一直困擾著他。在那時的他心中，始終對於自己能否在聖潔的神面前侍立，存有疑問。有時，他因為知道自己已經得贖、免於地獄的刑罰，而感到滿心喜樂。另一些時候，他又覺得他已經遠離神的恩典，實在沒有辦法免於神的震怒。多年以後，班揚寫了《罪人受恩記》。在書中，他用一種自傳體的筆觸，詳細描寫了其在靈性上是如何地缺乏安全感。
與此類似，班揚在《天路歷程》中，通過書中主人翁，進一步演示了他自己是如何掙扎著尋求確據的過程。在全書的最後第二章，主人翁和他的朋友 "盼望" 抵達了 "死亡河"。這是他們去到目的地 "天城"（即，天堂）之前的最後一道障礙。
也許有人會認為，一路走到這裡，久經考驗的 "基督徒"(書中主人翁的名字)，在攻克了重重試煉和磨難之後，應該很容易就能夠游過死亡河。而這最後的一關，彷彿那設在終點的彩旗般，飄揚著歡迎聖徒們進入天堂的大門。可事與願違，"死亡河" 對基督徒來說卻是一個最大的挑戰。因為他不斷地想起他過去所犯的罪，而那些想法使他深陷疑慮與絕望之中。"盼望" 試圖鼓勵 "基督徒"，幫助他浮在水面上，但是 "基督徒" 不住地往下沉。那麼"基督徒"要如何才能通過這最後的試煉呢？
"然後我在夢裡看見 '基督徒' 沉思了一會兒。'盼望' 又對他講了這幾句話， 別灰心；基督耶穌會保全你。'基督徒' 聽了這話，大聲喊道，哦，我又看見他啦！他對我說：'你從水中經過，我必與你同在；你趟過江河，水必不漫過你。'" 藉著這些安慰的話語，"基督徒" 再一次冷靜下來，終於抵達了彼岸。
那麼班揚想要通過這旅程最後的試煉告訴我們什麽呢？我相信他是試圖告訴讀者們，無論我們對於自己所擁有的救恩有何種確信，這種確信都只能單單建立在基督已經使我們得著完全這一事實上。如果我們試圖把這種確據建立在我們所做過的好事上，我們注定會一敗塗地。我們唯一的盼望，是仰望耶穌；仰望祂在世上的時候，用捨己而死﹐並死而復活的生命，勝過了罪和死亡。通過祂，我們所有的罪都已經得到赦免，我們已經被 神接納，與 神成為一家人。
此外，班揚還告訴我們，當我們對自己的救恩產生懷疑時，我們可以到神的話語中去尋求慰籍。在那裡，神已經給了我們各樣豐盛的應許和祝福，而這一切也都已經因著耶穌基督的緣故而永遠歸到了我們的名下，不會改變。
所以無論我們是否心有疑慮、懼怕，讓我們一起以耶穌基督為我們救恩的基石，屹立於其上。好在賜予我們的永生從來不是因著我們自己的努力，而是因著耶穌基督捨棄己身、澆奠為祭，才把我們帶到天父的身邊。真是何等平安！何等有福！
題目：亦獅亦羊
注： 本作的靈感出自《聖經.但以理書》第6章，第1－28節。但以理的故事發生在古波斯，因此本作品以波斯文寫就的《聖經.詩篇》第 40 篇作為背景。而閃電和雲朵的圖案則代表了聖靈的工作。當一隻兇殘的獅子被聖靈澆灌後，性情變得好像羊羔一樣，臉上露出孩子般的笑容。
Title:
Lion and lamb
Description:
This piece is inspired by the Book of Denial, particularly Denial 6:1-28. Since the story happened in ancient Persia, I created a background made up by Scriptures in Persian. The actual passage is Psalm 40. The Holy Spirit here is represented by flash filled bubbles and cloud shape frames. After a dangerous lion was anointed by Holy Spirit, it is able to have lamb like characters. A childlike smile appears on its face.
Assured in Christ
Written by Ephesus Translated by Zhen Zhong
Lately, I read John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, a Christian classic ever since it was first published in the 17th century. I remember sometime during my childhood days of reading an illustrated children's version as part of my school's reading program but the details of the book have long faded from my memory. Reading the book again years later, I have gained a deeper appreciation of the wealth of wisdom that Bunyan confers to his readers through this allegorical illustration of the Christian life.
The vast implications of Bunyan's thoughts are many but I hope to reflect on one of the most central themes of the book which is Christian assurance. Perhaps the topic of assurance does not come up much in our daily conversations but most of us take comfort in being positively certain about what goes on around us. For example, when one purchases goods at a supermarket, one would look for some form of quality assurance label or warranty guarantee that would vouch for the durability and quality of the products we intend to buy. So how does a Christian gain assurance of his or her eternal state?
This question bothered John Bunyan continuously throughout his early years as a believer as he questioned his standing before a holy God. He would at times feel great joy in knowing that he has been redeemed from destruction and hell while other times he would feel that he was too far removed from God's grace to escape His wrath. Years afterward, Bunyan pens Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners in which he describes his spiritual insecurities in autobiographical detail.
Likewise, in The Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan uses the protagonist to illustrate his personal experience of struggling to attain assurance. In the second last chapter of the book, the main character named Christian and his friend Hope have arrived at the great river which is the final obstacle before entering into the Celestial City (i.e. heaven).
One would think that after the many trials and tribulations that marked the journey, Christian would be able to swim through the river easily. This final test would simply be the victory lap to usher in the faithful pilgrims into the heavenly realms. However, the river turns out to be the most challenging test for Christian as thoughts of his past sins plunge him into doubt and despair. Hope tries to encourage Christian and keep him afloat but Christian continues to sink deeper. So how does Christian overcome this final test?
"Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was as in a muse a while. To whom also Hopeful added this word, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, O! I see Him again, and He tells me, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee" With these comforting words, Christian regains his composure and gradually makes his way onto land.
What does Bunyan want to convey in this ultimate trial of the pilgrims' journey? I believe he is telling readers that any certainty we may have of our salvation is solely based on Christ who makes us whole. If we try to establish our assurance on any good works that we have done, we are bound for failure. Our only hope is to look to Jesus who has won the victory over sin and death in his earthly ministry, sacrificial death, and resurrected life. Through Him, we have received forgiveness for our sins and have been adopted into the family of God.
Furthermore, Bunyan shows us that when we have doubts concerning our assurance, we can find solace in God's Word in which we are reminded of all the rich promises and blessings that have been secured for us through Christ.
So whenever we have any doubts or fears, let us stand firm on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. It is a great relief and comfort to know that our eternal security is guaranteed not through our weak efforts but by Jesus who gave Himself as the atoning sacrifice to bring us to the Father.